Due to its immense strength, concrete is one of the most important and common materials employed in the construction industry. While construction projects were initially forced to slow down due to the pandemic, the demand for commercial buildings, residential dwellings, and more are back up, and both the concrete and construction industries are in full swing again in North America. Not only a vital component for building foundations, concrete is also essential for the building and revitalization of roadways, bridges, pavement and more. While the demand for these developments has led in part to delays in the building process due to wait times for concrete as well as other supply chain issues, production continues everyday to help try and meet that demand. Don’t let insufficient funding delay you even more! The machinery used to produce quality construction projects can be expensive, especially for small businesses. Concrete Equipment can help you get the concrete equipment financing you need to complete your projects on time with less stress.
Keep reading for more information about the current state of the concrete and concrete equipment industries, as well as information about recent trends.

Trends in the Concrete Industry

Technological Advancements & New Equipment

Technology has entered the concrete industry in recent years in an effort to make the production of concrete more efficient, more cost-effective and more accurate. Making a mistake is not just time-consuming but also costly, so it’s important to have the best concrete on the market. But not only is the quality of the concrete itself a key component in the success of a project, the machines used to make, pave and lay the concrete can also make or break the entire operation.

Wirtgen, a European-based company which has some production outlets in North America, is one such company leading the way with their innovative construction tools. Their new two-layer paving tool called SP 154i can save companies time and money on projects by paving two layers at once. With their machine, it’s just the top layer that needs to contain the more expensive, premium type of concrete desired by certain construction jobs. The lower layer can contain a less expensive type which is ideal for especially large and long projects, as using premium concrete all the way through may be financially infeasible. This novel machine could help concrete users and project managers in circumventing quality issues that can come from using only cheaper forms of concrete.

Hydrodemolition is becoming a common concrete removal process and some suggest it is the best, most effective way to remove concrete. It’s often used when demolition is not possible or feasible. It can also minimize damage which is especially important in revitalization projects when builders may be laying down fresher, newer concrete later. By using very high-pressure water pumps to break up damaged concrete layers, hydrodemolition cleanly separates out the old concrete while preserving the area around the project space.

Mobile plants are also growing in use, likely due to their practical and environmental benefits, as they allow companies to complete some of their construction work and planning via remote means. Several brands of this type of machine are growing in popularity, but one example is Trakmix from Rapid International; this concrete mixer is a relatively new technology that may help some companies save money and time in the rapidly-growing construction world.

Experts in the industry say the latest technologies are just the beginning, and that new types of concretes for our modern world are still evolving. Concrete Equipment aims to help companies navigate the changes better by providing them with financing assistance so they can focus more on their own customers and projects.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a trend circulating in many industries, and concrete is no exception. Many concrete producers and users are looking to become greener consumers. Concrete is one of the most durable materials one can use in a construction project, but it also produces carbon dioxide due to energy expended during the mixing process. Some concrete producers and users are looking towards new technology to help them limit energy used, while others are looking to be more sustainable in other ways; for example, taking advantage of solar or wind energy in their production facilities, using electric vehicles to transport concrete and other materials to construction sites as often as possible, completing planning and administrative work remotely to save on gas or using as many recycled materials as practical in their building process. Recycled concrete is growing in use, often being made from demolished past projects like old roads and parking lots, and may help contribute to a more environmentally friendly future. It too has a cost, and is not always readily available, but perhaps in the future it will be a more feasible option that can help builders lower their carbon footprint.

If you have concrete equipment needs you’d like to discuss, whether you need concrete pumps, mixers or something else, contact Concrete Equipment today for more information about how we can help you finance the concrete equipment you need for your projects.