Cement Mixers

Cement mixers are ideal for mixing large amounts of concrete and cement, saving the time and effort of manual mixing. The Cromwell range has a wide variety of cement mixers allowing you to select the right one for your application. We stock cement mixers from quality brands, like Belle®.

What are cement mixers?

Cement mixers consist of a barrel or drum that contain internal rotating blades that combine the sand and cement mix to the right consistency for application. They vary in size with smaller versions being able to handle domestic and small-scale building jobs, whilst larger versions are suitable for commercial applications.

Why cement mixers?

Cement mixers are primarily used to improve efficiency and save manual labour when mixing cement and concrete. Their rotating drum and blades take the place of what would be a serious amount of elbow grease involved in preparing the mixture.

When are cement mixers used?

Construction workers, like builders and bricklayers use cement mixers when large amounts of cement or concrete are needed for a job. They can be left to reliably combine ingredients while workers are attending to other tasks.

Types of cement mixers

There are a few different kinds of cement mixers, each with their own features and benefits. Some are suitable for smaller scale applications whilst others are preferred in larger scale commercial work.

• Batch mixers   -   Batch mixers as the name suggests are designed to mix individual batches of cement for use. They consist of either a drum or a pan, with rotating blades, which prepares the concrete mix. Rotation speed, angle and in some cases the angle of the drum can be adjusted. They are commonly used in small scale jobs such as domestic work and small building jobs. These mixers are divided into two different categories, drum mixers and pan mixers:

• Drum mixers   -   These mixers feature a double conical frustum shaped drum and single or multiple blades, used to prepare concrete and cement. They themselves come in three types, tilting, non-tilting and reversing.

• Pan mixers   -   Instead of a drum these mixers feature a cylindrical pan that facilitates the mixing of the cement. Like drum mixers they contain blades to aid this process. As well as this they feature scrapers to stop the mix from attaching itself to the wall of the pan. There are two types of pan mixer one with a static pan and rotating blades and the other which features static blades and a rotating pan. The mixture is collected from an opening at the bottom of the pan. Pan mixers are considered the most efficient batch mixers.

• Continuous mixers   -   Continuous mixers are designed to work without interruption, constantly being fed raw materials and discharging the mixture once ready. These types of mixers are mostly seen on construction sites where a steady supply of concrete is needed to fulfil the work.

Considerations when choosing a cement mixer

There are several considerations to take into account when choosing a cement mixer.

• Size of the job - for the most part the amount of concrete or cement needed for the job will determine what kind of mixer is required. For small scale jobs a batch mixer would be more than sufficient. However, for larger commercial jobs a continuous mixer might me more beneficial.

Cement mixer jargon buster

To keep you up to date with industry standards surrounding cement mixers, we've broken down the following standard:

What does building construction and machinery standard BS ISO 18650-1:2021 mean?

BS ISO 18650-1:2021 is part one of a multiple-part standard applicable to building construction and machinery, including cement mixers. It covers a range of information, including the written information given on the use and instruction for a cement mixer, its components, and technical details, as well as advice on producing the best mixes.

Let's break it down...

• BS - This means British Standards which indicates its place in British legislation.

• ISO - The International Organization of Standardization maintains and updates standards on a global level.

• 18650 - This is the standard's legislation number.

• -1 - This highlights the part numbers of multiple part standards, in this case Part 1.

• 2021 - This revision supersedes the 2004 edition, which saw various new technologies added and defined for users.

FAQs

How long should I mix concrete in a mixer?

On average the mixing time should be around 3-5 minutes. Or until a uniform and workable consistent mixture is formed.

What's the difference between a cement mixer and a concrete mixer?

In the UK, these are the same thing. Cement is used to bond bricks and secure slabs and is a thinner consistency in comparison to concrete. However, add some sand and aggregate to cement and you create concrete which provides a dense mix that can be formed to create a base or used as footings or foundations for a building. Mixing concrete tends to require more power and a larger drum though, and we do recommend that you always check the compatibility on a mixer's technical details.

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