How evaluating your concrete mixing processes can help save money in a recession

 

In times of recession, every construction company is looking for ways to save money. One way to do this is by streamlining the concrete mixing process through the use of special concrete technology.

The future of the economy

The prospect of a global recession has many economists forecasting slowing economic growth in 2023. In the European case, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has issued a warning that many European countries could face a recession next year. 

Currently, consumer prices are on an upward trajectory, with more increases expected shortly. this could be devastating for households and businesses if they start to use up their cash reserves to pay the high costs of services like gas, electricity or petrol which in turn affects all prices in the entire consumption chain. 

Will the recession affect your construction business? – Not if you take these measures

Specialists in the construction industry are advising that the sector should be prepared when it comes to economic recessions. The construction business has always been exposed to risks that can easily jeopardise your company’s survival in a downturn, no matter how big or small you are. 

Companies must remain flexible and open towards different processes and technologies so they can better adapt when conditions change while decreasing risks associated with operating in an economic downswing.

There are several measures that you, as part of the industry, can take. Such as maintaining or even increasing the marketing budget, ensuring liquidity, and most important one: cutting expenses.

Understand your total concrete production cost

As for cutting your costs amid a recession, one place to look for savings is the use of materials and resources used in the production of concrete. Step 1 is to examine your procurement practices in order to identify where you can save money. A great way you can do this is to analyse the total cost per m3 associated with your overall concrete production process.

Recycled Concrete Aggregates

Fig. 1 is an example of a Fibo Intercon customer’s total costs per mof concrete.

As you can see from the example in figure 1 the main cost driver for this customer is cement at 33% of the cost per m3.

Need help evaluating the numbers?
The team at Fibo Intercon can help you generate a bespoke ROI calculation for your next project.

Evaluating the alternative procurement options

Take the most expensive contributing cost (in most cases this will be the cost of cement). Consider, alternate methods of procurement for example buying in larger quantities or from a different supplier. Many suppliers will offer up to 29 tonnes of bulk-bagged cement in one delivery alone. 

Make your process more efficient

A final step would be to look at ways to make your mixing operation more efficient and less wasteful. Can you ensure that you only use the exact amount of materials needed? One great way to do this if you use a batching plant is to look into pre-weight cement. 

“Pre-weighing cement involves weighing in before dosing. Using pre-weight means the cement can be batched at the same time as the sand. The computer already knows the weight of the cement and makes calculated allowances. Using pre-weight cement improves the batching accuracy from +/- 3% to +/- 1%”. 

How modern concrete mixing technology can help you to save money

In the construction industry, concrete is the most necessary and frequently used material. However, it can also lead to environmental damage, and waste of material and money if it is not properly managed. The key to saving, keeping and increasing revenue in projects involving the use of concrete, is the utilisation of alternatives like concrete collection or mobile batching plants.

Concrete Collection

The introduction of the ‘Concrete to collect’ concept has grown across Europe over recent years. The concept is simple for the end customer; instead of waiting for a concrete delivery or mixing yourself you can simply drive up and collect the exact quantity of concrete needed for your project. There are said to be 12 important key customer benefits using this method highlighted in the image below. 

Fig 2: The benefits of collecting concrete in the words of the end customer

Traditionally, concrete collection has been offered by large ready mix plants however this model is often exposed to a number of practical issues such as problems switching recipes, issues with waiting times or producing smaller loads. 

More recently, we have seen businesses with an existing customer base or easy access to aggregates invest in concrete collection technology. These companies are able to offer their local communities a Fibo Collect service which is more economical for the end customer, more profitable for the vendor and better for the environment. 

We are proud to introduce our Fibo Collect batching plant into this market back in 2021. The Fibo Collect solution is a purpose-built self-cleaning, self-collection batching plant that allows customers to collect fully certified fresh concrete at the push of a button. 

Mobile batching plants

Mobile batching plants allow your business to eliminate concrete transportation costs by moving your entire concrete production process between sites. Some of the benefits associated with mobile batching include: 

  • Stay within a budget when you’re in remote areas far from a concrete supplier
  • The inbuilt technology allows you to produce the exact design mix and quantity making your operation more efficient
  • Get fresh certified concrete for maximum performance
  • make huge financial savings on both materials and labour costs over time

In many cases, a mobile batching plant can pay back the initial investment in under 2 years subject to output. 

Fibo Intercon will be happy to assist with any ROI calculation.

Select The Batching Plant For Your Project

Over the years, we have been developing and delivering high-quality solutions all over the world. Our solutions have been ranged from standard mobile batching plants to unique customised solutions, and our batching plants have been used for both small and large-scale building projects.

LET’S FIND THE BEST SOLUTION FOR YOUR PROJECT.

Let’s take your next steps together!

The design of your Fibo solution is often complex. Our technical sales team can support you in selecting a suitable layout and equipment to optimise your productivity and business.