Comparing two automated batching plant solutions — self-service concrete plant features, specifications, capacity and applications for builders merchants, readymix operators and sand and aggregate yards.
fibo Collect is the pioneering option worldwide for an automated concrete dispensing station that allows drive-through customers to purchase freshly prepared and documented concrete, mortar or screed in exactly the required amount. Designed for everyone who needs smaller loads. From 0.2 m³ up to 1.2m³, the target users include small contractors, landscapers, builders and trade customers.
From an easy-to-use, intuitive touchscreen, customers select the product and quantity they need and pay by credit card, barcode or RFID token at the terminal. Within minutes, the product is dispensed from a conveyor belt directly into a truck or trailer.
What sets fibo Collect apart from every other automated batching system worldwide is its integrated automatic washing system and closed-loop water recycling. The pan mixer is cleaned automatically at timed intervals or after specific recipies, with no operator involvement. The washout water is separated in a washout tank, reconditioned and reused in the next batch. This allows a seamless switch from concrete, to mortar mixes, ensuring there is no contamination in the mixes.
fibo Collect supports concrete, mortar, screed and specialty mixes from a single installation, with up to 100 stored recipes. It is built for scale: for operators who want high throughput, multi-product capability and a fully unattended operation.
fibo Smart is a practical, flexible self-service concrete batching plant with smaller recipe capabilities, that still produces exactly the amount of concrete required, without material loss or wasted time. More comparable to other automated concrete production options worldwide, fibo Smart is developed for everyday professional use and offers maximum flexibility, reliability and strong productivity for any site.
With footprints of only 67 m², the fibo Smart mixing plant fits almost anywhere, whether in a building materials store, on a storage yard, or directly on a construction site. It is available in two configurations: the FS1200 (two silo chambers, compact) and the F1200 (four silo chambers, higher output). The models require less site preparation than fibo Collect and can be commissioned faster, making it a natural entry point for those new to self-service batching.
fibo Smart is built on the same engineering heritage as fibo Collect, the same advanced PLC control system, the same focus on durability, and the same drive-through customer experience, at a more accessible commercial entry point to the collect market.
Both systems follow the same fundamental batching process: aggregate is weighed into the pan mixer, cement is dosed via an auger from the silo, water is added to specification, the batch is mixed, and the finished product is discharged via a conveyor belt onto the customer’s vehicle.
From scan to loaded vehicle: typically under five minutes.
fibo Collect uses true weighed batching, a flowmeter and additive pump control system that measures ingredients by weight, with active moisture probes (up to five) compensating for aggregate moisture content in real time. This produces consistent, certifiable mixes regardless of material or weather conditions.
fibo Smart uses timed dosing with standard pumps, reliable and accurate for semi-dry concrete production, with less complexity and lower power requirements.
|
Component |
Detail |
|
Aggregate hoppers |
2–4 standard hoppers (2.4 m³ each, extendable to 3.9 m³); up to 10 hoppers with FP Inliner |
|
Pan mixer |
1,200 L, 1,800, or 22,00 L gross volume; 18.5 kW or 30 kW motor |
|
Conveyor belt |
Hydraulic with manual override; 0.8 m or 1.0 m belt width; lengths 6–14 m; adjustable outlet height |
|
Cement silo |
Integrated cement storage |
|
Cement auger |
Precision cement dosing into the mixing cycle |
|
Payment terminal |
RFID token, credit card and POS barcode (in-store payment) |
|
Automated cleaning system |
High-pressure automated pan mixer wash after every batch |
|
Washout water recycling unit |
Separates and reconditions washout water for reuse |
|
Moisture probes |
Up to 5, active aggregate moisture compensation |
|
Additive pump and flowmeter |
High-quality time-based dosing with electromagnetic flowmeter; up to 4 additive types |
|
Fibre dispenser |
Automated synthetic fibre dispensing (optional) |
|
Component |
Detail |
|
Aggregate hoppers |
2 hoppers (FS1200) or 4 hoppers (F1200); up to 9.6 m³ total capacity |
|
Pan mixer |
1,200 L gross / 800 L net; 15 kW motor |
|
Static conveyor belt |
Fixed height discharge |
|
Cement silo |
Integrated cement storage |
|
Cement auger |
Cement dosing |
|
Operating terminal |
Barcode-activated with integrated payment |
|
Advanced PLC control system |
Same software architecture as fibo Collect |
Automatic Washing The integrated automated high-pressure cleaning system washes the pan mixer immediately after specific batches or on a scheduled cycle. This is the single feature that most differentiates fibo Collect from every other system in the market.
Integrated Water Recycling The built-in washout water recycling unit separates washout from water and reconditions the water for reuse in subsequent batches and washout. Reduced water costs, reduced waste disposal, and a demonstrably cleaner production process.
Loose Aggregates Option (FP Inliner model) The FP Inliner configuration allows builders merchants and aggregate yards to combine batching with loose aggregate sales from a single installation, up to 10 large hoppers, with volumes of 10 m³, 15 m³ or 25 m³ per box. This creates a genuine one-stop shop: concrete, mortar, screed and aggregates, all self-service, all automated.
Full Product Range from a Single Machine Concrete, mortar, screed and specialty mixes, with up to 100 stored recipes and fast automated switching between product types.
Fully Unattended Operation Minimal operator intervention at every stage batching, payment, reporting means fibo Collect can operate without the risks associated with manual plant.
Remote Monitoring and Cloud Management via fibo Link, operators have real-time visibility of production, inventory and diagnostics from anywhere. Recipe and pricing management, aggregate stock levels and production reporting are all managed remotely.
Certifiable to EN 206 or BS1008 – True weighed batching with active moisture compensation enables EN 206 certification, relevant for owners supplying documented concrete to professional contractors.
Flexible Deployment A footprint of just 67 m² and a 32A power supply mean fibo Smart can be installed on sites where a larger system is not practical.
Faster Commissioning Lower site preparation requirements and simpler infrastructure mean fibo Smart reaches operational status faster than fibo Collect, an important consideration for operators who want to enter the market quickly.
High Productivity for Concrete 15–30 m³/hour output for semi-dry concrete, with up to 60 stored recipes and the same drive-through customer experience as fibo Collect.
Automated Quality Control The advanced PLC control system and barcode-triggered batching cycle ensure every batch is accurately produced to recipe, removing operator variability from the process.
Entry-Level Commercial Investment fibo Smart provides a proven, fibo intercon-engineered route into automated batching at a lower initial cost, with a clear upgrade path to fibo Collect as volumes and ambitions grow.
Self-service batching is a natural extension of a builder’s merchant’s product offering. Contractors visiting daily to collect small volumes of concrete, mortar or screed no longer need to rely on labour or travel to a large readymix plant not built for small volumes. The merchant captures a new revenue stream with minimal labour overhead.
fibo Collect is particularly well-suited to larger, established merchants who want to offer the full product range, including mortar and screed
Readymix Concrete Operations
For readymix operators, self-service batching addresses the market segment that bulk delivery trucks cannot serve efficiently, small orders from individual contractors, landscapers and tradespeople who can collect on their way to a job. Rather than declining or deprioritising small-volume orders, a fibo Collect or fibo Smart installation captures this demand.
Aggregate yards are naturally positioned for fibo Collect’s FP Inliner configuration, combining loose aggregate sales with concrete batching from a single site. This extends the yard’s revenue potential and attracts a wider customer base, including contractors who previously had no reason to visit.
|
Specification |
fibo Collect |
fibo Smart |
|
Output per hour |
5–40 m³ |
15–30 m³ |
|
Batch size |
0.25–1.4 m³ |
0.25-0.5 m³ |
|
Max hopper capacity |
15.6 m³ |
9.6 m³ |
|
Stored recipes |
Up to 100 |
Up to 60 |
|
Product range |
Concrete, mortar, screed, specialty |
Concrete and screed or mortar only |
|
Batching accuracy |
±3% |
±6% |
|
Feature |
fibo Collect |
fibo Smart |
|
Automation level |
High |
Medium |
|
Automated cleaning |
Fully integrated wash system |
Dry clean |
|
Water recycling |
Yes — closed-loop |
Not included |
|
Remote monitoring |
Yes — via fibo Link |
Not available |
|
Cloud management |
Yes |
Not available |
|
Payment integration |
RFID, card, POS barcode |
Card / barcode |
|
EN 206 or BS1008 certifiable |
Yes |
Not without additional flowmeter |
|
Power requirement |
63A |
32A |
fibo intercon is a leading global manufacturer of mobile and semi-mobile concrete batching plants, with over 90 years of engineering expertise. The company combines deep technical knowledge with a clear commitment to digital innovation and sustainable production.
Credentials:
“Our philosophy towards product development is simple: innovation, digitalisation and sustainability.” — Henrik B. Jeppesen, CEO, fibo intercon
What is a self-service concrete batching plant? An automated system that allows customers to order, pay for and collect precisely batched concrete, mortar or screed without operator assistance. The customer interacts with a terminal to trigger the batching cycle; the machine handles weighing, mixing, discharge and cleaning.
What makes fibo Collect different from other automated batching plants? fibo Collect is the only system in the world that combines a fully automated high-pressure pan mixer cleaning cycle with integrated closed-loop washout water recycling as standard.
What is the difference between fibo Collect and fibo Smart? fibo Collect is the premium system, supporting concrete, mortar, screed and specialty mixes with automated cleaning, water recycling, remote monitoring and a full digital ecosystem. fibo Smart is the entry-level system, focused primarily on semi-dry concrete production, with a smaller footprint and simpler infrastructure requirements.
What output can fibo Collect achieve? Between 10 m³/hour and up to 40 m³/hour.
Can fibo Collect produce mortar and screed as well as concrete? Yes. fibo Collect supports concrete, mortar, screed and specialty mixes from a single installation, with up to 100 stored recipes and automated switching between product types.
What payment methods are supported? Both systems support credit card payment and POS barcode (pay at counter, scan at plant). fibo Collect additionally supports RFID token payment for account customers.
Can fibo Collect operate unattended? Yes. Automated batching, cleaning, payment processing and remote monitoring mean fibo Collect can operate with minimal operator involvement.
What is the FP Inliner configuration? The FP Inliner is fibo Collect’s highest-capacity configuration, combining a stand-alone batching plant with multiple large aggregate hoppers (up to 10, in volumes of 10–25 m³ per box). It enables aggregate yards and larger merchants to offer loose aggregate sales alongside batching from a single installation.
How long does a fibo plant last? A well-maintained fibo Collect or fibo Smart installation has a service life of 15–20 years. Many fibo machines have been in active operation for over 20 years.
What support does fibo intercon provide? fibo intercon’s partner network provides experienced on-site support throughout installation. Every customer is invited to attend a Factory Acceptance Test in Denmark.
