The self-loading concrete mixer integrates the three major processes of concrete production, transportation, and pouring into a single integrated solution, revolutionizing traditional construction site workflows through intelligent operation.
This new type of equipment can complete the entire workflow with a single machine, not only saving up to 60% of site space but also reducing the production cycle for each batch of concrete from the traditional 40 minutes to under 15 minutes.
The use of this self loading concrete mixer truck can on average shorten the construction period by 30-45% and reduce the overall cost by 25-35%. One operator can precisely control the entire process from raw material loading, automatic proportioning to on-site pouring, ensuring the consistency of concrete quality through the control system.
The self-loading mixer truck, a multifunctional piece of equipment that combines “automatic loading, precise mixing, efficient transportation, and flexible unloading,” is referred to by the industry as a “mobile mini concrete mixing plant.”
Its core value lies in integrating functional components and technological innovation to compress the traditional four-step process of “material mixing – mixing – transportation – pouring” into a single closed-loop operation within a single machine, thereby fundamentally enhancing the efficiency of concrete construction.
The hydraulic bucket system on the self-loading concrete mixer truck can directly scoop raw materials from the material pile and precisely convey them to the metering hopper via an internal conveyor belt. Taking the EPDAS 5.5m³ model as an example, its hydraulic bucket has a very high single-scoop capacity. Combined with a positioning system, the loading accuracy error can be controlled within ±1.5%, achieving over five times the efficiency of traditional manual loading.
Automated mixing process: “unmanned” operation from raw materials to pouring
Traditional concrete mixing requires manual weighing, feeding, and monitoring of mixing time, which is not only time-consuming but also prone to human error that can affect concrete quality. The new generation of self loading mixing trucks uses an intelligent control system to achieve full process automation:
Automatic material loading: Hydraulic buckets function like precise “mechanical arms,” securely grasping raw materials such as cement and aggregates, and automatically feeding them into the mixing drum according to pre-set ratios. The whole process does not require manual handling of raw materials, nor does it need to repeatedly calibrate the dosage, thus avoiding possible errors and omissions in manual operation.
Intelligent mixing: The rotation speed and mixing duration of the drum are automatically adjusted according to the type of concrete, ensuring that cement, aggregates, and water are thoroughly mixed. This prevents both under-mixing (“under-mixing”) and over-mixing (“over-mixing”) issues.
Automatic unloading: Upon arriving at the concrete pouring site, operators simply set the appropriate unloading angle and flow rate on the touchscreen control panel, and the concrete flows out uniformly and continuously through the discharge port.
From the moment raw materials are fed into the equipment until the final concrete product is precisely poured into the designated location, no additional personnel are required to operate the system. This not only enhances efficiency but also further ensures the reliability and safety of construction operations.
Agile Design + All-Terrain Capability: Breaking Through Site Limitations
Traditional mixing equipment is limited by its size, often struggling to maneuver in narrow construction sites or complex terrains. The design of the new generation of self-loading mixer trucks addresses this pain point:
Compact design: With a vehicle width of just 2.2–3 meters and a turning radius of less than 6 meters, it can easily navigate narrow spaces such as alleys in urban villages or basement entrances.
All-terrain adaptability: Four-wheel drive power combined with high ground clearance enables stable operation on muddy dirt roads, 30° slopes, and gravel surfaces without relying on paved roads.
Flexible steering: Some models are equipped with a crab mode (four-wheel diagonal driving), allowing precise positioning and alignment with the pouring point even in extremely narrow spaces.
Whether in densely populated urban areas or remote mountainous construction sites, it can be “on-call” at any time, enabling concrete production and pouring without being constrained by site conditions.
Functional integration: one machine replaces multiple machines
The inefficiency of traditional concrete construction is largely due to the “multi-machine division of labor” causing process disruptions: raw material mixers, batching plants, and finished product transport vehicles—the more steps involved, the longer the waiting time. The new generation of self-loading mixer trucks addresses this issue through a “four-in-one” design:
Replaces batching plants: Equipped with a weighing system, it mixes cement, sand, gravel, and water on-site in the correct proportions, eliminating the need for pre-mixed materials from fixed batching plants.
Replaces concrete mixers: The drum features a double-spiral blade design, improving mixing uniformity by 20% compared to traditional equipment, meeting the requirements for high-strength concrete.
Replaces concrete mixer trucks: No additional vehicles are needed for transfer; after mixing, the truck can directly proceed to the pouring site, reducing the time and loss associated with “secondary handling.”
Replaces unloading pump trucks: The unloading height can reach 3-5 meters, and with an extendable unloading chute, concrete can be directly delivered into the formwork, eliminating the need for pump truck rental costs.
A single machine completes the entire process of “mixing – transportation – unloading,” simplifying construction from a complex “multi-machine collaboration” model to an efficient “single-machine closed-loop” model.
Precise loading and unloading: Reduce waste from the source and ensure concrete performance
Material waste and quality fluctuations are two major challenges in traditional construction. The new generation of self loader concrete mixers optimizes loading and unloading design to achieve “double improvement”:
Precise loading: Hydraulic gripping devices combined with load cells ensure raw material usage errors are controlled within 2%, eliminating “over-pouring and spillage” during manual loading, reducing material waste by 5%-8% per batch.
Controlled unloading: A buffer device is installed at the discharge port, allowing the concrete flow rate to be infinitely adjusted from 0-10 m³/h. This prevents “impact segregation” (separation of aggregates and cement) during traditional unloading, ensuring uniform pouring quality.
Optimized residual material handling: The inner walls of the drum are coated with an anti-adhesive coating, reducing residual material to less than 0.5% after unloading, thereby reducing water consumption for cleaning and manual cleanup time.
From raw material input to finished product pouring, the entire process controls waste and quality risks, ensuring that every cubic meter of concrete is “fully utilized.”
Intelligent scene adaptation: Automatically switches modes based on construction requirements
Different projects have varying requirements for concrete. The new generation of self-loading mixer trucks achieves “one machine for multiple needs” through scene-based design:
Residential construction mode: For low-rise residential pouring, automatically reduces mixing intensity to save energy; slows unloading speed to facilitate manual vibration.
Infrastructure engineering mode: For high-strength requirements such as bridges and roads, automatically increases mixing speed and extends mixing time to ensure concrete compressive strength meets standards.
Emergency Repair Mode: In cases of road collapses or other emergency projects, a single button activates the “rapid production” program, accelerating the entire process of loading, mixing, and unloading by 30%, thereby reducing repair time.
The self-loading concrete mixer truck addresses the issues of fragmented processes and low efficiency in traditional concrete construction through its innovative “loading-mixing-pouring” integrated design.
This highly integrated working mode not only shortens the cycle of a single work by over 40%, but also saves more than 30% of the comprehensive cost for engineering projects by reducing equipment configuration and human resource requirements. Its compact and flexible design features are particularly suitable for engineering scenarios with strict requirements for construction efficiency, such as urban renewal and transportation infrastructure.
Modern construction projects demand higher levels of mobility from construction equipment, particularly in urban projects with limited space. Self-loading concrete mixers demonstrate unique site adaptability advantages with their exceptional maneuverability: a compact body design combined with a flexible steering system enables them to navigate narrow alleys or rugged terrain where traditional mixing equipment cannot access.
They can meet the continuous pouring requirements of large-scale infrastructure projects while also adapting to the scattered work scenarios of urban renovation projects. It has become a core piece of equipment for modern construction teams to enhance operational efficiency, playing an irreplaceable role in various infrastructure projects such as residential construction, road construction, and bridge building.
The self loading concrete mixer machine adopts an advanced control system. Through precise metering and proportioning, it ensures that the material proportioning error of each batch of concrete is controlled within 0.5%. Make the uniformity of concrete reach over 98%, meeting the strict requirements of various projects for the strength and durability of concrete.
This standardized production process not only eliminates quality variations inherent in traditional manual mixing but also provides reliable assurance for structural safety and service life. Practical engineering applications demonstrate that projects utilizing self-loading mixers can consistently maintain concrete strength compliance rates above 99%.
Labor is one of the biggest expenses in the construction industry. The traditional methods of concrete mixing and transportation require multiple workers to load, transport and pour concrete, resulting in an increase in labor costs. The self-loading mixer truck reduces the need for additional workers because the equipment can simultaneously complete multiple tasks such as loading, mixing and transportation.
The self-loading mixer truck is equipped with an integrated hydraulic loading system, typically operated by a hydraulic shovel or bucket, enabling direct pickup of raw materials from the ground. No additional loaders or equipment are required. The truck features an intelligent grab bucket capable of directly loading aggregates, cement, and water, thereby simplifying material handling processes while reducing labor and equipment costs.
The advanced hydraulic-driven mixing drum ensures concrete is mixed uniformly, with uniformity exceeding 98%. The mixing drum is the core component of the self-loading mixer truck. It is also used to uniformly mix raw materials into a consistent, homogeneous concrete mixture. The drum is typically driven by a hydraulic system, allowing for better control of the mixing process. EPDAS’s self-loading mixer truck models feature a reverse drum, enabling quick and direct unloading of concrete at the worksite.
The self-loading mixer truck is small in size and comes in both integrated and articulated structures. Thanks to its flexible design, this equipment performs well in narrow urban construction sites where traditional mixers cannot operate, and can move around any area without any problems.
Four-wheel steering with front-rear coordinated steering system enables “crab walk” mode, achieving lateral positioning accuracy of ±5 cm. Despite its compact size, it can still carry heavy loads and operate under harsh working conditions. These units are robust and reliable, even in the most extreme environments.
Modern equipment features a touchscreen interface that monitors mixing status in real time and automatically adjusts settings to ensure consistent batching accuracy (≤0.5% error). The automated system reduces human error, optimizes water-cement ratio, and improves concrete quality. This closed-loop control of “real-time monitoring – automatic adjustment” ensures that the workability, strength and other indicators of each batch of concrete remain highly consistent.
♦ Time Efficiency Revolution: Seamless Integration Throughout the Entire Process
Rapid Response Capability
• Transition from transportation to operational status within 10 minutes
• 60% reduction in site preparation time compared to traditional equipment
• Supports a mobile deployment mode that allows for immediate use upon arrival
Continuous Production System
• Innovative “mixing-pumping” synchronous technology
• Single unit achieves uninterrupted concrete supply
• Slump retention time extended to 90 minutes
• Industry-leading daily production capacity exceeding 300 m³
♦ Labor Efficiency Breakthrough: Intelligent Operation Transformation
Streamlined Labor Configuration
• Single-person operation for the entire loading/mixing/pumping process
• 75% reduction in labor compared to traditional processes
• Labor costs reduced by 40-60%
Intelligent Safety Protection
• Equipped with a three-level collision warning system
• Automatic identification of personnel within the operational radius
• Dual confirmation mechanism for critical operations
• Accident rate reduced to 0.3 incidents per 10,000 work hours
♦ Quality control upgrade: Ensuring project reliability
Precision mixing ratio control
• Utilizes 0.1-grade precision load cells
• Water-cement ratio fluctuation controlled within ±0.5%
• 28-day strength coefficient of variation ≤3%
All-Terrain Adaptability Solution
• Stable operation capability on slopes up to 45°
• Water crossing depth of 1.5 meters
• Cold start capability at -25°C
• Modular quick-change devices to meet diverse requirements
In the current context where construction projects are heating up, self-loading concrete mixers, with their highly efficient and flexible features, are becoming a popular choice for engineering investors. But in the face of a wide variety of products on the market, how to choose the most suitable model?
The volume of the mixing drum directly determines the output per batch. Currently, the mainstream models of EPDAS include 2.0 cubic meters, 2.5 cubic meters, 3.5 cubic meters, and 5.5 m³ self loading concrete mixer, among others. The appropriate model should be selected based on the project’s average daily concrete consumption:
Micro model (1.6-2.0m³) : Suitable for scattered projects such as self-built houses in rural areas and small-scale municipal maintenance, with a daily output controlled within 50m³.
Standard model (2.6-4m³) : Suitable for medium-sized projects such as commercial housing construction and county road construction, with a daily production capacity of up to 150m³.
Large model (4-5.5m³) : Specifically designed for large-scale projects such as high-speed railway Bridges and commercial complexes, it supports continuous operation of 300m³ per day.
In addition, when choosing a self concrete mixer truck, it is also necessary to consider that the selection of the cab layout will affect the operation experience and construction efficiency. The cab provides the operator with an unobstructed view of loading and unloading. Key operation links such as material grasping and mixing status observation during the loading process are all within sight. It is particularly suitable for complex working conditions that require precise control of loading and unloading.
The core performance of a self loading mobile concrete mixer depends on the quality of its key components. Differences in configuration can result in a 3-5 year difference in equipment lifespan and a 20% or more difference in work efficiency. When purchasing, pay attention to three configurations:
The tank of the self loading cement mixer is the component that directly contacts the concrete. The material and process determine the uniformity of the mixing and the wear resistance.
Material thickness: Currently, the industry-recognized high-quality standard is 6mm thick manganese steel plate, which has strong impact resistance and can effectively resist the long-term friction of sand and gravel.
Internal structure: The inner wall of a high-quality tank is designed with double helical blades, which can ensure the rapid and uniform mixing of concrete (reducing the mixing time by 15% compared to ordinary blades), and also minimize the residual amount during unloading.
Hydraulic motors and reducers: Choose a high-quality brands to ensure stable hydraulic system pressure and significantly reduce leakage failure rates. During continuous operation, this helps avoid downtime caused by hydraulic oil leaks, ensuring stable operation for over 8 hours per day.
Chassis and tires: Select based on the work site — ordinary highway tires can be chosen for urban road construction, while off-road tires are required for mountainous or muddy terrain. The tires of EPDAS’s self-loading mixer trucks are specially designed for rugged terrain, featuring thickened tires with a tread depth of 20 millimeters, providing a 40% increase in traction and capable of handling slopes up to 30 degrees. Chassis recommendations include established brands such as Dongfeng and Foton.
Radiator: Adopts a dual-path heat dissipation design of oil and water to maintain hydraulic oil temperature below 58°C in high-temperature environments, preventing system efficiency degradation caused by overheating. Conventional single-circuit radiators may trigger overheating alarms in environments exceeding 35°C.
Control Panel: Prioritize models with touchscreen displays for convenient operation, supporting features like self-diagnosis of faults. The low operational complexity allows new operators to be trained and ready to work in just one day, reducing the error rate by 50% compared to traditional mechanical control panels.
A self loading mixer truck has a service life of 8-10 years, so choosing the right manufacturer is very important. Services such as equipment maintenance, spare parts supply, and technical support directly affect the actual efficiency of the equipment. The following points should be considered:
Choose manufacturers with technical patents, as their equipment is often more refined in detail and can control ingredient errors to within 1%, while non-patented products may have errors of up to 5%. At the same time, check whether they have passed ISO9001 quality system certification and whether the production line has automated welding equipment.
When equipment malfunctions, the ability to repair it quickly directly affects construction progress. High-quality manufacturers such as EPDAS can promise: 24-hour remote diagnosis, real-time monitoring of equipment status through the Internet of Things system, and 90% of minor faults can be resolved through remote guidance without waiting for a technician to arrive on site. For major faults, parts can be shipped and delivered to the site, and the parts warehouse stocks commonly used consumable parts to avoid construction stoppages.
Self-loading mixer trucks, as a key piece of equipment in modern construction projects, combine loading, mixing, and transportation functions into one. Through their hopper systems, high-efficiency mixing devices, and precise control systems, they can adapt to the unique requirements of various construction scenarios.
For construction professionals, understanding its construction efficiency advantages not only enables more informed equipment selection but also revitalizes the entire construction process. Purchasing a self-loading mixer truck is an investment in more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable construction methods. Contact us for more information on self-loading mixer trucks!
