Choosing a new concrete batch plant that suits your mobility needs can be tricky.
A new portable concrete batch plant’s price tag is often lower than a self-erecting mobile concrete batch plant, but…the winning choice often is the self-erecting batch plant. Here’s the breakdown:
This price difference often deters a concrete ready-mix producer from choosing the self-erecting batch plant option, but is that the best option when looking at continual cost over the life of the batch plant?
As construction projects grow in size it seems concrete ready-mix producers receive more requests to set-up a portable concrete batch plant on a contractor’s site. Having the ability as a ready-mix concrete producer to fulfill these demands is beneficial to both the contractor and producer. The contractor gains peace of mind that his production demands and delivery schedules will be met. The ready-mix producer gains increased revenue, maintaining daily contractor demands, and the need for less trucks to deliver the product.
The biggest question now is what style of plant should the ready-mix producer buy? Depending on how often the new concrete batch plant will be moved from site to site helps make the choice a little easier. The below chart gives an estimated overall purchasing and setup cost of a portable concrete batch plant and a self erecting concrete batch plant. If the goal is moving the new plant often, the choice becomes a little clearer.
| Job Site Batch Plant | Portable | Self-Erecting |
| Basic base plant cost of a 12 yard batch plant with loader fed aggregate | $240,000 | $285,000 |
| Batch computer system | $32,000 | $32,000 |
| Foundation Mats | Not Available | $9,000 |
| Factory Freight | $8,000 | $6,000 |
| Concrete Batch Plant Total: | $280,000 | $332,000 |
| Job Site Move On/Off Cost | Portable | Self-Erecting |
| Foundation estimated, including Demolition and haul-off | $28,000 | $0 |
| Estimated erection & freight | $23,000 | $11,000 |
| Job Site Cost Total: | $51,000 | $11,000 |
Although the portable concrete batch plant’s initial cost is lower, the continual job site moving cost per location will make the self-erecting mobile concrete batch plant the superior choice.