The Basics of Concrete Pumping Technology

From its inception, concrete pumping revolutionized the concrete industry. Previous methods of concrete placement could be inefficient and hazardous, especially on large-scale projects. In its most rudimentary form, these historical methods of placement involved shuttling wheelbarrows full of concrete from the mixer across vast and obstacle filled job sites, then placing the concrete in the formwork by hand, which required much time and manpower. Concrete pumping technology has mechanized and streamlined this process, allowing for greater volumes of concrete to be placed with fewer workers needed. And when employed by experienced commercial concrete contractors in San Francisco, the benefits of the technology are felt by the customer in the quality of the finished product and the impact on their bottom line.  

Concrete pumping process

Concrete pumps have four basic components: a hopper, auger, valve system, and a hose. Often, concrete pumps also have a boom which extends the reach of the hose so the pump can be stationed several meters from the area of placement, both vertically and horizontally. In the pumping process, concrete mixtures are fed into the hopper, which has a mesh grate that sifts out any over-large aggregate that could potentially clog the hose. From the hopper the concrete is continually turned in the auger, keeping the mixture liquid and flowable as it is funneled to the valve system. There are several types of valve systems, such as s-valve or ball valves, but they essentially work to intake, pressurize, and pump the concrete into the hose. The valve system, which is both hydraulic and electrical, accomplishes this with multiple cylinders, each taking in concrete and expelling it into the hose in alternating strokes. For example, while cylinder one is being filled with concrete from the hopper and auger, cylinder two is pushing out its concrete load into the hose, then each cylinder switches positions with the next stroke. The valve system propels the concrete through the hose and can be pumped great distances. The booms provide a scaffolding for the hose, and some concrete boom pump models can reach 64 meters vertically.

Concrete pumping applications

Commercial concrete contractors have a variety of uses for concrete pumps. They allow for fast, consistent concrete placement for large horizontal slabs or to place concrete in towering vertical formwork. The Conco Companies, which provides various concrete pumping solutions in San Francisco, notably utilized concrete boom pumps in their work on the repair of the eastern span of the Bay Bridge replacement. With their inventory of concrete pumps they were able to place concrete in difficult to access injection points in the formwork, pumping concrete up to 250 feet.

The Conco Companies’ mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western U.S. and to bring expertise and incomparable quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand our facilities to better serve the growing market for commercial, educational, parking structures, public works projects, and other development. Contact us to learn more about the services from one of the most trusted concrete contractors in San Francisco.