What is volumetric concrete?
Volumetric concrete is concrete that's mixed on site, at the point of pour, rather than at a fixed batching plant. A volumetric mixer lorry carries the raw materials — cement, sand, aggregates and water — in separate compartments. When it arrives at your site, an onboard batching system measures and mixes the exact quantity and mix design you need, straight into your pour location.
The key difference from traditional ready-mix is that the concrete isn't mixed until you need it. There's no drum of already-mixed concrete ageing on the back of a lorry — the materials stay separate and fresh until the wagon is on your site and ready to pour.
How does a volumetric mixer work?
The mixer has separate compartments for each ingredient. The onboard computer controls the feed rate of cement, sand, aggregate and water to produce the specified mix design. As the materials come together on a conveyor or in a mixing auger, the concrete is mixed fresh and discharged continuously.
Because the batching happens on site, the operator can adjust the mix — the slump, the water content, or additives — if ground conditions or the weather change on the day. You can't do that with concrete that was mixed at a plant an hour ago.
Volumetric concrete vs ready-mix concrete
Traditional ready-mix is batched at a plant, loaded into a drum wagon and driven to site. The concrete is already mixed and the clock is running — the longer the journey, the less working time you have. You also have to order a set quantity, and if you order too much you pay for the surplus; if you order too little, you need a second delivery.
Volumetric concrete avoids both problems. The concrete is mixed fresh on site, so journey time doesn't affect workability. And you only pay for what you pour — if the trench takes 3.2m³, that's all you pay for, not 4m³ rounded up.
When is volumetric concrete the right choice?
For most domestic and small-to-medium commercial pours — driveways, foundations, garage bases, extension slabs, patios — volumetric concrete is usually the better option. You get fresher concrete, exact quantities, and a single delivery for pours up to roughly 8m³.
For very large continuous pours where you need a steady flow of many cubic metres over hours, a traditional ready-mix plant with multiple drum wagons may still be more practical. If you're not sure which suits your project, call us and we'll advise honestly.
Related services
Need concrete for your project? We supply volumetric concrete across South Wales, mixed fresh on site to the exact quantity you need. Request a quote or call 01495 820164.