Ready-mix concrete is concrete that is manufactured in a batch plant, according to a set engineered mix design. Ready-mix concrete is normally delivered in two ways.

First is the barrel truck or in–transit mixers. This type of truck delivers concrete in a plastic state to the site.

Second is the volumetric concrete mixer. This delivers the ready mix in a dry state and then mixes the concrete on site.

Batch plants combine a precise amount of rock, sand, water and cement together by weight, allowing specialty concrete mixtures to be developed and implemented on construction sites. The first ready-mix factory was built in the 1930s, but the industry did not begin to expand significantly until the 1960s, and it has continued to grow since then.

Ready-mix concrete is often preferred over other materials due to the cost and wide range of uses, from bird baths to high rise buildings and bridges. It has a long life span when compared to other products of a similar use, like road ways. It has an average life span of 30 years under high traffic areas.

Ready-mix concrete, or RMC as it’s also known, refers to concrete that is specifically batched or manufactured for customers’ construction projects. It is a mixture of Portland cement, water and aggregates: sand, gravel, or crushed stone. All aggregates should be of a washed type material with limited amounts of fines or dirt and clay. Ready-mix concrete is bought and sold by volume – usually expressed in cubic meters (cubic yards in the US).

Ready-mix concrete is batched or manufactured under controlled conditions. It can be transported and placed at site using a number of methods.