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Machines & equipment
Construction & Concrete Equipment
Mixing, placing, compacting, breaking and drilling equipment for civil and construction work.
Overview
What this covers
Stage
Which part of the work the machine serves.
Power
Electric, petrol or diesel, by site supply.
Duty
How many hours a day it runs.
Equipment
Machines in this group
Marked by how we normally hold them. Availability is confirmed at quotation.
Mixers
Batching concrete and mortar on site.
Vibrators
Removing air voids from placed concrete.
Compaction
Consolidating sub-base and backfill.
Finishing
Working the surface after placing.
Cutting
Cutting hardened concrete and slabs.
Breaking & drilling
Demolition and forming openings.
Core drilling
Clean round openings through concrete.
Surface preparation
Grinding and chasing.
Applications
Typical work
- Batching and placing concrete for slabs, columns and footings
- Consolidating sub-base before paving or flooring
- Finishing large floor pours
- Breaking out slabs, screed and masonry
- Preparing surfaces before flooring or coating
Who buys these
Trades and teams
Power
Power and drive options
Site power decides more than anything else here. Small breakers, rotary hammers and grinders run from a normal single-phase supply. Larger mixers, floor saws and compaction equipment are often petrol or diesel, precisely because sites frequently have no supply at all in the early stages.
Where three-phase machines are being considered, confirm what the site actually has before selecting. A three-phase machine on a single-phase site is an expensive mistake, and generators sized for it are a further cost.
Comparison
How the options compare
| Plate compactor | Rammer | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary action | Vibrating plate over the surface | Impact stamping in one spot |
| Best on | Granular fill, sand, paving base | Cohesive soil, narrow trenches |
| Coverage | Wider area per pass | Narrow, deeper effect |
| Typical use | Paving, driveways, larger areas | Trench backfill, confined spaces |
| Handling | Heavier, guided | Lighter to move, harder to control |
| Availability | Supplier-confirmed availability | Supplier-confirmed availability |
Choosing
How to choose
- Start with the work stage. Mixing, compacting, finishing and breaking are separate machines. Establish which you need before comparing models.
- Confirm the site power. Single phase, three phase, or none at all. This rules options in or out immediately.
- Consider how often it runs. A machine used weekly and one used continuously are different duty classes, and the cheaper one fails first under heavy use.
- Match capacity to the pour. A mixer sized for a small repair will not serve a slab, and one sized for a slab is awkward for small work.
- Budget for consumables. Breaker points, discs, blades and vibrator needles are consumed. They are part of the running cost, not an afterthought.
Accessories
What goes with it
Accessories
Consumables and wear parts
Safety equipment
Ownership
Maintenance, spares and service
Petrol and diesel machines need oil changes, air filter cleaning and fuel management. Electric machines need brush inspection on brushed motors and cable checks. Every machine on a construction site accumulates dust, and dust is what kills bearings and motors.
Record the serial number when the machine arrives, and keep the invoice. Both are needed for a warranty claim, and serial numbers are how spare parts are matched years later.
Price
What affects the price
- Machine type and class
- Power rating and drive type
- Capacity
- Duty rating
- Brand
- Motor type
- Accessories included in the package
- Warranty and service terms
- Spare parts availability
- Quantity ordered
- Delivery requirements
Availability
What affects availability and lead time
- Breakers, rotary hammers and grinders move fastest
- Mixers, compactors and core drills are available through the supplier network in limited quantity
- Power trowels, large cutters and heavy compaction equipment are sourced on order
- Specific capacities and three-phase models usually need supplier confirmation
- Larger machines need transport planning as well as sourcing
Quotation
What to send with an enquiry
- The application — what work the machine will do
- The material being worked on
- Capacity required, if you know it
- Power available on site, and whether it is single or three phase
- Electric, battery, petrol or diesel preference
- How often the machine will be used
- Quantity, and any preferred brand
- A photograph of the existing machine if replacing one
Avoid
Common mistakes
- Choosing a machine before confirming what power the site has
- Buying a light-duty machine for continuous use
- Forgetting consumables, which then hold the job up
- Assuming a three-phase model can run on single phase
Questions
Frequently asked
What machine do I need to break concrete?
A demolition hammer for breaking, or a rotary hammer if you also need to drill. Demolition hammers only break; rotary hammers drill and can do light breaking.
For slabs and floors, a heavier breaker suits. For walls, openings and lighter work, a rotary hammer is usually enough and far more portable.
What type of concrete vibrator should I use?
Needle vibrators are the common choice for columns, beams and slabs — the needle goes into the wet concrete and drives out air. Needle diameter is chosen for the section being poured and the reinforcement spacing.
Tell us the section size and reinforcement and we will identify suitable options against manufacturer specifications.
Plate compactor or rammer?
Plate compactor for granular fill over a wider area; rammer for cohesive soil and narrow trenches. The compactor vibrates across the surface, the rammer stamps in one place with more concentrated effect.
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