Masonry Magazine March 2008 Page. 18
Mixers, Pumps and Delivery Systems
Innovative designs reduce labor and save masons money. By Brett Martin. Image Courtesy of EZ Grout Corporation.
New mixers, pumps and delivery systems are answering masonry contractors' call for equipment that can perform well on the jobsite, withstand vigorous use and reduce labor costs. Equipment introduced to the market within the last year has been built tough, while requiring fewer operators.
"Mixers today are being built to last years instead of months," says Damian Lang, president of EZ Grout Corp. in Waterford, Ohio. "Until a few years ago, mason contractors considered most mixers to be throw-away mixers, while only planning for a year or two of use out of their purchases. Today, the trend is moving toward investing in a quality mixer upfront that will last for years and will not break down during use."
Langs says most contractors realize that a breakdown is more costly than spending a little extra money to buy higher quality equipment in the first place.
"Only 30 percent of the cost of a piece of equipment is incurred the day it is purchased," he says. "The other 70 percent is incurred during use. Therefore, buying on price alone is a losing proposition. A contractor can save money the day he buys the piece of equipment or every day he uses it. Most would rather be paid back daily, after the purchase has been made."
16 Masonry March 2008 www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry