Concrete Industry Equipment

And the Engines that Provide the Power

This post is all about the machines that are essential for concrete professionals to get the job done precisely and efficiently, along with the engines that power them. Whether it’s preparing the jobsite, mixing and pouring cement or adding finishing touches for a level and appealing surface, we’ll cover the equipment used at every phase of the process. Construction equipment is one of the more frequent applications our team comes across when recommending replacement engines, so let’s dive into the unique equipment that is vital for the concrete industry.

The Equipment

Preparation

Whether you’re pouring a concrete slab for a shed or working on a miles-long highway construction project, properly preparing a site for concrete is crucial; a solid foundation prevents cracking, settling, shifting and other structural issues down the road. Before any construction takes place, the site is surveyed, soil is tested, permits are obtained and designs are drawn. Once essential planning and assessment work is complete, physical site preparation can begin. Below are some machines that make efficient and effective use of time on the job.

Excavators

Excavators are powerful machines that use an arm, boom and bucket for efficiently moving rocks, soil, debris and old concrete from sites. These essential pieces of equipment make quick work of demolition and earthmoving tasks. Excavators exist in a variety of sizes from more compact models used in busy or tight spaces up to huge machines used for heavy duty mining.

Explore our replacement engines that power compact/mini excavators.

Loaders

Skid steer loaders, track loaders and backhoe loaders vary in specifications and capabilities, but they all are essential when it comes to lifting and moving materials efficiently. Backhoe loaders offer the most versatility, featuring a front loading bucket for moving material and a hoe attachment on the backend for digging, making them great for excavation projects. Skid steer loaders are very useful for lighter construction work where material moving is needed. As the name suggests, this type of loader allows the operator to steer by skidding. This means one set of tires will lock while the other pair moves freely, quick, tight turns where space may be limited. Lastly, track loaders also feature front loading buckets for moving earth and debris, but utilize tracks for movement rather than wheels. While tracks move slower than wheels, they put less pressure on the working environment and have great traction on sloped or slippery surfaces. Most loaders are compatible with attachments like augers, hammers and rippers that can easily break up tough materials, further increasing their functionality to include applications like excavation and trenching.

Check out our selection of engines that commonly power material moving loaders.

Plate Compactors

Once debris and obstacles have been cleared from the worksite, a dense subgrade is needed to provide a stable foundation for the concrete. That’s where a plate compactor comes in: this type of equipment uses rapid vibration, horizontal movement and a heavy plate to compact ground material and reduce air voids. Compactor plates are a crucial piece of construction equipment for providing compaction over large flat areas as they prevent future structural issues like sinking, settling and cracking.

Honda’s GX160 SMC7 is our most frequently ordered engine when it comes to powering plate compactors. Shop our full collection of plate compactor replacement engines here.

Jumping Jacks / Vibratory Tampers

Jumping jacks, also known as vibratory tampers, are also used to compact ground material, but they function differently than a plate compactor, and are used in different scenarios. A jumping jack machine creates a heavier, vertical, up/down pounding motion. This allows for deep, narrow compaction making it ideal for smaller spaces such as trenches or walkways.

Explore replacement engines that power jumping jacks.

Mixing & Pouring

Concrete / Cement Mixers

Concrete and cement mixers work by rotating a drum basin containing the appropriate ratio of cement, aggregates and water to create a uniform mixture. Revolving internal paddles or blades thoroughly combine the materials for enhanced consistency. What’s the difference between cement and concrete? While the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, cement is a fine powder that acts as a binder; it’s actually an ingredient used to make concrete. Now we have pieces of equipment called cement mixers and concrete mixers - what’s the difference there? This might cause some confusion, but a cement mixer is typically a smaller, lighter duty machine that creates thinner mixtures like mortar. They are often powered by electric motors rather than gas engines and are suited for smaller DIY jobs. A concrete mixer, on the other end, tends to be larger and more capable of handling the heavier weight of concrete ingredients. 

Shop our selection of concrete mixer engines!

Concrete Buggies

A concrete buggy makes quick work of transporting and pouring concrete or other materials on the jobsite. Rather than using a manual wheelbarrow, a concrete buggy is self-powered, oftentimes by a gas engine, putting less strain on the operator and making efficient use of time. A concrete buggy is a valuable piece of equipment for pouring foundations, concrete slabs, sidewalks and more.

Check out our collection of replacement concrete buggy engines.

Power Screeds

Concrete screeds are used to compact and level freshly poured concrete. A manual screed is essentially a long board that is dragged across the wet concrete at the desired height, creating a smooth, level surface. A power screed, as the name suggests, uses an electric motor or gas-powered engine to create high-frequency vibrations for achieving the same results as a manual screed. The vibrations from a power screed help remove air pockets and voids in the wet concrete. 

Shop concrete power screed engines.

Finishing

Power Trowels

While a screed is used to level wet, freshly poured concrete, a power trowel is used to finish and smooth the surface of slightly hardened concrete. This type of equipment can create a smooth, durable and even polished finish to the concrete surface. A power trowel utilizes a couple different types of rotating blades at different stages to achieve the desired finish. First, float blades (also called flat blades) are used to remove any uneven areas, compact the concrete and bring the cement paste to the surface. After the concrete has hardened a bit more, narrower finish blades are used to make the surface smooth and polished. As the concrete hardens more and more, the operator increases the blade angle and pressure, further compacting the surface and creating that shiny finish. There are primarily two types of power trowels: walk-behind models for smaller jobs or confined spaces, or ride-on models for bigger jobs in more open spaces.

Check out our selection of replacement engines for power trowels.

Power Grinders

While concrete power grinders aren’t only used for finishing purposes, they do have the functionality of polishing hardened concrete. Power grinders utilize rotating discs and pads to mechanically grind unwanted material away. More aggressive discs can remove coatings like paint or epoxy and level any uneven surfaces, while finer pads add a shiny, polished finish on concrete surfaces. Gas-powered grinders provide desired results in a fraction of the time.

Explore your engine options for floor grinders.