The decision of buying a flooring compound mixer or a pump can be challenging. Very likely, you have already invested significant amounts of money in other equipment such as floor grinders, shot blasters and dust vacs. These are important for preparing the surface; now, you need the right gear to mix and apply the coating to the floor.
You need to make the right decision and purchase the correct mixer to ensure you maximize the return on your entire investment.
The following 5-Questions below will help you to clarify what is best for you. By careful consideration of these questions and noting down the “must-haves”, you will find the right choice easier to decide.
1. What is your budget?
Invest in your profitability and reputation.
After having invested in expensive equipment to prepare the floor, you can’t afford to sacrifice the final result now with a bad investment in the wrong mixing and application gear. Just as you cannot possibly afford to waste money on cheap, under-performing equipment, you also don’t need to overcapitalize on expensive equipment that may be inefficient for you. You need equipment that will perform well, provide a good return on investment, and produce the quality of finish your reputation is built on.
Don’t short-change yourself! Spend it once - spend it right!
2. What are the operational requirements or constraints of your typical project?
Are the projects you work on typically easy to access with your equipment, such as access through standard doors and into elevators? Will you require special transport or handling gear for your new equipment? The size and weight of large equipment may not be an issue on big projects, but access and operational convenience on smaller commercial and residential projects access are important considerations.
3. Is it important for your equipment to be flexible and scalable for different projects?
- Do you have multiple crews working in various locations at one time?
- Do you require flexibility to work with various materials or on different size projects?
- Is it an advantage to be able to scale your project equipment and crews up or down to suit the size project?
While a large pump could have a very high output, it can only work on one site with one material at a time. Investing similar value in several smaller mixing stations will give you the ability to work in more than one location simultaneously or with different materials or colours. When combined and working together, they can out-perform a pump in hourly productivity.
"You shouldn't have a pump unless you have a few Hippos first, especially since you can't pump every product on the market. Even with a pump, when pouring large areas, you'll have deeper spots to pour, and you'll need the Hippo to fill the deeper areas to help keep the wet edge.
It's similar reasoning why they don't put concrete pumps on concrete delivery trucks. You need many more concrete trucks in the market than you do concrete pump trucks."
Flexibility, scalability and productivity, giving maximum return!
4. How easy is the equipment to use?
Operational and maintenance simplicity is critical for ongoing success. All equipment needs to be used and maintained correctly to perform at its best.
- What level of skill will be required to operate the equipment you choose?
- Will special training be required for selected operators, or can anyone use the equipment easily with basic training?
- Can the equipment be easily cleaned and serviced on-site, or do they need to be serviced by qualified technicians?
- What happens if there is a power failure and the material sets inside the equipment?
- What are the replacement costs of accessories such as hoses, liners, mixing elements?
- How often do they need replacing?
Equipment that is simple to use and easy to clean helps keep your projects rolling with whoever is available on the work crew.
5. Is the equipment endorsed by leading material manufacturers?
Look for approved methods and manufacturer endorsements.
- Are you a certified installer?
- Do the manufacturers of the material you install require you to use approved application methods to comply with performance warranties?
- Does the equipment you choose have endorsements or recommendations from the material suppliers?
Do it once, do it right.
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Do you want to know more about the various mixing and pumping options?
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