Cement mixers are essential tools for carrying and mixing cement, crucial for projects ranging from foundation repairs to sidewalk construction. While often associated with asphalt, cement is a distinct material with a rich history dating back to 625 BC in Babylon and Greece, where it was valued for its structural properties.
Cement is a carefully crafted mixture of materials, including sand, limestone, and other aggregates. The knowledge of its binding capabilities was largely lost for centuries, experiencing a revival in the 1500s. Europeans rediscovered its application in Venezuela, adopting it for ship caulking.
The mid-1800s saw the rise of cement use in American road construction, fueled by the Industrial Revolution. Initially sourced from natural deposits, such as Trinidad’s lakes, road and pavement mixtures evolved by the early 1900s to incorporate various rock types.
Cement mixers gained prominence in the 1920s, coinciding with the automobile boom. Early versions involved heating aggregate in trays over coal fires, followed by manual asphalt mixing. The introduction of rotating drums and, subsequently, wheels simplified road and sidewalk construction. These ‘floating screeds’ remained popular until the 1960s.
The 1970s brought environmental concerns, spurring advancements in cement mixer technology. Modern mixtures boast improved composition, reducing noise, enhancing skid resistance, and increasing weather resilience.
The adaptability of cement mixers to diverse road and sidewalk projects has enabled the development of superior transportation infrastructure. Cement-based surfaces support a vast majority – over 94% – of transportation-related ground. The cement mixer, therefore, plays a vital role in ensuring the integrity and durability of these critical surfaces.