What are the Benefits of a Block Machine?

Using a block machine provides several benefits for your construction operation, including increased efficiency, reduced labor costs, and access to a wider range of blocks to produce. Using a concrete block-making machine is quickly becoming the standard for the construction industry, especially in regions like Asia Pacific and Africa. The rise in the concrete brick and block market is estimated to reach $573 billion by 2031, so your company will benefit significantly by taking advantage of an automatic or semi-automatic brick machine.

To help convince you of the advantages of using a concrete brick or block-making machine, Lotto has outlined the top eight benefits you can expect in this article.

• Block machines enhance construction efficiency by automating production, ensuring consistent quality, reducing labor costs, and offering versatile block options.
• They provide long-term durability, space efficiency, and environmental sustainability by utilizing recycled materials and maintaining high operational longevity.

What are the Benefits of a Block Machine | 8 Reasons to Use a Block-Making Machine

1. Increased Production Efficiency & Automation

Block machines are incredibly efficient at producing blocks for your construction project. For example, a fully automatic block machine can produce up to 1,500 blocks per hour, producing over 108,000 blocks in a nine-hour shift for specific high-end models. This drastically outclasses any manual production of bricks and blocks, which can only make a few hundred blocks at their most efficient.

This production is also fully autonomous for fully automatic models, allowing your labor force to focus on other tasks.

2. Consistent Quality of Concrete Blocks & Bricks

In addition to production capacity, block-making machines' advantages include consistent quality throughout the production process. Automated systems maintain precise block dimensions of 8 × 7¾ x 15¾ inches with minimal variation, ensuring 100% consistency in size throughout production runs. This standardization dramatically improves construction efficiency and reduces waste.

To put the consistency of a concrete block machine in perspective, the American Journal of Engineering Research outlined that modern production only has 3.4 defects per million opportunities.

3. Reduced Cost of Labor

Your brick-making machine also reduces the labor cost required for any construction project. Many modern automatic block-making machines only need between five and seven operators to manage the feeding systems and block production. This represents a 29% decrease in direct labor requirements, although some facilities have managed to push this to a 60% reduction in staffing needs.

Reducing human error and labor hours saves on costs in the long run, which can help make concrete business costs more manageable on stringent budgets.

4. Versatile Block Type Production

Many stationary block-making machines offer a versatile selection of block types, including standard prices, paver building blocks, hollow blocks, and maxi bricks. In addition to several different mold options, the material each brick is made from can also be varied drastically. Fly ash, quality concrete, compressed earth — there are high-tech block-making machines suitable for whatever your project needs.

5. User-Friendly Operability & Systems

Many advanced machines utilize SIEMENS PLC control systems, enabling operators to learn basic operations within 30 minutes. These systems automate key processes, including:

• Pallet supply
• Material distribution
• Block discharge
• Production parameters

This reduces the number of employees necessary for each machine and allows for real-time monitoring and production tracking capabilities at the push of a button.

6. Durable Lifespan & Longevity

Modern block machines maintain operational efficiency for an average of 20+ years while maintaining consistent production quality and efficiency. After decades of use, some of the first machines installed are still fully operational in concrete factories. For example, concrete block molds last approximately 80,000-100,000 production cycles and hydraulic systems maintain peak performance for 15–20 years with proper maintenance.

7. Space Stacking Efficiency

Many automatic block machine systems offer systems that optimize space efficiency while producing high-strength blocks. This efficiency is achieved in part to the dimensional control of each block, which provides the opportunity for optimal stacking. For example:

• Standard blocks: 20 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm
• Hollow blocks: 390 mm x 190 mm x 90 mm
• Maxi bricks: 290 mm x 90 mm x 140 mm
• Pavers: 200 mm x 100 mm x 50/60/80 mm

8. Environmentally Sustainable

A concrete block machine unlocks the ability to produce several sustainable bricks and blocks thanks to their innovative features. These include the processing of more sustainable materials, such as the conversion of 150 tons of recycled concrete into 20,000 building blocks, incorporation of industrial byproducts like fly ash and slag, and utilization of recycled aggregates and reclaimed materials.

No matter the types of concrete block-making machines you use, you'll notice a significant leap in production and reduction in costs when you make the switch. Request Lontto for your construction needs and receive a free block machine quote today.

FAQs on What are the Benefits of a Block Machine?

How does a block-making machine create bricks?

Block-making machines create concrete blocks through a precise process of mixing materials (typically a 1:2:3 ratio of cement, sand, and aggregate) and then utilizing hydraulic pressure combined with vibration frequencies of 2,800-4,500 RPM to form the blocks. The production cycle takes 11–25 seconds per operation, with high-end automatic machines capable of producing up to 18,000 blocks in an 8-hour shift, followed by a curing period of 24 hours initially and up to 28 days for full strength.

What are the benefits of using brick?

Brick construction offers exceptional durability with an average lifespan of 100 years, providing superior fire resistance, thermal insulation, and virtually no maintenance requirements over decades. Additionally, brick structures demonstrate remarkable environmental benefits as they are made from abundant natural materials, are 100% recyclable, and provide excellent energy efficiency by maintaining cooler summer and warmer winter conditions.

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