With margins being as tight as they are these days we are always looking for ways to get the job done more efficiently and minimize costs. Everything from reducing fuel consumption to making that set of sponges last a few extra days. What are some of the methods used to get the most out of your equipment and increase profitiability?

A few that come to mind for me:

1: Use Econo gear (Putz) whenever possible to reduce fuel consumption.

2: idle down when not pumping

3: always store sponge in a full bucket of water so it does not become a brick over the weekend

water wash save ur balls LOL

Don't use EBC. Saves u up to 20% in fuel..

Hats off to you 16Cell!  I have a few ideas..most companies already do these if they're still in business!

Operators:  Grease is CHEAP....use it and preserve all the wear parts you can.  Call your fellow operators on inefficiency, set an example for the rest.  Complaining to the dispatcher/manager just wears them down.  If you're at your peak as an operator, you have some GOOD stuff to share with operators coming on. 

Water is FREE, put some in your water box!  Less RPM means less fuel consumption, less hydraulic pressure, less friction on pipeline and hydraulic=less money and downtime spent on repairs.  Be the BEST operator at your company.

Sales:  Get top dollar while you're selling the job.  Costs just as much time and money to sell that 32 meter service at $95/hr as it does at $135/hr.  Be the BEST sales person at your company.

Dispatchers:  Use those operators and sales guys to help you put together an efficient schedule (information is power)

Owners/Managers:  Pay the BEST, expect the BEST.  May cost you some money in raises/incentives.  We're climbing out of a slump and it's hard to think about spending money to retain the BEST operators/dispatchers/sales who may have been a large part of why we're still in business.  New pumps on order everywhere, operators being hired as quickly as they can be found at ever-increasing wages...may be cheaper long-term to keep your current personnel happy than accept the unknown cost of TURNOVER.

In a lot of cases...a simple pat on the back is worth a $3/hr raise.  The people make the company. 

I always idle down when I'm not pumping. I use slik PAC II and I prime out with a half a bag never had an issue so I get two primes out of one bag

Pump as slow as possible when your not in a hurry.  Pipe wear is extreme when you pump at high volumes. Use orange medium density wash out balls instead of square sponges.  They cost more but last at least 6 months or more if used properly.  I find they clean the pipes better as well. If you suck them back slow you will never cut them because they end up in the swing 90, They also wash out easy and they dont have to be left in water either. Do as much preventive maintenance and as much mechanical work as you can. Read as many posts as you can on concrete pumping.com as you can because there are alot of good tips on here that will cost you alot to learn if you go by trial and error.  jmo

Raise the pump rates!!! 

From experience:

the things you guys talk about saving money is trivial. You will always use diesel, oil, filter, pipes, you will sometimes be demanded to perform at peak on the job site etc.

Today, Internet at your disposal, its really simple way of thinking, if you want to stay in business, turn a profit and in for a long haul research, research, research!!!

There are multiple ways to approach this:

"Make sure you filters are always clean (i.e fuel, air, oil, hydraulic, microfilter etc), machinery is always serviced on schedule, your repair is done as soon as You have RECOGNISED a DEFECT, dont delay a repair it will not get better only worse."

"when times are good and a profit is made, spend some money on spares and buy those spare parts that you forsee you will need some time soon. Slowly build a small stock surplus for your machines over time i.e spare s -valve,wear parts, tyres etc"

Most spares come at a fraction of the cost when you dont need them, eg. Tyres. Sometimes opportiunity has to be seized for a small term loss that may bring LONG term gains.

AND (linked to last quote)

"You have to shop around for the best replacement part available at the BEST available competitive PRICE - sadly in most cases this is not from the manufacturer directly. Don't get robbed out of convenience because you are lazy to HUNT the part you want.

On a major overhaul it would be like going to work for a MONTH for free to fill the STEALERS POCKET with your riches.

Another thing that comes to mind, if possible, stick with one brand Manufacturer of concrete pump and truck for your fleet, it is much more efficient and cost effective to have one part that fits all machines than having one for every different type of machine.

For example, move all your piston cups to one type, when you load the shelf with large quantities you get a more competitive price, and the cups realistically will always get used.

Not only that but once you have familiarised yourself with one brand your work becomes incredibly more efficient.

A veteran operator once told me to always stop the machine mid-stroke when you have finished your washout. He says that the weight of the fully extended rod partially supported in the cylinder the piston cup will over time cause shortened service life for the piston cups. He claims to get far greater service life out of the piston cups by doing this... if this is in fact true than I could imagine that it would also do no good for the rod seals.

Hard serfacing.

I was also learned to stop the pistons half way stroke but for different reasons. I've heared that one so often that I think its best to just do it instead of wondering why