Seeking Recommendations for Durable Block Making Equipment

[Jackson Huang]

Hi guys,

I’m planning to purchase a concrete brick/block making machine for an upcoming project and wanted to get some feedback from operators and equipment owners here.

Looking for something reliable with decent output and low downtime. Interested in automatic or semi-automatic setups for:

• Hollow blocks
• Solid bricks
• Pavers

Would appreciate any recommendations on brands/models that have worked well for you. Also interested in hearing about:

• Parts availability
• Hydraulic system reliability
• Electrical/control issues
• Maintenance costs
• Overall durability

If possible, please share your production capacity and the duration you've been operating the machine.

Thanks.

 

[Jackson Huang]

A few months ago I honestly thought automatic cement block machines were pretty straightforward equipment — hydraulic system, molds, vibration, regular maintenance, done. But after talking with different operators, it seems like everyone has a different opinion once these machines start getting serious hours on them. Some crews say a fully automatic setup is absolutely worth it because the labor savings, production consistency, and output speed are hard to match, especially on larger projects. Others say the real problems start later with hydraulic issues, sensors, dust, and downtime.
We recently tested a fully automatic cement brick machine on a small infrastructure project mainly to reduce transport costs and produce blocks closer to the site, and honestly the production efficiency was much better than expected compared to semi-automatic equipment we looked at earlier. The automatic feeding and PLC controls made operation a lot smoother, especially during continuous production. One thing I did notice after a few weeks is that the fully automatic setup really reduced operator fatigue and kept production more consistent throughout the day. With the older semi-automatic systems we used before, output would drop noticeably after several hours because everything depended so much on the crew. The automatic machine definitely felt more stable during longer runs, especially when producing paving blocks continuously. Still curious how these machines hold up after a few years in rough site conditions though, especially regarding hydraulic systems and mold lifespan.

 

[digger242j]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums, Jackson.

I've merged your two threads together because they're so similar in content. There's no need for two such discussions to be running concurrently.

I'm not sure we've ever had a discussion about cement block making machines, probably because they are more of a manufacturing device than they are what most of us would think of as "heavy equipment."

Certainly, if anyone has any thoughts to share, they are welcome to do so in this thread

 

[HarleyHappy]

While I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing a block making machine, I only buy them.

 

[Jackson Huang]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums, Jackson.

I've merged your two threads together because they're so similar in content. There's no need for two such discussions to be running concurrently.

I'm not sure we've ever had a discussion about cement block making machines, probably because they are more of a manufacturing device than they are what most of us would think of as "heavy equipment."

Certainly, if anyone has any thoughts to share, they are welcome to do so in this thread

Thank you. However, is there really no one on this forum discussing block-making machinery? It seems I’ve ventured into uncharted territory.

 

[Jackson Huang]

While I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing a block making machine, I only buy them.

Hi, Harle. Do you have any recommendations for block machine manufacturers?

 

[HarleyHappy]

Nope! Only know where I pick them up.

 

[Jackson Huang]

OK