Our high-quality concrete block moulds are highly versatile and are used for many different purposes, ranging from traffic control to coastal protection. If you know where to look, you will find concrete elements all around you, even where you would least expect them. Amsterdam’s Central Station, for instance, is surrounded by concrete blocks, as is the Andorran Gran Valira river. The Japanese coast is protected by tetrapods, while concrete barriers line roads all over the world. We are passionate about following the latest developments in the world of concrete, and the information is no less useful for our customers. If you know how concrete can be used, you’ll also know where to sell concrete elements made from leftover concrete or concrete blocks that you do no longer need. By reusing your concrete, we can build a more sustainable future together.
What types of concrete blocks can you produce?
Before we reveal the many uses of concrete, it is useful to know what kind of elements you can produce with our moulds:
● Standard concrete blocks;
● Concrete blocks with round edges, steps, a slope, and more
● Concrete retaining walls;
● Concrete slabs;
● Concrete barriers (for traffic);
● Concrete tetrapods (breakwaters).
Why is concrete used as a building material?
Concrete is a strong, diverse material that can used to create a wide variety of elements of different shapes and sizes. It has a proven track record as a highly functional and versatile building material. As early as the 19th century, concrete was used to build bridges, sewers and waterworks, followed by factories and factory halls, silos, water towers and cooling towers in the 20th century. As time passed, large concrete elements became increasingly available and more and more multi-storey buildings were made from concrete. Concrete has a rich history, but is it sustainable? And if so, why?
Why is concrete sustainable?
Concrete is sustainable because of its structural properties. Modern concrete is usually produced with additives that improve its workability and influence the curing process, but even concrete structures made more than a hundred years ago are still standing today. Concrete is a rock-hard, sustainable material with a high load-bearing capacity, which makes concrete structures particularly durable. On top of that, stackable concrete blocks used in temporary projects can be reused again and again, while leftover concrete can be used to make new concrete elements. In other words: concrete can be recycled.
What projects are concrete blocks used for?
Around the world, concrete is used in many different ways.
In traffic
Concrete barriers are mainly used for protection. They might line a road or sharp bend, for instance, to prevent serious accidents. They are a viable alternative to the widely used crash barriers in Western Europe and their popularity is only increasing. Because concrete barriers are better at absorbing the impact a collision than metal crash barriers, cars are unlikely to break through them or tip over. On top of that, concrete barriers do not have to be repaired after every accident, resulting in fewer traffic jams.
On parking lots and in large structures
Parking lots have to be large and level, even if they are built on undulating terrain, making them an ideal application for concrete slabs. In fact, parking structures and other multi-storey buildings such as shopping centres, office buildings or high-rise residential buildings are almost always made of concrete. Concrete has an enormous load-bearing capacity, which means that large numbers of people (or cars) can be inside a concrete structure at the same time, without compromising the structural integrity of the building. Besides, large buildings made of concrete are more sustainable than buildings made of, say, wood or brick. Concrete slabs are also commonly used in the industrial and agricultural sector, as heavy machinery - like tractors - needs a sturdy surface to drive over. Retaining walls and concrete blocks are also used in the agricultural sector, for example for storing manure.
As a coastal defense
Many breakwaters are also made of concrete. Thanks to the special shape of tetrapods, waves actually break when they hit the elements and lose much of their force before they reach the shore. Tetrapods originated in France, but are now used all over the world. They are most popular in Japan, where they line almost half of the country’s entire coastline. However, standard concrete blocks can also double as coastal defences and can be used in a coastal wall along a beachside boulevard, for instance, to protect the coast from the tides.
All around you
Concrete is everywhere: from ramps and posts or walls to stairs and even benches. Walking through the centre of any major city around the world, you will probably find concrete all around, without even noticing it. You might even come across planters and works of art made of concrete, although - admittedly - they are usually not made with our moulds. Concrete has become part of our daily lives and we couldn’t really do without it. And that’s why contributing to sustainable concrete production is so important!
Looking to resell concrete?
If you produce concrete blocks for your own company but would like to sell elements made of leftover concrete to other companies, it is a good idea to purchase multiple moulds in different shapes and sizes. By reselling concrete that you no longer use, you contribute to a circular market that revolves around sustainability. It won’t just benefit the environment, but will make your company look good too!
If you want to start producing concrete elements in different shapes and sizes, you’ll find everything you need on our
product page.
