A concrete recipe (mix design) says how much of each material goes into one cubic metre of concrete. On paper it looks simple; at the plant, applying it correctly depends on moisture, weighing discipline, admixture dosing and record keeping. This page covers the key points of recipe management in a concrete batching plant and what automation adds.
What does a concrete recipe contain?
- Aggregate fractions: sand and gravel of different sizes, in kg/m³ and on a dry-weight basis.
- Cement: type and quantity; more than one cement can be used.
- Water: the target water quantity, which sets the water/cement ratio.
- Admixtures: chemicals such as superplasticisers and retarders, usually as a proportion of cement.
Why the water/cement ratio matters so much
The water/cement ratio has the biggest effect on concrete strength and durability. Extra water improves workability but lowers strength. At the plant the most common thing that upsets this ratio is moisture in the aggregate: even if the recipe water is dosed exactly, the real water is too high once aggregate moisture is added. That is why moisture correction is an inseparable part of recipe management.
Unit weight and recipe checks
The sum of all materials in the recipe gives the unit weight of the concrete. Calculating the unit weight and water/cement ratio instantly while the recipe is entered catches typing errors before production. A unit weight far from expectations may be the sign of a misplaced zero.
Recipe permissions and traceability
The recipe is the plant’s most critical data. Who can change it should be restricted, and every batch should show in the records which recipe it was produced with. When a complaint comes in, it should be possible to find which recipe, which moisture value and which actual weights were used on that day.
Orders, batches and delivery notes
A recipe alone is not enough — the plant works to orders. The order is entered in cubic metres, the software splits it into batches, the remaining quantity drops as each load is poured, and the delivery note is prepared. Month-end production figures come from records, not from a notebook.
How DKT CPlants handles recipes
In DKT CPlants recipe entry is an operator permission; unit weight and water/cement ratio are calculated on screen as you type. Moisture correction is applied automatically: wet aggregate goes up, water goes down. Order tracking in m³, batch lists, the real water/cement ratio and a signed delivery note are in the same program; every out-of-tolerance cell is shown in red in the report. Production is logged to CSV and opens directly in Excel.
Frequently asked questions
Are recipe aggregate values dry or wet?
Recipe aggregate values are dry weights. Because the aggregate weighed at the plant is wet, a correction based on the moisture content is needed.
Who should be allowed to change recipes?
Recipe changes should be restricted to authorised users, and the records should show which recipe every batch was produced with.
How is the admixture quantity calculated?
Admixtures are usually dosed as a proportion of cement. When the cement quantity in the recipe changes, the admixture quantity should be updated accordingly.
Can I transfer the recipes from my old plant software?
Yes. Recipes are transferred to the new software and verified afterwards by checking unit weight and water/cement ratio.
Related pages
- Concrete batching plant software (DKT CPlants)
- Concrete batching plant weighing system
- Moisture correction in a concrete batching plant
- Plant automation retrofit
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The plant’s input/output list and PLC model are enough. We check compatibility together and show your own plant running in simulation with DKT CPlants. WhatsApp: +90 547 909 99 90