What Is This Machine? A Guide to Identifying Concrete Pumps
By PumpX Team ·
Construction sites are full of machines that look similar at a glance. Concrete pumps are one of the most recognisable, but there are several types, and people often mix them up with mixer trucks, crane trucks and conveyors. We have not seen the photo in question, so this is a general guide to identifying what you are probably looking at.
Clue 1: The hopper
A concrete pump has a hopper, an open steel bin, usually at the rear of the machine. The concrete mixer truck discharges into it. If you can see the hopper and the agitator paddle inside, it is a concrete pump.
Clue 2: The boom or the hose
- A multi-section folding arm (often three to five sections) on a truck with outriggers: a truck-mounted boom pump.
- A long run of pipe and hose, no boom, with a smaller machine on a trailer or truck: a line pump.
- A tall mast or arm on its own base with pipe leading to it: a placing boom, fed by a separate pump.
Clue 3: Outriggers
Boom pumps extend steel outriggers to the ground to stabilise the truck. If you see big legs spread out, it is probably a boom pump, though cranes and other machines also use outriggers. Check for the hopper to be sure.
Common lookalikes
| Machine | How to tell it apart |
|---|---|
| Mixer truck | Rotating drum, chute at the rear, no boom |
| Concrete boom pump | Folding boom, hopper at rear, outriggers |
| Line pump | Hopper and pump on a trailer or truck, pipes and hoses |
| Truck-mounted crane | Hook and cable, no hopper |
| Concrete conveyor (placing) truck | Belt conveyor on an arm, no hopper |
| Aerial work platform | Basket on the end, no pipe |
Boom pump sizes
Boom pumps are described by the length of the boom or their approximate reach. A short-boom unit might suit houses and low-rise work, while longer booms reach multi-storey buildings. You can browse specs in our machine specs library to compare reach and output across models.
Why a boom?
The boom carries a pipe along its length, with a flexible end hose at the tip. The operator controls the boom with a remote, placing the concrete where it is needed without moving the truck. It is a fast way to deliver concrete to a large pour.
Which is the right one for the job?
The type of machine is chosen by the site. Open access and large volume favour a boom pump. Tight access, interiors or backyards favour a line pump. Very tall buildings may use a stationary pump with a placing boom on the structure.
Safety notes if you are near one
- Stay clear of the end hose; it moves with the pump stroke.
- Stay out of the boom swing zone and keep clear of overhead lines.
- Do not stand near pipe couplings, which can release under pressure.
- Keep away from outriggers and reversing trucks.
What to do with a photo
If you are trying to identify a specific machine, look for a manufacturer badge on the hopper, boom or cab, a model number on the outrigger or boom plate, and any numbers on the side indicating reach in metres. Search those against a spec library, or ask in an industry forum with the photo and the location. Note the country as well, since truck styles, boom configurations and markings differ between regions.
Key takeaways
- A hopper plus a folding boom means a truck-mounted concrete pump.
- A hopper plus hoses and no boom means a line pump.
- A separate mast fed by pipe is a placing boom.
- Mixer trucks, cranes and conveyors can look similar but lack the pump hopper.
- Without the photo, we can only describe how to identify the type.
If you are curious about buying or selling a pump, you can browse pumps and parts for sale. List, find and compare concrete pumps on PumpX at pumpxchange.com.
Original question on Reddit: r/Construction: What is this machine? (concrete pump)