Types of concrete pumps: boom, line, trailer, city and static

Truck-mounted boom pumps

The flagship: a truck carrying both the pump and a folding boom that places concrete through the air. Sizes run from ~20 m to 60+ m, named for boom length. One machine, one operator, fast setup, precise placement — the default for slabs, suspended decks, pools and anything a truck can park near. Costs the most per hour and needs room for outriggers.

Line pumps, trailer pumps and city pumps

Line pumps push concrete through hoses on the ground — the access-problem solvers. They come truck-mounted or as trailer pumps: towable units that are cheap to run, easy to park, and can push surprisingly long and high runs. City pumps split the difference — a compact truck-mounted pump (sometimes with a small boom) built for tight metro streets where a full boom truck can't set up. Slower per pour than a boom, unbeatable where booms can't go.

Static pumps and placing booms

On towers and major civil work, a high-pressure static pump sits at ground level pushing concrete up fixed steel pipeline, while a separate placing boom — mounted on the deck or climbing the core — does the aerial placement upstairs. The pair leapfrogs up the building as it grows. You'll meet these on commercial projects; residential work almost never needs them, but it's why 'how high can you pump?' has answers measured in hundreds of metres.

Quick answers

What's the most common pump on Australian house jobs?

Truck-mounted booms in the 28–40 m range do the bulk of residential slabs, with line/trailer pumps covering tight-access jobs. Most established companies run a mix of both.

What does each type cost to hire?

Roughly: trailer/line pumps from ~$160–$220/hr, mid-size booms ~$200–$280/hr, big booms $300+/hr — plus cubes and travel. See our cost answers for current city-by-city rates.

Can one company supply all types?

Larger outfits, yes. Plenty of excellent operators run one machine brilliantly — which is fine, as long as it's the right machine for your access. Describe the site; let them match the gear.

Keep reading

• What is a concrete pump and how does it work?
• Boom pump vs line pump — which one do you need?
• What size concrete pump do I need?