A ready-made example of a business plan for the production of paving slabs. Production of paving slabs: step-by-step business plan

Paving slabs appeared in our country quite recently - in the 90s - and were a clear contrast to the materials that were used at that time, so they very quickly conquered the construction market and became very popular, as a result of which the business for the production of paving slabs and is very relevant today. The main advantages that explain the popularity of paving slabs are their ease of installation, elegant appearance and durability.

Here you will look at everything related to its production: equipment (vibrating table, machine, vibropress), molds, manufacturing technology.

Business plan

We will not consider resume points, market analysis and organizational plan for the production of paving slabs here, because in all business plans they are almost identical, and we will consider only the most basic information with prices that will help you in drawing up your business plan, because it is different for each company.

If you don’t know how to write one, you can download a business plan template, which is the source for any example.

Necessary equipment

In this case, you will need the following minimum equipment for the production of paving slabs:

  • Concrete mixer;
  • Pouring vibrating table;
  • Stripping vibrating table with a set of frames for laying out;

The cost of such a minimum set of machines will be 100-500 thousand rubles. If you like convenience and speed, then it would be better to purchase a stationary brick press for the production of paving slabs - an automated and semi-automatic line for the production of tiles and similar concrete products, but it costs from 1.5 million rubles.

Vibropress for the production of paving slabs and other concrete products / Line price 1.5 million rubles

It is worth immediately noting that these machines and lines are not specialized, i.e. They can be used to make not only paving slabs, but also other similar products: various blocks, bricks, curbs. The only thing needed for this is manufacturing molds. All this is a huge advantage of this business.

In addition, you will also need a transformer, a hydraulic cart, a loader (in case you decide to transfer the finished mixture without your hands), shovels, trowels, wheelbarrows and similar little things.

It is not enough to have only equipment, because one of the key components is molds for the production of paving slabs. They are the main consumables. They look like this:

They are inexpensive - from 20 to 100 rubles apiece. The price depends on the complexity of their execution and the material spent on them. They are made of plastic.

Manufacturing technology

The process itself is quite simple and does not require any special skills. The entire technology for the production of paving slabs and the entire process looks like this (see video):

Concrete mixture recipe

  1. Textured layer. It provides the main quality indicators of the tiles. Composition of one cubic meter ready-mixed concrete: cement - 500 kg, crushed stone with sand (2:1), plasticizing additives - consumption depending on the additive used, dye - 7.5-12 kg.
  2. Base layer. It sets the paving slabs to the thickness you desire and is the main carrier of strength. Composition of one cubic meter ready-made concrete: cement - 250 kg, crushed stone with sand (1:1), plasticizing additives - consumption, depending on the additive used, dye - no.

Manufacturing process

Let's consider the technology using conventional equipment:

  1. It is necessary to prepare concrete with pigment in a smaller concrete mixer (see paragraph “Preparation of pigment”), and in a larger concrete mixer without pigment.
  2. We lay out the forms of paving slabs close to each other on a vibrating table.
  3. It is necessary to spread colored concrete in a layer of 1-2 cm (covering as much as possible the bottom of the form). When making regular gray paving slabs, no dye is required.
  4. Next, you need to turn on the vibrator for 5-10 seconds. During this time, the concrete will cover the bottom with an even layer. The vibrations of the vibrating table top should be moderate.
  5. Add concrete without pigment to the molds up to their edges. Turn on the vibrator for another 5-10 seconds. Excess concrete must be cut off with a metal corner, aligning it along the edge.
  6. After filling the paving slabs with concrete and finishing the vibration, thoroughly smooth (trowel) the solution in the molds. If the amount of concrete is not enough, then you need to add it to the solution and rub it in without vibration. Place the smoothed shapes of the tiles on pallets in layers, laying each layer with sheets of plastic. The total number of layers should be no more than 10.
  7. Cover the trays with filled forms with plastic wrap. This is to prevent it from drying out. They are allowed to be moved no earlier than 48 hours after the procedure for pouring the tiles.
  8. Before knocking out tiles for sidewalks, it is necessary to heat them to 60-70 degrees Celsius in a water bath, keeping each one in it for no more than 2 minutes. The heated form is placed on a vibrating table for knocking out paving slabs. It should be noted that stripping without preheating shortens the life of the mold by approximately 30% and can lead to defective finished products, especially for thin tiles.
  9. Drying of finished products under natural conditions occurs within 2 days. Pallets with products can be moved no earlier than 48 hours after pouring.
  10. After stripping, the paving slabs are laid on Euro pallets face to face, tying them with packing tape. To ensure further hardening of the concrete and preserve the presentation of the products, they must be covered with polyethylene shrink or stretch film.
  11. In summer, paving slabs are released when they reach 70% of the design strength, which approximately corresponds to 7 days of concrete hardening, counting from the moment of its manufacture. In winter, tempering must be done when 100% of the design strength is reached (28 days from the moment the concrete is prepared).

Preparation of pigment

Inorganic powder pigments must be mixed with water before use until a uniform, creamy consistency is formed. Then this mixture is infused in this form for at least 1 hour. This is necessary to increase the dispersion of pigments, the value of which characterizes the coloring ability of sidewalk tiles.

Remember that this is a rather expensive component of concrete; in addition, an increase in its content deteriorates the quality of concrete; therefore, a decrease in its proportion in concrete with sufficient saturation is desirable. This prepared dye can be stored for a long time, because... has a stable formula, but the color can become even brighter during storage, which makes its addition to paving slabs a little economical, because there will be an increase in pigment dispersion. Before adding concrete to the mixture, it must be mixed.

PS: Plastic molds for the production of paving slabs are usually washed in a weak solution of hydrochloric acid (5-7%). You can use higher concentrations, but this will be dangerous for you. After washing in acid, you need to rinse them with additional water.

In this material:

A business plan for the production of paving slabs with calculations will help you understand how profitable it is to start this business. When choosing a field of activity, it is necessary to give preference to the manufacture of those products for which there will be demand regardless of the economic situation in the country. This includes the production of goods used for the construction and decoration of houses and local areas. For example, it is profitable to manufacture paving slabs. The basis for the success of a future business is the correct preparation of a business plan, on the basis of which the enterprise’s activities will be conducted.

Competition in this industry is quite high, but demand is also high. It is increasing due to the development of the construction of country houses, improvement of the streets of cities and villages. This business is also considered the least expensive. Any business should begin with registration; small organizations are best registered as individual entrepreneurs. The production of paving slabs does not require obtaining a large number of permits. Registration as an individual entrepreneur allows you to follow a simplified taxation scheme. The production of paving slabs does not require mandatory certification. To increase demand for their own products, an entrepreneur can undergo the certification procedure voluntarily. The finished samples will be tested for the level of frost resistance, moisture resistance, resistance to mechanical damage and exposure to atmospheric factors.

In the initial stages, attention should be paid to the private sector. Here it is enough to produce small batches of goods, while the demand for products is quite high. Garden paths are resurfaced every year. When choosing a durable and aesthetically attractive material for decorating local areas, paving slabs are preferred by most owners of private houses. When drawing up a business plan, you should decide on the necessary equipment. This will help you calculate the costs of starting your own business. The plan should also include the costs of purchasing raw materials that will be needed to produce any batches of goods.

The ideal option is to purchase the premises as your own. It may be small. All equipment can be placed on an area of ​​50 sq.m. About 30 sq.m. will be used for equipment. The remaining area will be used for storing finished products. The premises can also be rented. It must meet fire safety requirements and be connected to the electrical network. A drying chamber will need to be placed in the room.

Paving slab production technology

There are 2 ways to make this product. If the company will be producing large quantities of material, it is recommended to use vibrocompression technology. It is performed in several stages. They start by preparing the concrete mixture in a concrete mixer, after which the solution is fed into the matrix of a concrete block press. At the next stage, vibrators and a punch are used, which compact the material and send it to a special pallet. The tray is placed in the drying chamber. At the third stage, the paving slabs are dried using the thermal-moist method, using water vapor heated to a certain temperature.

To reduce the cost of work, products can be dried without the use of special equipment. Vibration casting technology implies a slightly different procedure for performing work. First, the concrete solution is prepared. It is then poured into molds placed on a vibrating table. Molds with finished products are placed on pallets and left indoors for 2 days. After this, the molds are heated to 60°C and the finished products are removed from them. By performing work on the production of paving slabs using this technology, it is possible to obtain products of unique shapes.

Calculation of costs for opening a tile production enterprise

First of all, you need to purchase a brick making machine, the cost of which is about 1 million rubles. About 200 thousand rubles will be required to purchase a concrete mixer and 100 thousand to purchase a punch. This equipment will make it possible to produce products using the vibration pressing method. It is less expensive to purchase the equipment necessary for the production of tiles using the vibration casting method. A vibrating table costs about 150 thousand rubles, a mold for pouring concrete mixture costs from 100 rubles per piece, about 40 thousand rubles will be required to purchase a concrete mixer. To wash the molds you will need a bath that costs about 70 thousand rubles.

For a small enterprise producing paving slabs, it is enough to hire 3 employees. The storekeeper can also act as a driver. When preparing accounting reports and maintaining documentation, you can use the services of outsourcing companies.

Paving slabs are made of concrete with the addition of a plasticizer. 1 cubic meter of solution costs approximately 3,000 rubles. Up to 15 square meters of tiles can be made from it. Thus, the average cost of 1 sq.m of material will be 150 rubles. To this value you need to add about 60 rubles spent on electricity, labor and additional expenses. The finished product is sold for an average of 300 rubles.

If you take a responsible approach to quality control of your products, you can quickly gain customers. In this case, due to the use of inexpensive materials, the profitability of the project will approach 150%. Thus, even large expenses for the purchase of equipment will pay off within a short period of time.

Currently, the production of construction and finishing materials is considered one of the most attractive areas of activity for budding entrepreneurs.

The production of paving stones requires significant financial costs in the initial stages, but it can bring good profits in the future.

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The idea of ​​producing material for paths and playgrounds at home is very promising. This is always a hot topic for a private home and summer cottage, so it is possible that it will become your source of income. The technology for making paving slabs at home differs from the factory one primarily in scale.

Production of paving slabs at home

Any owner of a private house, one way or another, has encountered the production of concrete and is familiar with cement firsthand. In this case, making paving slabs with your own hands will not seem like something completely new. At home, vibration casting technology is most often used. The concrete mixture is poured into molds and compacted on a special vibrating table. Such production involves the use of plasticizers in the composition of the pouring solution.

Equipment

For home production, a simplified set of tools and equipment is used. You will need:

  • Vibrating table for concrete compaction;
  • Forms;
  • Rubber mallet;
  • Master OK;
  • Concrete mixer;
  • Auxiliary items: buckets, shovels, etc.

Craftsmen tend to build vibration tables on their own, since there are plenty of diagrams on the Internet.

Consumables

To prepare concrete mortar for tiles, you need the following materials:

  • High-quality cement from grade 400, the best option is M500;
  • River sand, which must first be sifted;
  • Crushed stone (gravel or screenings) with a diameter of no more than 10 mm;
  • Plasticizers and other improvers;
  • Pigments (for colored tiles);
  • Clean water from the tap;
  • Special lubricants for molds.

Step-by-step description of home production

Preparing forms

Before pouring the solution into the molds, they must be properly prepared, otherwise further stripping and cleaning will be extremely difficult. To do this, the molds are coated from the inside with a thin layer of special lubricant. At this step, the main thing is not to overdo it with the thickness of the layer, otherwise you may end up with products spoiled by bubbles.

Petroleum products are not suitable for lubricating molds.

To facilitate the process, aerosol lubricating compounds are sold that are convenient for use at home.

Solution recipe

The secret to the quality of tiles lies in knowing the correct recipe for preparing the mixture, as well as in following the technology for its production. The correctly selected ratio of components will produce strong and durable tiles. Colored tiles require the introduction of dyes, but they reduce the strength of the finished product. Adding reinforcing fibers will help increase strength.

Plasticizers are used to improve the quality of concrete, namely its plasticity, which is important when pouring. Its amount should not exceed 0.5% by weight of all other dry ingredients. Pigment additives are introduced in an amount of 2% of the total dry mass, having previously been dissolved in water until completely homogeneous. The recipe for mortar for pouring molds at home assumes a cement to sand ratio of 1:3.

An equally important point in production is the amount of water, which determines the consistency of the solution ready for pouring. Excessive amounts of water will damage the strength of the paving slabs. Usually take 2 buckets of water for 3 buckets of cement.

Preparatory work

Before you start kneading, take care not to hesitate in introducing the components during kneading. It is best to do the work with a helper who will promptly deliver the necessary ingredients.

You should immediately make notes on the buckets for sand, crushed stone and cement for one batch. Plasticizers and dyes are dissolved in hot water in advance. Such work cannot be done along the way, because there should be no lumps or sediment left in it.

Kneading

Mixing the solution requires the correct order of introducing the components with constant stirring. For a one-time batch, a regular hammer drill with a mixer attachment is suitable, but for large production volumes you cannot do without a small concrete mixer.

Kneading instructions:

  • Water is poured into the mixer first, minus the water in which plasticizers and dyes are diluted, because this is also a liquid;
  • The second component is smoothly introduced cement with continuous operation of the concrete mixer;
  • Sand and crushed stone are introduced into the solution one by one;
  • When a plastic mass is obtained, plasticizers and pigments dissolved in water are added;
  • Stirring is carried out for a few more minutes until a homogeneous porridge-like mass is obtained.

The consistency of the solution should be plastic, but not too liquid. The taken portion should hold well, not flow or fall into pieces.

Pouring and vibrating table

By and large, you can do without a vibrating table at home, but in this case you won’t be able to get high-quality products. The fact is that even a very plastic mass is not able to densely fill the molds and voids cannot be avoided. This will work for home paths, but for sale you need higher-class products.

The filling molds are placed on a vibrating table and filled with solution to a height of no more than 4 cm. When producing colored tiles, two compositions are often prepared: colored and regular. The molds are filled in layers, which allows you to obtain more durable tiles. In some cases, the tiles are reinforced not with crushed stone, but with a metal mesh placed between the concrete layers.

Start the vibrating table, which will compact the mass in about 5 minutes. Understanding the readiness and absence of voids inside the mass is given by the appearance of white foam on the surface of the concrete mixture.

Freezing

After the forms are filled out efficiently on the vibrating table, they are removed and moved to special racks. Exposure should take about 2 days without access to direct sunlight. Under no circumstances should concrete dry out prematurely, so in hot weather it should be periodically moistened by spraying water.

Stripping

The last step for the production of paving slabs is stripping, which is carried out 2-3 days after pouring. This must be done carefully, as the tiles are damp and have not reached their maximum strength. Using mold release agents ahead of time makes this process easier, so don't skimp or skip this step. To obtain durable products, before stripping, the forms must be immersed in water with a temperature of 50 to 70 degrees. A few minutes of this heating and you can take out the tiles, having previously tapped the molds with a rubber mallet. Warming up the molds significantly increases the number of production cycles. In addition, such a measure will help minimize defects.

After stripping, the tiles still need curing for about 5-6 days. To do this, they are covered with shrink film.

Now you know how to make paving slabs with your own hands and can implement this idea at home. If everything goes smoothly, then you can think about a small commercial project. It’s possible to start your own business even without having a special tool, purchasing it as your business develops.

Economical production of paving slabs (2 videos)

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The construction segment today is second only to the telecommunications sector in terms of the level of implementation of new technologies. Literally every day they talk about “new breakthroughs” and the emergence of new “unique” technologies. Such activity does not always correspond to real needs and, even more so, to real market opportunities. Practice shows that good old technologies not only remain in demand, but also provide excellent chances to start your own business with small investments. The realities of small business in 2015 show rather illusory prospects for the construction market, but the question remains, what should construction teams do, how to look for an alternative to make money?

The answer can be found in related areas, in optimizing the business itself. As one of the alternatives (in truth, the option is good for organizing a new business), you can consider organizing the production of paving slabs using the vibration casting method.

How much does it cost to produce paving slabs?

The level of depreciation of fixed assets is not just high, but very high, this applies to all aspects, including sidewalks. If we talk about the roadways, those same roads, the situation is no better; this issue belongs to the sphere of interests of the “big” bosses, as a result they are, at the very least, repaired. The situation is completely different with sidewalks; no money is allocated for them; the specifics of their repair do not allow for much acceleration. From practice, I can say for sure that 3-4 times more can be “appropriated” from one square meter of road. Most sidewalk repairs in cities, small towns, and private households are left to small businesses. What does this mean in practice?

At organizing a full cycle from production to laying paving slabs, the business receives significant benefits in the form of:

  • - flexible pricing policy. The final price of the finished product will not include the price of an intermediary (as in retail sales - 20-50%, the cost of a foreman's services - 20-30%). In fact, this means that tiles can be laid at a 50% discount without losing average profitability.
  • - individual approach to the client. Selection of shape, color, it is possible to take into account the individual characteristics of the site.
  • - full range of services. If we consider that for the mini workshop itself, raw materials (screenings, cement) will be purchased at wholesale prices from established suppliers, then de facto the client pays and actually receives everything at once at the optimal price.

By and large, it is this complex option that makes it possible to talk about the business of producing paving slabs as an option for construction crews to repurpose.

Do not forget about the profitability of the business, two main points:

  • - the production of sidewalk tiles has a profitability of 40-50% for wholesale sales and about 80-90% for retail sales;
  • - using the same equipment (except for molds) it is possible to produce a very wide range of products, not just tiles.
  • - profit from laying sidewalks also reaches 50%.

In total, due to the full cycle, it is possible to achieve about 100% profitability, and due to the wide range of products, “smooth out” seasonal fluctuations in demand.

For example, for the period of the “winter season” we can repurpose ourselves into the production of concrete countertops and figures.

Technologies for the production of paving slabs

If we consider the market as a whole, we can distinguish three main technologies:

  1. Clinker tiles.
  2. Vibrocasting
  3. Vibropressing

Relatively clinker tiles, one thing can be said, expensive. Moreover, in all other respects, high-quality clinker products are better. Such products are made from clay and then fired at high temperatures. Such production is expensive to organize and requires special permits and high-quality raw materials. In the end, it turns out to be expensive, this technology goes into the realm of big business. In terms of their technology, they also have a lot of nuances, ranging from the availability of really high-quality raw materials (not all clay is suitable) to the need to maintain a constant technological cycle. Recently, a friend’s “lights” were turned off for a couple of hours, and then they spent a week “picking out” the frozen clay.

One more The manufacturing technology for paving slabs is vibration compaction. The method is undoubtedly good and has its advantages:

  • - firstly, the possibility of widespread use of automatic processes. If you have money and desire, about 90% of all processes are done by automatic machines.
  • - secondly, higher wear-resistant performance.

There is a downside though:

  • -expensive equipment. Such a workshop cannot be called small; its organization will require quite a lot of money, as a result, it is necessary to immediately aim for large sales volumes.
  • - the cost of such products is higher than that of tiles made by vibration casting.
  • - higher stability shows itself effectively only in cases of intense loads. For example, if you use tiles as paving stones on a road with heavy traffic (cars) or a very large flow of people.

Vibrating casting - in this option for the production of paving slabs we are talking about traditional casting using a vibrating table, this option is suitable for home businesses. The technology itself simply does not require any additional, much less special, equipment other than the table itself. In fact, the procedure is a chain:

Concrete (cement-sand mixture) is prepared in concrete mixers, consisting of:

  • cement;
  • sand;
  • granite crushed stone fraction 5-10 mm;
  • plasticizer C-3;
  • air-entraining SNV additive;
  • pigment.

Ready concrete is laid out into molds on a vibrating table;

The mixture in the molds is given the required density on a vibrating table;

The forms with the solution are put on racks, covered with PVC film and kept for 24 hours;

The molds with the frozen mixture are heated in a bath of warm water;

The products are being stripped;

The tiles are laid on pallets, where they are kept for a certain period until they are completely ready.

pros

  • - low cost of the finished product;
  • - small starting investments;
  • - maximum business flexibility. Products can be made in small batches of any shape and color.

Minuses

  • - high level of manual labor;
  • - strict linkage of production volume to the workshop area.

What equipment and premises are needed?

The total area for a small workshop should be about 60 square meters, plus rooms for final drying of paving slabs. The main condition is:

  • - availability of electricity and water.
  • - heating. To obtain a strong product, it is necessary to comply with the drying conditions; in cold periods, you need to “raise” the temperature, and in hot periods, lower it. Drying too quickly leads to loss of quality.

Among the equipment it is necessary to highlight

Concrete mixer - about 20,000 rubles.

Forms for pouring tiles. It must be emphasized that today there are four variations of forms on the market:

Metal forms. The most expensive, one of the advantages is the possibility of long-term use, and the disadvantage is the cost.

Rubber, can be used up to 500 cycles.

Plastic – 250 cycles

Polyurethane – up to 100 production cycles.

Which forms to buy is a rhetorical question; practice shows that when choosing forms you must be guided by one principle - rationality. Expensive, more durable rubber or metal molds will work for popular molds. But when making non-standard or one-time orders, it is worth buying cheap and short-lived plastic or polyurethane.

Vibrating table. Its cost largely depends on the size, quality, and supplier. By and large, you can make it yourself.

Table for stripping. Simply an irreplaceable thing and assistant, especially in conditions of seasonal intensity.

Bath for washing molds. After making the tiles, all molds must be thoroughly cleaned; a “dirty” mold is almost 100% defective.

Rokla hydraulic. Also, at first glance, it is a rather unnecessary thing, but when working with working volumes of tiles, its transportation and transportation without a roller is a tedious, labor-intensive process of palletizing.

and activities

It is very difficult, one might even say unrealistic, to calculate the real cost without specific information about the region and the availability of raw materials. On average in the market, the level of profitability of production is about 30-45%, while it fluctuates significantly depending on the remoteness of the resource base, this is due to the presence of cement factories, granite and sand quarries. The closer, the cheaper the raw materials, the higher the level of profitability. One of the most significant factors for a small mini paving slab workshop is the low dependence on fixed costs, which allows you to “freeze” production very quickly and start it up just as quickly, without using significant financial resources.


Advertising and sales of finished products

Very often, small businesses (especially if the business belongs to the home business category) do not attach much importance to advertising and beautiful presentation of their goods; this is perhaps one of the most common mistakes, as a result of low sales volumes at the beginning of the project. Subsequently, “popular rumor” and “word of mouth” do their job, but this happens later. I would advise you to take product advertising seriously and suggest the following options:

  • - first. Preparation of bright advertising brochures. Moreover, the booklets should contain high-quality photos, a large selection of various shapes (this can be taken from sites selling ready-made forms for paving slabs) and colors. The fact is that even for a small order you can always save money and buy cheap molds made of plastic or polyurethane. Plus, the cost of several thousand advertising brochures will not be that expensive. When distributing brochures, the main thing is to choose the right place and contingent.
  • - second. Advertising in newspapers is required, especially since you will have the opportunity to lay tiles. For a small paving slab workshop, you can rent a large banner; again, the main thing is to choose the right location.

Alternative and related activities

Small-scale production of paving slabs has another significant advantage, this is the ability to expand the range of products and services offered, in particular:

  • - tile laying services.
  • - production of fences, curbs, gutters.
  • - using almost the same set of equipment you can make concrete garden figures or kitchen countertops, window sills, and even fountains.
  • - a minor modernization and you can start producing cinder blocks, and if you have money, then foam concrete (you need to buy a high-speed concrete mixer).

The list goes on; today there is a huge number of concrete products on the market, most of which can be produced at home, including paving slabs and paving stones.

Video example of making paving slabs with your own hands

DIY paving slabs

We organize a small mini workshop with our own hands for the production of paving slabs

There are a huge number of important products on the construction market. One of them is paving slabs, which partially or completely covers pedestrian areas near roads and other areas, such as squares, etc. In this article we will try to consider in detail the business plan for the production of paving slabs and find out whether it makes sense to open such a business in Russia. Please note that competition in this area is quite high, but the demand from construction companies and individuals for this material is also significant.

Some general information

You must understand that this is a seasonal business, so you will receive your main income from spring to mid-autumn. To create your own small factory, you will need to invest quite a lot. This amount will not be less if you purchase a business that is ready to launch. In the latter case, on the one hand, you have an order of magnitude less hassle, and on the other, you do not control the quality of the assembly of the production line, which is not good. The main direction is the production of paving slabs, but along with this, no one is stopping you from making 3D, luminous or even polymer tiles. All this will allow you to attract a maximum of clients in a short time and acquire precious regular customers. But let's go further and talk about creating a business as such.

Registration and selection of production premises

Before you start, you must draw up a competent business plan for the production of paving slabs. The first step is to obtain the status of an individual entrepreneur. This registration form will be sufficient for you. Since the production of paving slabs is not subject to any additional certification, the procedure for obtaining a license is much simpler. However, there is one "but" here.

As practice shows, most buyers prefer to purchase tiles tested by experts. Therefore, you must submit your product for examination, where it will be tested for frost resistance, strength and abrasion. If the result is satisfactory, then you will receive a product quality certificate that you can show off to customers. As for the production premises, the main thing here is to find a plant with an area of ​​more than 70 square meters. The location can be almost any, since there are no special requirements for this item. To connect modern equipment you will need 360 V. In addition, you need to choose a place to install the drying chamber, where the temperature should be around 40 degrees Celsius.

We buy equipment for the production of paving slabs

You have several options. One of them is production by vibration pressing. In order to set up production in this way, you will need to buy a brick press. The higher its performance, the higher the price. An average-capacity unit will cost you about $20,000. Of course, we cannot do without a concrete mixer, as well as a punch. For all this you will spend no more than 8-10 thousand.

As noted a little above, there are several production methods. In order to set up the production of tiles using the second method, that is, vibration casting, you will need less money, since the technology here is slightly different, and we will talk about this a little below. The main equipment is a vibrating table worth 6-7 thousand dollars and a concrete mixer. The price of the latter may vary, depending on the brand and capacity. On average it is 600-1000 dollars. You also need to buy molds for future tiles. Here you choose for yourself - which ones you like best, buy those. For one form you need to pay about 10-20 dollars.

Production technology using vibration pressing method

There are three main stages worth highlighting here. The first step is to prepare the concrete. A concrete mixer is used for this. As a rule, two types of mixture are in use. If it is made single-layer, then one concrete mixer is needed, if it is made of two layers, then, accordingly, two. After the molding mass is obtained, it must be transported to a brick making machine.

At the second stage, the press vibrator and punch work. The presence of pulses contributes to the compaction of the mixture. According to the technology, the process should last only 3-5 seconds, after which the matrix is ​​raised and the remaining tray is sent to the drying chamber.

At the final stage, the tiles “reach” complete readiness. To do this, it is dried in steam. It is extremely important to choose the right duration. The fact is that with increasing time, the strength of the product increases. So, after 6-8 hours of drying, the product can withstand a load of 2 MPa, which is quite enough.

Vibration casting technology

In essence, these two methods are somewhat similar, but the sequence and some details are slightly different. Here, for example, it is possible to establish the production of paving slabs from waste (sand, polyethylene, etc.). In principle, this is a good solution that will help significantly reduce the cost of purchasing raw materials. At the first stage of this technology, the mixture is prepared: polyethylene is melted and sand is mixed with cement. After this, the mass is placed in pre-prepared tile molds. Next, the molds are laid out on pallets, and the product is left in this form for about two days. At the final stage, the finished tile must be removed from the mold. This is not so easy to do. The easiest way is to use short-term heating (1-2 minutes), and then remove the tile.

Profitability, product sales and personnel recruitment

Most experts cite very good numbers when they talk about the profitability of such a business. If we take the average value, then it is 100-130%. Here you need to understand that there is a place for defective products. There is no escape from this; your business plan for the production of paving slabs must take this into account. The only thing that can help is the continued use of an unusable product in construction.

The wider the range of forms and types of products you produce, the easier it will be to sell them. The number of loyal customers will constantly increase, but only if you can give them what they want. To begin with, it is recommended to purchase lines for the production of paving slabs of medium productivity. If everything is successful, you can expand further. Much depends on the capacity of the plant. If the daily output does not exceed 50 square meters of tiles, then 3-4 people who will be responsible for the process are quite enough.

A little about advertising your business

If you ask yourself what it takes to produce paving slabs, the answer to this question is relatively simple: good equipment and smart workers. However, good advertising is necessary for its implementation. This approach will significantly speed up the process of increasing the popularity of your organization. Place an advertisement in the newspaper that a new factory has opened for the production of tiles for every taste. Post some bright updates on the Internet, describe your assortment, etc. Of course, you may not be active, buyers will still come, but not so soon and not in such numbers. Competent advertising can do a lot, believe me.

A few important points

This business can be called profitable and profitable, however, it is subject to seasonality, which should not be forgotten. If you wish, you can preserve your production for several months. You can set up the production of paving slabs as a business quite quickly, since there is no additional certification required and there are no special requirements for the production premises. The main thing is that it is safe for the working staff and clean. Offer your clients transportation and tile laying services. This way you organize a full range of services, and this is very attractive to the buyer.

Conclusion

So we looked at the main details on this topic. Set up the production of paving slabs from plastic bottles, and you will not only save on the purchase of raw materials, but will also be able to make a high-quality product. However, you must understand that they will not buy even high-quality tiles from you at a high price, especially if you have just opened. Therefore, you must have good products at an affordable price. This is roughly what your paving slab production business plan should look like. There is no complex technological process and many units, so you can organize such a thing quite quickly. But we must not forget about quality control at all stages of production; your staff must monitor this.