1.
Which machine is best suited for me?
Ask yourself the following questions: How much working
space do I have available to produce and store blocks?
How many blocks do I want to produce in a day? What is
my initial budget for a machine? Please be aware that
the average block yard that uses one of our machines for
the production of blocks, usually have a minimum or
20,000 blocks in stock on any given day.
Once you have answered these questions, contact us by
email and we will give you the specifications and price
for the best suited machine. Please be prepared to give
us your answers to the above questions.
2. Where are the machines made?
The machines are made in the United States.
Custom machines and molds can be manufactured upon
request.
3.
Why are the machines so different?
Each customer have their own style of
machine that they prefer. We research the machines, determine the
reliability of the equipment and the companies, and if
satisfied, we feature their machines. Our mission is to
sell at least one machine that will satisfy the needs of
anyone who is involved in a small to medium sized block
making business. We can obtain more powerful and
expensive machines but we are not set up to store and
handle very heavy machines.
4. How do I order a machine from SBS?
Once you have decided on the best machine, you will be
sent a Proforma Invoice (by email, fax or direct mail).
You can then arrange for an electronic transfer or
credit card payment of a 50% down payment. The desired
machine and molds will then be manufactured as per your
request, crated and cleared for shipment. We will then
request the balance of payment. Upon receipt of the
remaining balance plus shipping charges, the machine
will be released to the shipper and forwarded to you. A
bill of lading will be faxed or mailed to you (overnight
mail). The machines are shipped directly from the
manufacturer to your Port. Once the order is placed, the
machine is built just for you. If you decide to cancel
you order there will be a 20% service charge.
5. How will the machine be delivered to my premises?
We currently have customers in 26 countries who are
using our machines. Most of these customers are in
Central America, South America, Africa and the West
Indies. We have a network of freight handlers to deliver
machines to these countries. We deal with freighters
that specialize in shipments to islands throughout the
Caribbean. We ship from port to port. We no longer
provide door to door service, because we've learned
through experience that the customer can secure faster
custom clearance and cheaper transportation in their own
country. We always look for the least expensive way
to ship your equipment.
6. In my area we make several different size blocks and
bricks. Can I buy molds to suit?
We have several standard block molds available. We can
also make a mold for almost any block, brick or paver
that you might see, or design. Simply supply us with the
exact dimensions and a sketch or photo of the product,
and we will build a mold to suit it.
7. Do I need a machine for every type of brick or block
that I make?
No. All of our machines can be fitted with any mold that
was designed for that machine. That includes, paver
molds, hollow block molds, solid block molds and all
brick molds. So for example, today you can produce 6"
blocks and tomorrow you can produce 4" blocks on the
same machine by just changing the mold. The following
day you can produce bricks. All you will need to do is
remove one type of mold and replace it with another.
These are quick change molds and the entire process
takes about half an hour.
8. What happens if I have a breakdown?
We use FeDex or DHL International for emergency shipment
to anyplace in the world. We are usually able to get
spare parts to you within 72 hours. However these
machines are so well built and robust, that there is
seldom a complete breakdown that cannot be fixed on an
emergency basis with parts that you can obtain locally
or with the help of a technician or welder. We suggest
regular maintenance of all moving parts. Do not allow
concrete to accumulate on moving parts and molds, clean
machine daily before closing up for the day. If you have
some shapes (molds) that are vital to your business, we
suggest that you purchase a replacement mold, as a
backup.
9.
What Raw Materials are needed to make blocks?
The
raw materials required are cement, sand, stone chips and
water.
10.
What is an acceptable mix ratio?
The
ratio of cement, sand and stone chips or gravel in the
raw material mix determines the properties of hollow
concrete blocks. A ratio of 1:3:7 [cement : sand: stone
chips] confers higher strength, while a ratio 1:5:7 can
be employed for normal load bearing construction. The
water to cement ratio is usually 0.4:1, which is a
little less than half the amount of water to cement.
11.
We have many power outages.
If you
live in an area that experiences regular power outages
and blackout, we can provide you with a DIESEL powered
machine. Take a look at the pricelist and you will find
a price for the standard machine and a price for the "D"
model. Some of our larger machines do not work well with
a diesel engine and will require a 3 Phase 220/440 volts
Power Generator capable of producing 15 to 20 KVA.
12.
What will be my total cost.
If
your equipment is purchased for use outside of the US,
there is no sales tax or added charges. Your country
might charge you an Import or Value Added Tax. There is
very little tariff on this type of equipment. The
additional taxes charged by most countries usually do
not exceed 18%. Our charges to you are exactly as stated
on the pricelist plus shipping charges.
13.
Can I get installation:
Yes,
only if said arrangements are made prior to receiving
your equipment. There are some countries that are
politically unstable or present a language barrier for
our technicians. Sometimes it is impossible to get a
technicians to travel to some countries. If no
arrangement is made prior to purchasing the machine and
a problem arise during installation, the customer is
responsible for all wages and expense of the technician.
In addition the technician will need at least 2 weeks
advance notice.
14.
Strength of Blocks:
Blocks
produced by our machines will satisfy the building code
requirements of most countries around the world.
Different regions has different requirements. Hydraulic
and Pneumatic pressed blocks usually have better
compression that manual (gravity) press blocks. Our
minimal compressive strength is 2000 PSI for our
standard hollow/solid blocks. If you are using a mold
that was designed by you, we suggest that you have the
blocks tested for compression strength. |