Credit: Original article published here.

This is a basic walkthrough of how precast concrete building components are made.  We’ll focus on the daily plant cycle and go from preparing forms for casting to piece transportation to the jobsite.  There are a few prerequisites to note before we begin casting precast.  First, the various precast building components being used have already been determined and component manufacturing drawings have been created.  Second, a precast plant is needed.  Precast plants can vary quite a bit, and the age of precast plants can be from as far back as the 1950s, all the way up to present day.  Casting areas can be indoors or outdoors, and the equipment and forming varies between plants.  This will affect the available piece cross sections/shapes, colors and textures, maximum sizes, and efficiency/cost.