One Automatic Cement Brick Machine: Sponge City Pavers To Hollow Blocks

The global Automatic Cement Brick Machine market is projected to grow at a 4.2% CAGR and reach $2.34 billion by 2026. There is a common challenge for commercial block producers. They need to expand product lines while keeping capital expenditure low. Having a machine for each product type is no longer feasible for the majority of the plants.

This article discusses the capability of one Automatic Cement Brick Machine to produce hollow blocks, pavers, curb stones, and some other specialty products while maintaining high quality and productivity.

The 2026 Market Reality: One Machine, Many Products

Construction projects now require multiple concrete product types from a single supplier—hollow blocks, solid bricks, and permeable pavers on one site. An Automatic Cement Brick Machine must also handle diverse raw materials: cement, fly ash, slag, crushed stone, and recycled aggregates.

Due to “sponge city” mandates, many cities must use permeable paving that retains over 75% of stormwater, resulting in glass block pavers that are over 1.74B in 2026. The rest of the market works on a fully automated basis which lowers labor costs and improves the block making quality.

Expectations for Top Manufacturers 2026

The top three suppliers of Automatic Cement Brick Machines are Besser, Zenith, and Qunfeng. Besser and Zenith are firmly established and respected market leaders. Each company has its own engineering specialty for block production machines.

•  Besser (USA): One of the few manufacturers that provide heavy duty and sophisticated machines. Besser prefers the use of a lot of auxiliary equipment to create a variety of end products.

•  Zenith (Germany): Zenith offers a sophisticated product built for the mass production of units with a high degree of repeatability and low variation.

•  Qunfeng (China): The QS 1300 model demonstrates the versatility of a fully automated Cement Brick Machine. This model can produce many different types of cement products, including but not limited to hollow bricks, paving bricks, curb stones, and various types and shapes of other cement products. This model was developed by Qunfeng in conjunction with German engineers.

Foundational Technologies for Multi-Product Systems

To achieve the capability of producing multiple product types, an Automatic Cement Brick Machine must include cutting-edge engineering and design. The following are defining characteristics that separate true multi-product systems from general-purpose systems.

•  Rapid changeover system: Rapid product changeover system lowers the time required to initiate a new type of product from hours to less than 20 minutes, thereby decreasing downtime in a commercial operation.

•  Varied product height flexibility: This option makes room for a height range of 35 mm to 500 mm. Therefore, any variety of product lines including those that contain small ornamental pavers as well as larger hollow structural pavers will always be supported.

•  Servo-driven vibration: Two-axis servo systems are employed to create a compacted product with dense and high-quality features at reduced power consumption compared to traditional systems.

•  Rotary feeder design: Rakes with deep, 360° rotation, have been integrated to enhance the uniformity and consistency of the product, as is especially needed for high-quality paving tiles.

Separation of pigments in paving blocks eliminates batch cross-contamination. This ensures that quality is maintained on the surface.

Sponge City Capabilities: A 2026 Selection Differentiator

Sponge City principles have been fully adopted in construction. An Automatic Cement Brick Machine that cannot construct compliant permeable pavers is clearly disadvantaged in municipal procurement.

The QS1300 has been hyper-optimized to manufacture permeable pavers with a patented multi-axis servo vibration system which allows for drainage porosity to fully meet the requirements of standards for the absorption of rainwater.

•  Porosity: Open pore structures shall not compromise the integrity of the material. This must be ensured with lower vibrating parameters.

•  Conformable design: Construction and demolition waste require altered formats of vibration and pressing.

•  Permeable paving blocks: Aggregate paving blocks require special distribution and paving.

Hollow Block Production: the Core Workhorse Application

Though niche paving markets are growing, pavers production still remains the dominant application in the market for the majority of Automatic Cement Brick Machine installations. The QS1300's parameters provide the necessary specifications that cater to this core function, as well as specialty additions.

•  The size of the pallet: A massive 1100×870 mm pallet size allows for great output in the manufacture of standard hollow blocks.

•  21 MPa rating pressure: A uniform and fast production is possible for a varied scope of products with a released fast forming hydraulic system of the block.

•  Energy-efficient functionality: A servo-based system enables faster dynamic responses with quick production cycle iterations, and thus, an approx. 8% increase in production rates as compared to traditional drive blocks.

One approach to consider when evaluating total cost of ownership is how flexible a product is across multiple types of products.

Investment Considerations

For procurement officers evaluating Automatic Cement Brick Machines, the ability to produce different types of products factors significantly into the long-term ROI. Here are some things to take into consideration before closing the sale:

1. Changeover Time: Weekly productivity is directly impacted on a machine that takes 20 minutes to change a mold vs. one that requires changeovers be done manually every 2 hours.

2. Maintenance: Systems with one machine require much less spare parts inventory system storage, as well as a significantly lower need for repair and maintenance training for technicians.

3. Flexibility of Raw Material: Machines that can use (besides cement) fly ash, slag, and materials from demolition sites offer more opportunities to reduce raw material costs.

4. Flexibility for the Future: Due to technological and regulatory changes, machines that can more easily be adjusted tend to be valued more in the long run. This is the case for sponge city regulations and for recycling material mandates.

From One Machine, an Entire Production Line

Across a system, multi-product flexibility continues. Today's Automatic Cement Brick Machine systems feature modular machines that connect to other machines and units. Systems in the industry likely feature modular machines and systems at a production plant, and suppliers are more likely to offer modular Plants with Stacking and Curing Systems.

An example is the QS1300, which can be configured to accommodate fully automated production line systems or more simple systems, therefore accommodating the investment needs of both large and medium companies. Buyers are able to adjust the level of automation as production needs to scale upwards in a modular approach.

Conclusions

The 2026 Automatic Cement Brick Machine market rewards buyers who look beyond individual specifications. Municipal contracts increasingly bundle hollow blocks, solid bricks, and permeable pavers into single tenders. The equipment choice today determines whether a producer stays locked into narrow product ranges or gains flexibility to adapt.

Of the top vendors, those who provide German-engineered platforms that utilize fast mold change, servo vibration, and wider material compatibility will score best. Procurement teams should confirm actual changeover time, height range, and the raw materials will be accepted, during the supplier assessments.

FAQ

Q: Is it true, one Automatic Cement Brick Machine can produce permeable pavers and hollow blocks?

A: Yes. Thanks to a rapid mold change system and large height variation (e.g., 35–300mm), the machine can produce the two product types in less than 20 minutes.

Q: For a multi-product machine, how frequently do you change the molds?

A: Well-constructed, heat treated molds can run 5 million cycles or more. Inspection for any wear is good practice, but the frequency is variable depending on the production rate and the mold material.

Q: Do you have to use different formulas for the raw materials of the varied products?

A: Yes, but not all systems require the mixers to be set up for some of the products, e.g., hollow blocks, pavers, and bricks, can be integrated into the same system, and the machine does that via the PLC.

Q: What is the estimated return on investment with a multi-product machine?

A: A majority of clients testify to a ROI in the range of 18–24 months. This is driven by a decoupling of equipment, drastic reduction of labor costs, and the ability to bid on diverse project types.