Why UK Concrete Manufacturer Replaced Jubilee Clips with BFM®

Cement leakage may seem like a small nuisance, but for many concrete and screed plants it’s a persistent source of downtime, housekeeping burden, and operator frustration. At S Morris Ltd, a construction materials manufacturer in the UK, a single flexible connector on the mixer inlet was causing exactly those issues — until the team switched to BFM® fitting.

The challenge: persistent cement leakage and daily blockages.

The original connector on the mixer inlet was held in place with jubilee clips — a common but inconsistent sealing method. The poor clamped fit, plus an ill-fitting connector, created creases where cement accumulated. Moisture from the mixer then caused the cement to harden, forming blockages that staff had to clean manually. Every shift ended with around 20 minutes of cleaning, including hammering off dried cement.

The consequences were clear:

• Cement leaked during every batch
• Hardened build-up required daily connector removal
• Staff spent hours each week on non-value-adding clean-up
• Dust exposure and manual hammering created health & safety concerns

The Plant Manager summed up the frustration: “It’s hard work cleaning up dried cement and tedious having to stay behind to sort it out.”

The BFM® Solution

S Morris explored whether BFM® fitting could provide a more reliable, dust-tight connection. With technical guidance from ProSpare, the Authorised BFM® Distributor for the United Kingdom, the plant installed the BFM® system — two precision-formed spigots paired with a BLUEBAND™ connector that snaps internally into place.

This internal snap-fit design creates a 100% dust-tight seal, immediately eliminating cement leakage. The smooth internal surface also removes the creases that previously trapped cement, preventing build-up and blockages.

The difference was immediate:

BFM® fitting has completely eliminated cement leakage on the inlet to the mixer.

Instead of daily removal, the connector now only needs to be removed once a month as part of routine housekeeping—and it’s still the same connector installed over a year ago.

The results: cleaner plant, happier staff,
and 72 hours saved per year.

The impact was significant:

A small change with a big impact

For S Morris Ltd, replacing a single connector removed a daily frustration, reduced downtime, and improved the working environment. The BFM® fitting system delivered a cleaner, safer, and more efficient batching process — proving once again how a small component can make a big difference.

If your site is experiencing similar issues with flexible connectors, BFM® fitting may be the simplest and most effective upgrade you can make.  Contact your local Authorised BFM® Distributor to talk about your specific application.

NOTE: For applications adjacent to moving machinery,  customers need to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Mitigation measures to consider include: Tool Release connectors, guarding, proximity switches, light sensors, internal grid/grille, etc.