Define the increase you are comparing
Separate three questions: has the supplied-product mass per batch increased, has the dose percentage increased on the same binder basis, or has the monthly purchase quantity increased because production grew? These require different supplier discussions. A pump setting, purchase invoice and weighed batch addition are not interchangeable records.
Use the dose-basis guide for the arithmetic. Keep the product grade and concentration beside the result. If the quoted solids content is missing, do not invent it or describe two liquid doses as equivalent active-polymer doses.
Collect a before-and-after purchase brief
| Record | What to compare |
|---|---|
| PCE identity | Grade, lot, delivery date, current TDS and COA; any declared concentration or formulation change. |
| Dose basis | Actual product mass and binder denominator. Identify supplied liquid, dry powder or declared solids. |
| Materials | Cement and SCM sources/lots, aggregate source, grading, moisture and relevant laboratory reports. |
| Batch conditions | Batch size, recorded water, dispenser verification, mixing sequence and actual sampling times. |
| Required outcome | Comparable consistency readings, temperature, retention window and agreed quality criteria. |
Mark unavailable fields as “not supplied”, rather than filling them with assumed values. This gives the supplier a clear list of questions instead of a request to make the product stronger.
Check alternative explanations before changing grade
A change in aggregate supply is worth documenting, not diagnosing from appearance. Sika’s challenging-aggregates overview illustrates that aggregate changes can alter water and superplasticizer demand; it does not establish the cause in your mix or prove suitability of an AdmixChem grade.
Check whether the target consistency, binder quantity, liquid concentration, water accounting or measuring equipment changed at the same time. If several changed together, a simple before/after dose comparison cannot isolate the reason. Record the changes and ask the producer’s technical team to define a controlled comparison using the actual materials.
For the broader diagnostic sequence use the compatibility checklist. The present page is the purchasing record for that discussion, not a replacement for it.
Compare the next quotation fairly
Ask the supplier to identify the candidate grade, proposed evaluation basis and evidence needed to compare it with the current grade. Request price currency, quote date, product concentration where declared, net package mass, destination, shipment terms, validity, lead time and sample availability.
A lower price per kilogram alone does not establish lower cost per accepted cubic metre. Compare quantities only after the dose basis and comparable trial performance are confirmed. Keep technical suitability separate from freight, payment and packaging decisions; a commercially attractive offer may still have an unresolved document or trial gap.
Send these inputs with your enquiry
Send the current grade/lot, old and new product masses, binder basis, relevant material changes, test timing and the outcome you need to improve. Attach the batch sheets and current documents where available. State whether you want a document review, a sample for an agreed trial, or a commercial quotation.
For a new cement source, use the cement-change checklist. A retention calculation summarizes observed readings; it does not forecast later performance. This page does not authorize water additions, redosing a delivered load or exceeding current product instructions.
Prepare your enquiry
Current grade/lot, before-and-after dose basis, material changes, target outcome, annual requirement and destination.
Request the exact grade, current document availability, sample terms, net package mass, quotation validity and delivery terms. Suitability and performance remain subject to applicable documents and agreed evaluation.
Sources and scope
Sources provide general background or measurement scope. The buyer checklists are our editorial recommendations, not reproduced test standards or proof of product performance. Reviewed 9 October 2026.