When a machine baseplate sits on concrete, the grout underneath has to stay put. MasterFlow non-shrink grouts hold their dimensions through cure, transferring load from the equipment into the slab without gaps or settlement. Boston Concrete specs and installs MasterFlow for industrial equipment commissioning, structural anchor retrofits, and any application where dimensional stability is engineered into the job.
Standard cement grout shrinks as it cures. For most masonry, that shrinkage is acceptable. Under a machine baseplate, it is a failure point. As the grout shrinks, it pulls away from the sole plate, creating voids that break the load path. The equipment rocks, vibrates, or settles unevenly. MasterFlow non-shrink chemistry prevents that gap from forming, keeping the grout in full contact with the baseplate throughout cure.
The engineered non-shrink behavior depends on mixing to the exact water ratio specified by BASF. Too much water and the grout shrinks like ordinary cement. Too little and it will not flow into the cavity. We mix every batch to spec because the chemistry only works when the ratio is right.
Pair heavy-duty concrete floors with baseplate grouting when the equipment pad is part of a larger facility slab. Coordinate with MasterTop floor systems for integrated floor and equipment solutions. See all BASF product lines for waterproofing and floor coatings that work alongside grouting.
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Installation sequence
How MasterFlow Baseplate Grouting Gets Done
Spec the right MasterFlow product
We review the equipment manufacturer's grouting requirement and any project engineer spec, then select the matched MasterFlow formulation (cementitious for standard loads, epoxy for high-load or chemical environments, rapid-set for tight commissioning windows).
Prepare the cavity
The baseplate cavity is cleaned, anchor bolts are confirmed in place, the baseplate is leveled and shimmed as needed, and the cavity walls are prepped to receive grout.
Mix and place to BASF ratio
MasterFlow is mixed to the exact water ratio specified by BASF. The grout is placed into the cavity by gravity flow, pump, or pressure injection depending on the geometry and product type.
Cure per schedule and document
The grout cures per the BASF product schedule (hours for rapid-set epoxy, days for high-strength cementitious). The install is documented for equipment commissioning records and load-transfer verification.
The critical detail
Precision Mix Ratio Is Where MasterFlow Succeeds
The non-shrink performance of MasterFlow is not a property of the cement itself. It comes from engineered chemistry that only works when the water ratio is exact. Add 5% too much water and the grout shrinks. Add 5% too little and it will not flow into the cavity. We measure and mix every batch to the BASF specification because anything else defeats the engineered behavior.
When the baseplate is part of a larger warehouse floor system, coordinate the grouting with the floor coating schedule. For structural anchor foundation repair work, MasterFlow products are available for that application as well. Check all concrete brands we carry for complementary products.
Cementitious vs epoxy, mix ratios, baseplate spec and commissioning.
Cementitious for most baseplate grouting (high compressive strength, good non-shrink performance, lower cost). Epoxy for higher-load or chemically aggressive environments and where rapid set is needed. We pick based on the spec and load.
Because the non-shrink performance is calibrated to a specific water ratio. Off-ratio mixing compromises the engineered chemistry, the grout shrinks during cure, and the load-transfer path through the baseplate is degraded.
Yes, for larger cavities or pressure-required installs. Most baseplate grouts go in by gravity flow with appropriate flow techniques; pressure injection is reserved for specific geometries.
Cementitious products typically cure to load-bearing strength in days; rapid-set epoxy can reach service strength in hours. The exact cure schedule is in the BASF product spec; equipment commissioning follows it.
Yes, MasterFlow products include formulations for structural anchor grouting where engineered non-shrink performance is critical. We pick the right product from the BASF range.
MasterFlow under a turbine baseplate, full non-shrink performance verified at commissioning. Equipment runs without vibration issues, no settlement at the pad. Real engineering grouting.
Z. I6
Industrial Operations, Boston
★★★★★
They mixed to the BASF water ratio exactly every batch. The discipline is invisible but the result shows in load-transfer performance through the cured grout.
Y. I6
Plant Engineer, Cambridge
★★★★★
Equipment retrofit with MasterFlow regrouting on a baseplate that had failed. New install holds; the original had used standard grout and shrunk away from the plate. Right product made the difference.
Q. I6
Maintenance Manager, Somerville
★★★★★
Rapid-set epoxy MasterFlow on a tight commissioning timeline. Cured to load strength inside the window we had. The right product within the BASF range matters.
X. I6
Facility Engineer, Quincy
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