Compact crushers have rapidly become essential tools for small contractors and construction businesses. They’re versatile, portable, and powerful enough to handle various crushing tasks, including recycling concrete, asphalt, and demolition waste. But with so many options available, how do you choose the compact crusher that perfectly suits your business needs?
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This guide will walk you through the key considerations when selecting a compact crusher, comparing specific machine models to help you make the best choice for your unique requirements.
Compact crushers are designed to provide big performance in a small footprint. They’re ideal for businesses working in tight spaces or on smaller projects. Their benefits include:
Now, let’s explore the key factors to consider when choosing your compact crusher.
Compact crushers are powered either by diesel, electric, or a hybrid of the two. Each option comes with its own advantages.
Your desired tons per hour (tph) not only affects job site productivity but also plays a significant role in cost considerations.
[Learn More Discover the factors that can impact a crusher's tons-per-hour performance Read Blog
For contractors with limited space or who need to transport the crusher to different job sites, portability is key.
Check out our how to crush concrete guide!
When choosing the right crusher for the job, the material you're crushing plays a vital role in determining the best fit. Not all machines are built to handle every type of material, so it’s important to match the crusher to your specific needs.
Find out what is the best concrete crusher for your business.
Crushing hard rock requires heavy-duty machines capable of withstanding the intense demands. For these jobs, only the Barford 750J and Barford 750J RS are up to the task. These models are specifically designed for the rigors of hard rock crushing, providing the strength and durability needed to get the job done efficiently.
Another key consideration is whether the crusher has a jaw box that can run in reverse. This feature is essential for clearing blockages and improving overall flexibility on the job site. Additionally, only machines with a jaw box that can run in reverse are suitable for crushing asphalt. Models like the Terex EvoQuip Bison 120 and Barford 750J come equipped with this useful capability, making them adaptable, easier to operate, and ideal for handling tough materials like asphalt.
When it comes to concrete, brick, or pavers, all the models mentioned in this article including the Dragon CR400, Terex EvoQuip Bison 120, and the Barford 750J series—are suitable choices. These materials are generally less demanding to crush and thus compatible with compact, lightweight crushers as well as larger, more powerful options.
If your concrete contains a significant amount of rebar, this adds an extra layer of complexity. Large pieces of rebar can impact the jaw plates, causing increased wear and potentially reducing the machine's efficiency. For concrete with heavy rebar content, it’s essential to manually remove the extra-large pieces before feeding the material into the crusher.
By considering these material-specific requirements and features, you can ensure your chosen crusher is perfectly suited for the task, maximized for efficiency, and built to handle the demands of your job site.
When choosing the right crusher for your project, it's crucial to consider input size, output size, and jaw adjustability. These factors play a major role in ensuring your equipment meets your production needs effectively and efficiently.
The input size determines the size of material your crusher can handle. If the input size is too small, you might face challenges fitting in the rocks or concrete you need to process, which could result in additional pre-processing steps or the need for extra equipment. This can significantly impact both your time and budget. Make sure the crusher can accommodate the largest material you plan to process to avoid unnecessary complications.
On the other hand, the output size of your crusher must match the requirements of your project. For example, some jobs demand highly specific material sizes, such as 3/4-inch minus material. Not all crushers are capable of crushing down to smaller sizes like this—larger units might struggle, or additional tools like screeners may become necessary. The Barford 750J RS, for instance, offers an onboard screener that allows you to separate larger material and achieve the exact product size you need for your job, saving time and simplifying logistics.
Jaw adjustability is another critical feature to consider. Adjusting the CSS (close side setting) allows you to control the jaw size and produce material in different dimensions for varying projects. Some modern crushers offer convenient hydraulic jaw adjustment, letting you modify settings effortlessly with the flick of a switch. This is an excellent time-saver if your projects require frequent adjustments. However, if you'll be sticking with a consistent product size, manual adjustment may be sufficient and less of a concern.
By evaluating these factors—input size, output size, and jaw adjustability—carefully, you can ensure your crusher is well-suited to your needs and optimize your investment for greater productivity and success.
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Consider the availability of replacement parts and technical support when choosing equipment. Downtime from maintenance or repairs can disrupt your workflow, so opt for manufacturers with readily available parts and responsive service. Crushers with simple maintenance requirements can also help reduce delays.
At Machinery Partner, we ensure your equipment stays up and running with excellent service and support. Need spare parts or expert machine engineers? We’ve got you covered. Manufacturers like Terex have U.S. warehouses stocked with parts, and you can order replacements for all machines, including Terex, directly through Machinery Partner. Call (888) 814-, and our team will help keep your operation efficient and on track.
To help you find the perfect match, we’ve categorized the top compact crushers based on their unique strengths.
The Barford 750J RS is a compact, powerful crusher built for efficient material processing. Featuring a 28" x 20" single toggle jaw crusher and 34" wide discharge conveyor, it’s ideal for contractors crushing materials on-site. With remote control operation, it ensures convenience and safety while delivering high-quality, on-spec material.
Designed to handle concrete, asphalt, gravel, and hard rock, its compact size allows easy transport between job sites, while the durable build tackles tough projects with ease. For reliable, precise material production, the 750J RS is a top choice across industries.
The Terex EvoQuip Bison 120 is a compact, versatile jaw crusher ideal for small to medium-sized construction projects. Its portable design allows it to excel in tight spaces and urban environments. With a 27" x 16" jaw inlet and up to 80 tph throughput, it’s perfect for crushing concrete, asphalt, bricks, and natural stone. User-friendly features like hydraulic adjustments and intuitive controls ensure easy operation and minimal downtime. Whether for demolition waste, recycling, or aggregates, the Bison 120 delivers reliable performance and efficiency on any job site.
The Terex EvoQuip Bison 35 is an ultra-compact and highly portable jaw crusher, designed with small contractors in mind. Its lightweight design makes it easy to transport and ideal for jobs with limited space or frequent relocations. Despite its small size, the Bison 35 is robust and packs a powerful punch, providing up to 30 tph throughput. This machine is particularly suited for recycling and demolition jobs, concrete crushing, and processing aggregates like bricks, pavers, and other construction materials. With simple operation and minimal setup time, the Bison 35 ensures you can tackle your workload efficiently, even on the tightest sites.
The Dragon CR400 Crusher delivers powerful performance in a compact, portable design, ideal for smaller projects and tight spaces. Perfect for contractors or businesses with limited space, it’s easy to transport and set up, minimizing downtime so you can start working faster.
Designed for processing materials like concrete, bricks and blocks, it’s a great solution for recycling and aggregate jobs. Whether clearing debris or repurposing materials, the Dragon CR400 ensures efficient, reliable performance.
The CM CR 600 is a compact, efficient electric jaw crusher perfect for small to medium eco-conscious projects. Lightweight and portable, it’s easy to transport and set up, ideal for tight spaces or limited-access areas. Designed to process concrete, bricks, asphalt, and stone into reusable aggregates, it minimizes waste and cuts disposal costs. For sustainable, versatile construction solutions, the CM CR 600 is a game-changer.
The Barford 750J is a compact, powerful mobile jaw crusher designed for efficiency and performance. Powered by a durable diesel engine, it’s easy to operate and highly mobile, perfect for tight or challenging sites. Suitable for crushing concrete, asphalt, demolition waste, and natural stone, the 750J combines impressive power with versatility. Ideal for contractors, it processes tough materials efficiently, keeping costs low while delivering reliable performance on any project.
The RubbleCrusher RCJ65T is an innovative and highly portable crusher designed specifically for small to medium-sized construction and demolition projects. Its efficiency and reliability allow operators to process materials directly on-site, reducing waste and cutting down hauling costs.
This crusher is particularly suited for processing materials such as concrete, brick and small qualities of cold asphalt, turning them into reusable aggregates. Whether you're tackling demolition waste or creating high-quality materials for reuse, the RCJ65T offers a practical, solution-oriented approach to managing site-generated debris. It’s an ideal choice for contractors looking to minimize their environmental impact while maximizing cost savings.
Want to upgrade your operations and start making more money from your material? Add a screening plant to your set-up and start making DOT approved material. Check out some screening plant set-ups here.
Choosing the best compact crusher comes down to carefully assessing your business needs and project requirements. Consider factors like material type, job site location, throughput demands, and power source preferences.
With the rise of compact concrete crushers, bucket crushers, and mini crushers, more and more contractors are considering diversifying their business to benefit from the savings from disposing of concrete, tipping fees, and the cost of virgin aggregates. The cheapest mini crusher is probably too much if the economics don’t pan out or you are not set up for crushing yet. Ultimately, depending on where you are with your business, owning a crusher, renting a crusher, or hauling the material to the dump is worthwhile.
You have realized that you waste too much money on construction & demolition waste… Congratulations, you have solved the first step of enlightenment.
Owning a crusher makes sense for many contractors. Outbound trucking costs, tipping fees, purchase of aggregates (or loss of the opportunity to sell product), and trucking costs often amount to mind-blowing numbers. When contrasting your current cost structure with paying for and operating a compact concrete crusher, many contractors find that you can realize big efficiencies and make more money.
It is not impossible, but it will be hard to justify a compact concrete crusher without the capability of stockpiling material. Without a yard, you are 100% reliant on on-site crushing jobs. Having the room to stockpile material allows you to be more flexible, take in material, and manage your materials business.
Purchasing the wrong type-crusher can lead you down a costly path. Jaw crushers and impact crushers achieve different outcomes. While jaw crushers are good for an efficient initial reduction in size, producing a 3”-6” coarse product, impact crushers are suitable for producing a higher-value finished spec product (e.g. ¾”- base material that meets DOT spec). Some finished product specs require an additional screening plant (e.g. #57 stone).
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