The Construction & Quarry Machinery Show is Ireland’s only event dedicated to the showcase of construction machinery including quarry equipment related to the Irish industry.
C&D World 2025 will have sessions that will focus on critical industry trends and topic and enable attendees to stay up-to-date in the construction and demolition (C&D) recycling industry.
World of Concrete is a trade show dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries. World of Concrete has been serving the global concrete and masonry construction industries for more than 50 years.
AED Summit is hosted by the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) association that serves as a resource for machinery dealers around the world. McLanahan will be partnered with Anaconda and EIW in hosting current and potential dealers in the Celebration Room 7 to continue their dedication to expanding and developing their dealer network.
Construction projects can produce a significant amount of large, bulky waste material. This material can often be expensive to transport and dispose of. One option construction companies can use to minimise these costs is to utilise on-site crushing.
On-site crushing is the process of running materials such as concrete, tile, stone, brick or block materials through a crusher at the job-site. When properly sized, this material can be reused on the project or sold to other jobs.
Contractors, landscaper, excavation companies and others businesses involved in construction projects can use a small job-site crusher to positively impact both job costs and the environment.
Cost Efficiency
There isn’t a construction project that doesn’t involve waste disposal of some sort. While up front this cost might not always seem like a lot to the project, there are often hidden costs associate with waste disposal, including labour fees and the cost of new material, when recycled material may have been sufficient.
According to National Waste Associates, while waste disposal may look like only 1% of a project’s costs on paper, after accounting for many of these other costs, the true cost of waste may actually be 2-10% of a total project’s costs.
Crushing waste on-site helps to minimise both the budgeted and hidden waste costs in a project by reducing both disposal and material procurement costs.
Timesaving
Another major benefit of on-site crushing is the time it saves. Waste disposal requires coordinating transportation to a disposal site suitable for your project’s particular kind of waste and adherence to local regulations. Crushing on-site can greatly eliminate both the size and number of loads that will need to go to a landfill.
This can also be said on the opposite side of material handing – in addition to trucking less out, which can be obvious with the term “recycling”, it also means you are trucking less material in. This saves even more time in hauling.
Environmentally Effective
Sustainability continues to be a hot topic for the construction and demolition industry. When materials that had previously been used in construction projects are transformed into usable aggregate, the reliance on natural resources significantly decreases.
Choosing to crush on-site waste not only reduces the carbon footprint from construction sites and haulage, but it also minimises the need for landfills.
Flexibility in Material Size
Various construction projects require materials of different sizes and specifications, which can add up in terms of how much material is bought and transported to the job site. Crushing removes this issue by allowing crushed materials to be tailored to fit certain requirements for specific projects. On-site crushers can be adjusted to create a range of product sizes that are suitable for a variety of different end uses.
Flexibility to create various material sizes with an on-site crusher ensures that the recycled materials needed for a project will meet requirements. Yet another way that on-site crushing will improve efficiency and decrease waste.
What are the Applications of On-Site Crushing?
On-site crushing provides an opportunity to sustainably re-utilise materials creating a circular economy, whilst simultaneously giving an alternative to using virgin materials. In an article by Waste Managed, some of the most common uses for these materials are:
- Road Base and Subbase – crushed on-site material provides a cost-effective and strong foundation material for roads, parking lots, and driveways. Its excellent drainage properties help prevent water build-up and extend pavement lifespan.
- Fill Material – these materials can be used to fill trenches, level uneven ground, or create embankments. This reduces the need for quarried materials and promotes responsible land management.
- Lean-Mix Concrete – crushed concrete can also be used as a substitute for coarse aggregate in lean-mix concrete applications, such as sidewalks, pathways, or non-structural slabs.
- Pipe Bedding – this material can provide a stable, well-draining base for underground pipes and utilities, protecting them from movement and damage.
Overall Benefits
The benefits of on-site crushing in construction projects are numerous and can be extremely impactful to both the environment and a contractor’s bottom line. Jobsite crushers such as the RC150V Jaw Crusher can make this a reality for construction companies and landscapers.
These machines are transforming the industry and remoulding traditional construction practices into ones that are more sustainable, efficient and cost effective. From cost efficiency to material size flexibility and timesaving, the impact of on-site crushing goes beyond physical construction work and shifts the overall view in a modern approach to construction.
Hillhead is the largest quarrying exhibition in the UK and is held in a limestone quarry. RubbleCrusher will be in attendance showcasing the RC150T Tracked Jaw Crusher and the RCS48T Screen. Live demonstrations of the RC150T will be held throughout the event.
Small jobsite crushers offer a slew of benefits to the operator, including limiting the cost of hauling out construction and demolition debris from jobs and limiting the amount of new aggregate that needs to be brought in. The crushed material can also be sold or used for other landscaping or construction projects.
Jobsite crushers are also simple to operate and are easy to move from site to site, making them an attractive option for those who regularly find themselves paying to remove aggregate debris or to bring in new aggregate for jobs.
If you have a jobsite crusher or are ready to operate a jobsite crusher and want to ensure success, a little prep work goes a long way. Follow these tips for preparing the site, material and crusher for optimum and efficient operation.
Ready the site
The first step for successful crusher operation is to prepare the site for crushing. While compact, mobile crushers are adept at fitting into small areas, such as urban developments, you still want to ensure you have enough room for the feed piles and material stockpiles, as well as for the crusher and material handling equipment to move freely.
Clear the area of any debris, vegetation or obstacles that may interfere with the operation of the crusher. If necessary, level the ground to provide a stable working surface for the crusher.
Pro tip: For most efficient crusher operation, it is best to feed the crusher from a slightly elevated position so that the loader operator can see into the crushing chamber. Consider building a level pad of material near the crusher from which the loader can feed.
Sort and prepare the material
Inspect the material to be crushed before loading it into the crusher. Remove any contaminants or foreign objects, such as rebar or metal, that could damage the crusher or affect the quality of the crushed material. Properly manage and dispose of any waste materials not to be crushed according to local regulations and environmental guidelines.
Sort the feed material by size, type and quality. Depending on the size of the crusher, the material may be too large for the crusher to handle without some prior processing. Each crusher has a top size it can be fed, typically as large as 80% of the jaw opening. For example, the RC150 series jaw crushers, with crushing chambers measuring 26”x14”, can accept a single lump size as large as 21” x 11”; however, for more efficient crushing, the optimum lump size would be roughly the size of a basketball.
If your material is larger than the top size of the crusher allows, you’ll need to break down the material into smaller pieces before crushing to prevent chamber clogs or damage to the crusher, as well as to maximize the crusher’s efficiency. This can be accomplished with a hydraulic breaker or hammer attachment that is mounted to a skid-steer loader or excavator.
Likewise, if you have an excess of soils or fine material in the feed, remove it ahead of crushing for optimum crusher operation and best throughput.
Pro tip: Jobsite crushers can be adjusted to discharge a range of product sizes, so they can act as a primary and secondary crusher in one compact machine. To improve efficiency, consider crushing the material on the largest discharge setting first, and then feeding the crushed material back into the crusher a second time at a smaller setting to achieve a smaller product size.
Crushing considerations
Before crushing, consider how you plan to feed the crusher. Most jobsite crushers can be fed with a mini excavator or skid-steer loader. If you don’t already have one of these in your equipment arsenal, consider renting one locally, looking into leasing opportunities or making the investment to buy one.
Position the crusher in a suitable location near material stockpiles but with enough room for the discharging product pile to form. Ensure the crusher is stable and level before putting material into it. Adjust the crusher settings to achieve the desired product size.
For best results, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s set-up and operation instructions, as well as any recommended guidance on feeding best practices. Regularly monitor the crusher to ensure it is performing as intended, and don’t forget about maintenance. Even if you are only renting the crusher for a few days or weeks, you may need to add grease or fuel daily, or you may need to adjust a misaligned conveyor belt. In all instances, it is best to be familiar with the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule and practices.
Pro tip: Consider adding a jobsite screener to sort the crushed product into final sizes for stockpiling.
Safety first
Ensure all personnel involved in the crushing operation are trained in safe work practices and use appropriate personal protective equipment. Establish clear communication channels and safety procedures to minimize the risk of accidents or injuries. Keep unauthorized personnel away from the crusher during operation. Regularly inspect the area around the crusher for potential hazards and address any concerns promptly.
When operating a jobsite crusher, preparing the site and material ahead of time, as well as following the crusher’s instruction manual and all safety guidelines, will help ensure a smooth, trouble-free, uninterrupted crushing process and have you crushing like a pro in no time!
Hollidaysburg, Pa., Feb.12, 2024 – RubbleCrusher is excited to attend its first ARA show in New Orleans in March. At the show, RubbleCrusher will be displaying its compact, tracked, mobile jaw crushing unit, the RC150T, and will be showcasing its newly launched RSC48T Screen to the rental market at booth 2375.
The RSC48T enables the screening of material right on site, allowing for the production of three different material sizes on one mobile machine. The RSC48T weighs just under 8,000lbs and has a large 4’ x 8’ top deck and a 4’ x 6’ bottom deck. The screen can be fed directly with an excavator or skid steer. This mobile screen is perfect for those hard-to-access areas because of its compact size.
RubbleCrusher will also be showcasing its track-mounted jaw crusher at booth 2375 during the show. This crusher is fast to deploy on job sites and will save operators money by eliminating hauling costs to and from the job site. The RC150T unit weighs just under 8,000lbs and enables the operator to recycle C&D waste materials for use on site, without having to pay to remove materials or bring in new aggregate for jobs. The RC150T is mounted on tracks, making mobility on site possible by remote control.
Based in Leicestershire, U.K., RubbleCrusher offers robust crushing and screening equipment across various industries to allow for on-site recycling of C&D waste materials. RubbleCrusher is looking to partner with rental houses to expand its global distribution network. Stop by Booth 2375 to learn how a RubbleCrusher Jaw Crusher or Screen can benefit your application, visit rubblecrusher.com or contact info@rubblecrusher.co.uk.
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