No Single Best Kleemann Crusher

I don't give blanket advice. If you're comparing Kleemann crushers, you're asking the right question. The answer depends on the job, the material, and the crew running the plant.

I work on the quality side of mobile crushing equipment. Over the last four years, I've reviewed roughly 200 machines before they were accepted—maybe 180, I'd have to check the log. My job is to catch problems that would cost money later. That's why this article is written by scenario, not as a single recommendation. I'll split it into four situations: frequent moves, hard rock, used equipment, and short contracts.

If you searched for Kleemann KD box, you're probably looking at parts diagrams or a spec sheet. The term appears in that context. On the machine itself, the part I'd inspect is the crusher box. The condition of that assembly decides whether your cost per ton is sane or embarrassing.

Scenario 1: You Move Between Sites and Need Uptime From Day One

This is the classic contractor setup: recycling concrete and asphalt at different demolition sites. You need a plant that folds down, travels, and starts producing quickly. For this, a MOBIREX impact crusher is usually the right starting point—not because it's the most powerful, but because the whole package is built around mobility. (Should mention: the pre-screen on EVO2 units does more than you'd think. It's not a luxury option.)

What to check: the crusher box, the rotor, the blow bars, and the gap setting. In an impact crusher, the blow bars and impact aprons determine output quality. If you buy a used machine with worn blow bars, don't judge it until you've replaced them.

My advice: if your feed is mostly asphalt and reinforced concrete, choose an impact crusher with a strong magnetic separator and steel protection. Don't pay extra for a cone crusher you'll rarely use.

Scenario 2: You're Crushing Hard Rock and You Care About Cost Per Ton

For abrasive, high-silica rock, a jaw crusher plus a cone crusher is often the better setup. A MOBICAT jaw crusher handles large rock and is simpler to maintain. A MOBICONE cone crusher gives you the secondary stage and particle shape.

Here's a misconception I keep running into: impact crusher means modern, jaw crusher means old. The reality is the crusher type has to match the material's compressive strength. A jaw crusher can be the lower cost per ton when the rock is hard. An impact crusher can be the lower cost per ton when the feed is softer and you need a more cubic shape. I'm not 100% sure which material you're running, but the principle is stable.

What to check: feed opening size, closed side setting, and crusher chamber geometry. Even in a jaw crusher, the crushing chamber shape affects throughput and wear life.

Scenario 3: You're Buying Used or Rebuilding—and Wondering About the KD Box

Used Kleemann machines can be a great deal if someone else has taken the depreciation hit. But they can become money pits if the crusher box was repaired improperly.

In a Q1 2024 quality audit of repair work on our own fleet, we rejected 18% of first deliveries because the documentation didn't match the physical machine. The common issue was a rebuilt crusher box with non-original wear parts and weld repairs that didn't follow the original spec. Let me rephrase that: the paint was fresh, but the internal clearance was wrong.

From the outside, a freshly painted crusher box looks great. What you don't see is whether the rotor is straight or whether the liner plates have been run down to the backing structure.

Here's something sellers won't tell you: rebuilt often means only the wear parts were replaced, not the main structure. That's why the crusher box inspection matters more than the paint.

What I check on a used Kleemann:

  • Ask for the crusher box serial number and the original Kleemann specifications.
  • Check the rotor for straightness and runout.
  • Check blow bars and wear plates for remaining life.
  • Ask whether the machine came from a dealer that works directly with Kleemann Göppingen.

The most frustrating part is that rebuilt isn't a regulated term. You'd think a written description would be enough, but it isn't. So glad we insisted on a rotor inspection on the last used machine we looked at—we were one signature away from buying a unit with a bent rotor.

Scenario 4: You Have a Short Project or Uncertain Volume

If the job is six months and might not extend, don't buy a crusher. Rent from a dealer who will include wear parts in the contract. The cheapest rental can look good until you get the bill for the blow bars you burned through in week three.

For rental, specify the crusher box condition before the machine arrives. I'd rather pay slightly more for a rental with 80% blow bar life than take a machine at 40% and not know it.

How to Know Which Scenario You're In

Ask yourself these four questions:

  1. How often will the machine actually move? If it moves more than every few weeks, mobility is part of the investment.
  2. What's the feed material? Hard rock, recycled concrete, and limestone all demand different crusher types.
  3. Do you have a maintenance crew that can handle a complex crusher? If not, simpler might be better.
  4. What does the end product need to be? Cubical, tightly spec'd aggregate usually means a cone or impact crusher in the secondary stage.

From there, the decision becomes less emotional. You're not choosing a brand to prove anything. You're choosing a configuration that gives the lowest total cost over the life of the project.

A Note on Kleemann Göppingen and Support

Kleemann's manufacturing base is in Göppingen, Germany. That matters for spare parts availability and repair expertise. I've seen buyers save money on a parallel-imported machine and then lose it all when the dealer couldn't communicate directly with the Kleemann Göppingen Geschäftsführer's service team.

Granted, this isn't a complaint about the factory. Kleemann builds solid equipment. But the dealer relationship is part of the machine. If the seller can't give you a straight answer about parts lead times, you'll probably get the same silence when an outage costs you money. As of January 2025, Kleemann's EVO2 generation is the current line in most markets—MOBICAT, MOBIREX, and MOBICONE. Verify the latest specifications on the manufacturer's site before you commit.

The Bottom Line: Total Cost, Not Sticker Price

In my experience, the lowest quote has cost more in about 60% of the comparisons I've reviewed. That stat isn't scientific—it's from my own logs. But it's held up over four years.

The purchase price is the starting point, not the answer. Add wear parts, fuel, transport, downtime, and resale value. A Kleemann with the right crusher box and a dealer who talks to Göppingen will look more expensive on paper and often turn out cheaper per ton.

If you're still unsure which scenario fits, call a dealer and ask for a trial with your material. That's the only way to stop guessing.