There's no single "best" Kleemann crusher for every operation. The right setup depends on your material, your throughput goals, and—maybe most importantly—your budget. Over the past 6 years of tracking every invoice for our mobile equipment fleet, I've learned that the cheapest quote rarely equals the lowest total cost. And the most expensive machine often isn't worth it if it's overkill for your application.

This isn't another spec sheet comparison. I'll walk you through three common scenarios I've seen (and managed budgets for), and help you figure out which one fits your operation.

Scenario A: The High-Volume Quarry (1,000,000+ tons/year)

You need: Maximum uptime, consistent output, and the ability to handle hard rock (e.g., basalt, granite). Your team runs two shifts, and downtime costs you $10,000+ per hour in lost production.

For this scenario, I'd recommend the MC 110(i) EVO2 as the primary jaw crusher paired with a MCO 9 EVO2 cone crusher for secondary crushing. The EVO2 generation's continuous feed system makes a real difference here—it adjusts the crushing gap automatically based on the crusher's load, which reduces blockages and keeps the plant running at peak efficiency. We saw a 12% increase in throughput after upgrading to the EVO2 jaw on one of our larger sites, but the real savings came from fewer stoppages. (Should mention: we also added a metal detector and overband magnet on the feed side, which paid for itself in avoided damage within 4 months.)

Budget perspective: Your total cost of ownership here isn't the purchase price. It's the cost per ton over 5 years. According to our internal tracking (2020-2025), a well-maintained MC 110(i) EVO2 running 2,000 hours/year will cost roughly $2.50 - $3.50 per ton in wear parts and fuel. That's competitive with any fixed plant when you factor in the mobility savings—no conveyor foundations or structural steel.

"In Q2 2024, we compared quotes for a complete mobile jaw + cone setup from three vendors. Kleemann's initial quote was 15% higher than one competitor. But when I calculated TCO—including lower fuel consumption, longer wear part life, and higher resale value—the Kleemann package was actually 7% cheaper over 5 years."

One more thing: If you're in this scenario, don't underestimate the cost of training. The EVO2 control system is powerful, but your operators need to understand it. We budgeted $8,000 for on-site training and it was the best spend we made.

Scenario B: The Mid-Sized Contractor (100,000 - 500,000 tons/year)

You need: Flexibility. You move sites every 3-9 months. Your material varies—demolition concrete, asphalt, maybe some limestone. You need one machine that can handle multiple jobs.

This is where the MR 130(i) EVO2 impact crusher shines. Impact crushers are more versatile than jaws or cones for medium-hard and recycled materials. The MR 130 can produce a high-quality cubic final product in a single pass, which means you can often eliminate a secondary crushing step—saving you the cost of a second machine and its operator. In my experience, this reduces your total capital outlay by roughly 35% compared to a jaw-cone combo for medium-hard material.

Budget perspective: Here, your biggest variable is relocation costs. The MR 130 features a hydraulically folding feed hopper and a quick-release crusher housing. We tracked this carefully on one project: moving a competitor's impact crusher (2019 model) took 8 hours and required a 60-ton lowboy. The MR 130 took us 5 hours on the same move, with a 50-ton trailer. That's about $400 saved per move, and when you move 4-6 times a year, it adds up fast.

Pitfall to avoid: In my first year managing mobile equipment, I made the classic mistake of assuming "standard specs" meant the same thing to every manufacturer. One brand's "1300" rotor was actually 2 inches narrower than another's. Cost me a $12,000 adjustment when the feed size didn't match our primary crusher's output. Always verify the rotor dimensions against your feed material's max size, not just the model number.

Scenario C: The Startup or Small Operator (Under 100,000 tons/year)

You need: Low upfront investment. You might be processing customer stockpiles, doing small demolition jobs, or entering a new market. You can't afford a fleet, and you probably don't have a dedicated maintenance team.

This is your toughest scenario, honestly. Large manufacturers often don't optimize for small operations. The numbers said I should go with a used jaw crusher from a local dealer—$150,000 vs. $400,000 for a new Kleemann. My gut said something felt off. The dealer refused to provide maintenance records beyond the last 12 months. I went with my gut and leased a new MC 110 Z EVO for 18 months instead. Turns out, the used machine had a cracked main frame that would have cost $45,000 to repair.

For small operators, I'd argue that leasing or financing a new entry-level model often makes more financial sense than buying used. Here's why: your uptime requirement is actually higher (you can't absorb a week of downtime when you only have one machine). New equipment comes with a warranty, and the financing cost is predictable. We structured a lease for a client with a 4-year term and a buyout at 30% residual. Their effective monthly cost was $8,500—and that included two preventive maintenance visits per year.

"Small doesn't mean unimportant—it means potential. The vendors who treated our $50,000 orders seriously when I was starting out are the ones I still call for $500,000 orders today."

Honest advice: If your annual tonnage is under 50,000, consider a mobile screen first (like the Mobiscreen MS 702 EVO) and rent a crusher when you have a specific job. The screening market is more forgiving for small operators, and you can build capital from there. This isn't a popular opinion among crusher salespeople, but it's what I've seen work.

How to Know Which Scenario You're In

Here's a quick self-assessment. Be honest with yourself—I've seen too many operations buy a machine too big for their first project, only to sell it at a loss 18 months later.

  1. What's your annual throughput? Over 500,000 tons? You're in Scenario A. Under 100,000? Scenario C. In between? Scenario B.
  2. How many sites per year? More than 3 moves? Lean toward the MR series (Scenario B). Less than 1? The MC + MCO combo (Scenario A) works better.
  3. What's your material type? Hard rock (granite, basalt) almost always needs a jaw+cone setup. Concrete/asphalt recycling: impact crusher is your friend. Variable materials: go with the impact crusher for maximum versatility.
  4. What's your maintenance capability? Full-time mechanic? You can handle complex systems. Part-time operator-mechanic? Stick with simpler models like the MC 110 Z (non-EVO) or older equipment with manual adjustments.
"This classification is based on my experience tracking about 200 mobile equipment orders across 6 years. If you're working with extremely abrasive materials (like river gravel with high quartz content) your wear costs will differ significantly—probably 1.5x to 2x what I've quoted here."

I should add: this framework is a starting point, not a final answer. The market changes fast—new models come out, used equipment prices shift, and financing rates fluctuate. Verify current pricing and availability with an authorized Kleemann dealer before making any decisions. For detailed specifications and the latest model information, I recommend reviewing the official Kleemann product pages. And if you're in a situation that doesn't fit neatly into any of these three buckets—say, you're processing 200,000 tons of granite a year with only one machine—feel free to reach out. I've probably seen something similar.