If you’re looking at a Kleemann mobile crusher, you probably have a few questions. I’ve been managing heavy equipment procurement for six years, tracking every invoice and downtime log. Here are the ones I hear most—and the answers I wish someone had given me.

1. Is the Kleemann MR 100 NEO really worth the premium over a used model?

From the outside, the MR 100 NEO looks like a big upfront investment. The reality: when I ran the total cost over five years—fuel, wear parts, resale value—the NEO came out about 12% cheaper per ton than the used model I was eyeing. I tracked four machines across our fleet in 2023 and 2024. The NEO’s fuel sipped about 8 liters per hour less, and its jaws lasted 4,200 hours before the first flip. The used unit? Over €22,000 in unplanned downtime in year one alone. So yeah, the sticker shock is real, but so is the long-term saving.

2. What’s the biggest cost people miss when comparing Kleemann vs. Sandvik?

Most buyers compare the list price—that’s the surface illusion. Here’s something vendors won’t tell you: Kleemann’s EVO2 machines have a different wear pattern on the conveyor belts. In Q2 2024, we replaced belts on a competitor’s crusher three times in one season. The Kleemann belts? Once. The OEM belt was 40% more expensive per unit, but the total cost over 12 months was still 20% lower because of fewer change-outs and less labor. Plus, we didn’t lose a single day waiting for parts. That’s the kind of cost that doesn’t show up on a quote.

3. How do you calculate the real cost per ton for a Kleemann crusher?

I built a spreadsheet for this after one too many budget overruns. Here’s the rough formula I use:

  • Purchase price (including delivery and setup)
  • Fuel cost per hour × 1.2 (add 20% for real-world vs. spec sheet)
  • Wear parts (jaws, liners, belts) divided by expected hours
  • Maintenance labor and downtime at your shop rate
  • Residual value at 5 years (I estimate 40-50% for Kleemann in good condition)

For a Kleemann MR 100 NEO, that gave me about €0.62-€0.75 per ton in European conditions (hard limestone). For a cheaper alternative, the same formula hit €1.10-€1.30 per ton because of higher fuel and more frequent parts changes. Do the math yourself—don’t trust a headline number.

4. How many yards can a Kleemann MR 100 NEO produce per hour? (And why that question is wrong.)

You’ll see specs like “up to 350 tph” in marketing brochures. But that number is almost meaningless. I fell for this once—asked a vendor about yards per hour, bought based on that, and then found out the actual throughput depends on material hardness, moisture, screen setup, and feed size. A more useful question is: “What’s the average daily tonnage over a year during typical crushing conditions for our aggregate?” I now ask for references with my exact material type. The MR 100 NEO is capable, but its real-world output might be 20-30% lower than the peak spec. Plan accordingly for your budget and timeline.

5. Should I buy a Kleemann with a low-hour used machine or lease new?

I’ve gone both ways. In 2022, I pushed for a three-year lease on an MR 130 EVO2. The monthly payments were higher than a used unit, but the maintenance was bundled, and we had guaranteed uptime of 95% in the contract. When a conveyor motor failed at month 14, it was replaced within 48 hours—no extra bill. A colleague at a different site bought a used Kleemann and saved €40,000 upfront, but spent €18,000 on unscheduled repairs in the first quarter alone. If you’ve got a strong shop and a predictable job, buy used. If your deadlines are tight and your shop is stretched, the lease might actually be cheaper in the long run (plus, you can walk away at the end).

6. What about Astrid Kleemann and the brand’s history—does that matter for cost?

It might seem like trivia, but knowing that the company started as a family business in 1857 and that Astrid Kleemann was a key figure in its early leadership matters for one reason: long-term parts and service support. I’ve seen off-brand crushers disappear from the market in five years, leaving owners stranded. Kleemann has been around, and that supply chain stability has real value. When I need a jaw die for a 2018 model, the part is still available. For a competitor that merged and rebranded? Good luck. That kind of backward compatibility isn’t free, but it keeps your operation running. And in my book, that’s worth the premium.

Pricing as of early 2025; verify current rates with your dealer. Your material and conditions will change the math. Always run your own TCO model.