If you've ever searched for Kleemann while doing equipment research, you know the results are not always about crushers. Jörg Kleemann comes up. A Gunter Kleemann biography comes up. Every once in a while, someone lands here from a Henry vs Lions search. That's not this page.

This page is about Kleemann, the German manufacturer of mobile crushing and screening equipment for mining and aggregates. More specifically, it's about how to buy that equipment without getting burned by the one number everyone focuses on: the sticker price.

I've spent six years tracking every equipment invoice at several mid-sized aggregate sites. I'm not a salesperson and I don't get a commission from any manufacturer. I'm the person who sits at the table when someone says, 'This crusher is cheaper.' My job is to find out what 'cheaper' actually means after delivery, setup, wear parts, downtime, and resale value.

What this checklist is for

Use it when you are replacing an aging mobile plant, adding capacity, comparing a Kleemann unit against another brand, or preparing a budget proposal. It works for jaw crushers, impact crushers, cone crushers, and mobile screens. It also works for deciding whether to rent or buy.

There are seven steps. I'll keep them short and give you the checkpoints I use before I sign anything.

Step 1: Build a total cost of ownership model before you compare quotes

It's tempting to think you can compare machine prices column by column. That simplification ignores the costs that show up after delivery.

My TCO model has six lines:

  • Purchase price, transport, and commissioning
  • Fuel and power consumption
  • Wear parts and screens
  • Maintenance and emergency repairs
  • Production loss while the plant is down
  • Resale value at the end of your holding period

In 2023, I ran the numbers on two impact crushers with identical output claims. The less expensive machine was €38,000 cheaper on paper. After freight, commissioning, a set of wear liners, and a more conservative resale forecast, the 'cheap' machine was only €2,000 cheaper—and that gap disappeared entirely when I added the extra working days needed to produce the same tonnage. The higher-priced unit had a faster set-up time.

Step 2: Match the machine to your actual material, not the brochure

Every crusher has a limitation. A jaw crusher is great for primary crushing, but it isn't always the right tool for producing a consistent cubic final shape. An impact crusher can handle softer stone and recycling, but it wears faster in abrasive granite. A cone crusher is usually the best secondary option for hard rock, but it is not a recycling machine.

If you are looking at Kleemann's EVO2 line, you'll see MOBICAT jaw crushers, MOBIREX impact crushers, MOBICONE cone crushers, and MOBISCREEN screening plants. All are good tools. The question is whether the tool fits the rock.

Most buyers ask, 'What is the maximum feed size?' The better question is, 'What will the closed-side setting be, and what does the product look like at that setting?' Feed size matters, but product shape and flakiness matter more if you sell aggregates.

Step 3: Cost the move, not just the machine

Mobile equipment is supposed to reduce the cost of moving between sites. But a relocated plant is not free. I've seen a 'move' that was estimated at $12,000 end up as $34,000 after permits, escort vehicles, a crane, and a week of setup. That's a common blind spot: transport weight, road widths, bridge limits, and permits are not included in the machine quote.

Ask these questions before comparing:

  • How many transport loads does the plant require?
  • What is the gross weight, and do any permits expire?
  • How many people are needed to set up and tear down?
  • What does it cost to move a tracked crusher versus a wheel-mounted one?

For a two-site operation, a machine that can be moved in one day instead of three can justify a higher price.

Step 4: Put wear parts on the same spreadsheet

Wear parts are where 'cheap' equipment starts to feel expensive. Blow bars, jaw plates, cone liners, screen media, belts, and filters are consumables. You will buy them repeatedly until the day you sell the machine.

I want to say we paid around $0.16 per ton for wear parts on a granite job, but don't quote me on that. The number changes with feed quality, moisture, crusher settings, and how serious the operator is about maintenance. The point is not the number. The point is that nobody notices wear costs until they are three times higher than the breakdown anticipated.

Step 5: Check parts and support lead times before you need them

One failure can wipe out months of 'savings.' If a dealer can't get you a liner or a sensor in time, the machine isn't a price advantage—it's a liability.

At our operation, Thomas, our finance manager, only looked at the upfront cost. Trevor, our operations manager, cared about output. Both missed the real issue: we had a single-source arrangement with a dealer who kept no parts stock in our region. I asked for a list of critical parts and their availability. The list changed our decision.

Kleemann is high quality, but quality without a local parts pipeline is not worth much when the plant is stopped.

Step 6: Think about resale value on day one

You might plan to keep a crusher for 15 years. Or you might replace it after 5 years if a bigger contract comes. In both cases, resale value affects the total cost.

European-built crushing equipment generally holds value well, but resale is not guaranteed. Emission compliance matters. A Tier 4/Stage V machine is easier to sell in stricter markets than an older final-tier machine. A spec too unusual for the region will be harder to move.

If you know you will upgrade in a few years, buy the machine that has a strong used market in your region. If you're buying for life, this step matters less.

Step 7: Verify compliance, noise, and site access before signing

Regulations change. A machine that is legal in one state or country can require expensive retrofits in another. Check emission standards, noise limits, water-spray requirements, and transport dimensions with the local authorities. Do not rely on the machine brochure.

According to Kleemann's current product material, EVO2 generation machines are designed to meet modern emission standards. That is useful, but local permits can still override the factory spec. Verify current regulations at the official source before budgeting.

What usually goes wrong

The most common mistake is comparing machines as if they are the same because the spec sheet says '300 tons per hour.' They are not the same. The power figures don't tell you how much energy is needed at the shaft, and the throughput figure doesn't tell you if the product will be sellable.

Another mistake is buying maximum capacity when the site doesn't have the loader support to feed it. A bigger crusher idling burns fuel and wears parts without earning anything. A smaller machine running at full capacity is often more profitable.

And finally, do not treat a brand as a religion. Kleemann is a strong competitor. I have seen its machines work well in demanding conditions. But a brand cannot fix a bad crushing circuit. The equipment has to fit your material, operator, and market.

A few closing reminders

This was accurate as of early 2025. The equipment market changes fast, so verify current pricing, regional support, and local regulations before you build the budget.

My experience is based on mid-sized aggregate projects, mostly 200 to 600 tons per hour. If you're working in high-abrasion hard rock or doing large-scale mining, the numbers will shift. Treat this checklist as the starting point, not the final answer.

If your project is new and you're at the beginning of the process, break the steps into a week: TCO model on Monday, material specs on Tuesday, and so on. The order matters less than having every step on the table before the vendor asks for a deposit.