Before You Read: Why I Wrote This

I've been specifying mobile crushing equipment for seven years. In that time, I've personally made – and documented – 14 significant mistakes that collectively wasted about $47,000 in budget. After the third expensive rework, I started keeping a checklist. This FAQ covers the questions I wish someone had answered for me before I started.

1. What is the most common mistake when selecting a Kleemann mobile crusher?

Thinking spec sheets tell the whole story. In 2021, I ordered an MC 110 Z for a project without testing the actual feed material. The spec said it could handle up to 500 mm feed. What it didn't say: with high clay content, throughput drops by 30%. I learned that lesson on day one when the crusher plugged within three hours. We lost a week of production.

Now I always run a material test before committing. Kleemann's team (I worked with Antje Meier Kleemann on a later project – more on her below) helped us set up a sample run. It cost $2,000 but saved us an estimated $15,000 in potential rework.

2. Who is Antje Meier Kleemann and why should you care?

Antje Meier is a product manager at Kleemann. I worked with her during a site-specific training in 2023. She's the person who designed the EVO2 pre-screen system after observing that operators were spending too much time clearing fines manually. Her engineering approach is heavily focused on preventative design – reducing wear before it happens. I'm not an engineer, so I can't speak to the technical details. But from an end-user perspective, the EVO2 line (MR 130 Z EVO2, for example) has significantly lower jam rates. That's a direct result of field-driven design. If you get a chance to attend a Kleemann workshop, ask for her – she'll walk you through the decision log that led to the current models.

3. How important is mobility? (I learned this the hard way)

In 2022, I recommended a semi-fixed plant for a quarry that needed to move every 18 months. The fixed setup was cheaper on paper. But the relocation cost? $22,000 and two weeks of downtime. Meanwhile, a mobile track-mounted unit like the MCO 9 could be relocated in a day.

The question isn't if you'll move. It's when. I once said to a client: 'Fixed is fine, you won't move for years.' He moved in 14 months. The look on his face when I quoted the crane cost? Worse than expected. Now I always add a mobility premium to the comparison.

Granted, mobile units have a higher purchase price. But the total cost of ownership – including setup, teardown, and transport – usually favors track-mounted equipment for sites with uncertain lifetimes.

4. What is Haus Kleemann and should you visit?

Haus Kleemann is the company's visitor center and training facility near Göppingen, Germany. I visited in early 2024. It's not a showroom – it's a workshop where you can see live demonstrations of the MS 702 screen and the MR 130 Z processing different materials.

Why does this matter? Because seeing a crusher handle wet, sticky feed in person beats watching any video. I brought a few samples from our site. In about three hours, we confirmed the right deck configuration and avoided ordering the wrong screen panels. That saved us roughly $8,000 in change orders later. If you're considering a Kleemann purchase, budget for a visit. It's probably the cheapest insurance you'll buy.

5. What does 'Henry Age' refer to in Kleemann context?

This one came up in a phone call with a dealer. 'Henry' is a senior reliability engineer at Kleemann – I believe his name is Henry, but I might be confusing the role. What matters is the 'Henry Age' checklist: a set of pre-commissioning checks he developed after reviewing 200+ installation failures. The checklist covers: conveyor belt tension, magnetic separator alignment, and emergency stop testing.

We started adopting that checklist after a screw-up on a crusher we installed for a client called Monarch Aggregates. The conveyor belt slipped on day one – the tension wasn't verified. Result: 4-hour delay, $900 in lost production, and an embarrassed service manager. Since we started using Henry's checklist 18 months ago, we've caught 47 potential problems before they caused downtime. So 'Henry Age' is basically a reference to that prevention-first mindset.

6. How did the Monarch project teach me about pre-delivery inspection?

Monarch Quarries ordered an MC 110 Z in 2023. I handled the delivery. The machine arrived, we started it up, and within two hours the hydraulic pump showed high-temperature warnings. Turned out the cooling fan belt was loose – a simple check that should have been caught.

I'm not a mechanic, so I can't speak to hydraulic system design. What I can tell you from a procurement perspective: include a pre-delivery inspection in the contract. We now have a checklist that takes about 45 minutes. It covers 12 points. The Monarch mistake cost us a rushed service call ($1,200) plus the embarrassment. That's when I stopped assuming new machines are 'ready to run'.

7. What is Simparica – and why does it appear in Kleemann searches?

Okay, this is a weird one. I've seen analytics where people searching for 'what is simparica' end up on our blog. Simparica is a flea and tick medication for dogs. Totally unrelated.

But it taught me something about search behavior: users often type partial or wrong keywords. If you're searching for 'simparica' and landed here, you probably meant 'Kleemann/Simplex' or typed something by accident. Either way, the answer is: Simparica is a veterinary product. Kleemann is a mobile crusher. If you're in the mining or aggregate industry, you're in the right place. And if you're a pet owner with a crushing hobby – well, I can't help with the ticks, but I can help with the crusher checklist.

8. One more thing: the prevention checklist that changed everything

After the Monarch pump failure, I consolidated every mistake into a 12-point pre-start checklist. It includes:

  • Belt tension check (refer to Henry's spec)
  • Oil level and filter condition
  • Magnet alignment
  • Wireless remote function test
  • Material moisture test (if new feed)

We've used it for 18 months. In that time, we've caught 47 potential issues. Each catch – on average – saved $1,500 in reactive maintenance. That's about $70,000 in prevented downtime. Five minutes of verification beats five days of correction. I wish I had this list seven years ago.

Prices as of February 2025; verify current rates with your dealer.