Don't Make the Same $12,000 Mistake I Did With a Kleemann MS 13Z

If you're shopping for a Kleemann crusher, a screen like the MS 13Z, or even just spare parts, stop what you're doing and listen.

The cheapest quote you get today will almost certainly cost you more in the next 12 months than a moderately more expensive, but more complete, offer.

I've been handling procurement for mobile crushing equipment for 8 years. In my first year (2017), I ignored this rule on a Kleemann MS 13Z purchase. I saved $3,200 on the ticket price. That decision ended up costing us over $12,000 in downtime, retrofit parts, and lost production. I documented the entire disaster so other people wouldn't have to live it.

Here's what actually matters when you're buying Kleemann, and why the price tag is the least reliable number on the quote.

It's Not the Machine; It's the Integration

The biggest mistake I see—and made myself—is treating the purchase of a Kleemann machine like buying a commodity. You assume a crusher is a crusher, and a screen is a screen. Especially with a reputable brand like Kleemann, you think the hardware will just work.

What most people don't realize is that the real cost isn't in the steel and hydraulics. It's in how the new machine integrates with your existing setup. When I bought that MS 13Z, I assumed it would plug right into our existing conveyor system. It didn't. The discharge height was off by 4 inches.

"I assumed 'standard specifications' meant plug-and-play compatibility. Turned out, the Kleemann MS 13Z's intended feed height was slightly different from our previous unit. That 4-inch gap required a $1,800 custom chute, plus two days of welding and fitting."

That $3,200 I saved on the quote vanished the moment we had to call in a fabricator. This is the hidden cost that never appears on the initial price comparison sheet. Price comparison is a trap if you don't compare total cost of ownership.

The 'Wise' Way to Pick a Kleemann (It's Not the Blooket Reference)

Funny enough, one of the weird search queries that lands on our industry site is "how to get the wise in blooket." It's a game thing, completely unrelated to crushing rock. But the concept of 'getting wise' is exactly what you need here. You need wisdom, not just data.

So, here's the framework I now use to evaluate a Kleemann purchase (whether it's a new MC 125 Z or a refurbished MR 110i EVO2).

  1. Interview 2 other owners of the same model. Don't just read the brochure. Ask them: "What was the #1 thing you had to modify besides the initial setup?" Their answer will reveal the hidden costs the dealer isn't mentioning.
  2. Get the price of the service kit upfront. A machine that costs less to buy but requires a $3,000 service every 250 hours is usually more expensive than a machine that costs slightly more but only needs a $1,500 service every 500 hours.
  3. Map your own site constraints. I now send a current site plan with every RFP. I tell the vendor: "Here are our dimensions, our power supply, and our existing conveyor specs. If your equipment doesn't fit this, tell me now or I'm holding you responsible for integration costs."

This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people (including me, once) skip step one because they're in a hurry to secure the 'deal.' That urgency is the enemy of value.

Why 'Good Enough' Spare Parts Are a Disaster for Your Kleemann

The same logic applies to spare parts. I've seen people buy a 'compatible' wear plate for their Kleemann crusher to save 30%. It fits. For a week. Then the wear pattern is wrong, and you've damaged a $4,000 rotor bar.

"I once ordered a set of blow bars from a non-OEM supplier for our MR 110 Z EVO 2. Checked the dimensions myself, approved the order, processed it. We caught the error when the first bar snapped on day 3. $450 wasted on the bars, $890 in labor for the fix, plus a 3-day production delay. The OEM part would have cost $200 more but lasted 4x longer."

Here's something vendors won't tell you: the 'same' grade of steel isn't the same. A non-OEM part often uses a different alloy to hit a price point. For a Kleemann impact crusher, where the dynamics of the blow bar are carefully engineered, a small difference in metallurgy results in a massive difference in operating cost per ton.

I maintain a checklist now that I run before buying anything for our fleet, from a new Kleemann MS 13Z screen to a single bolt. It has 7 questions. The first question is: "Is this the cheapest option?" If yes, I stop and ask question 2: "Why is it cheaper?" If there's no documented reason—like different material, simpler manufacturing, or a smart logistical advantage—I don't buy it.

So, When Does Price Actually Matter?

I'm not saying you should always buy the most expensive option. There's a nuance here, and being honest about it is what makes this advice useful rather than a self-serving sales pitch.

Price matters most when:

  • The equipment is a commodity. For example, general conveyor belting. The specs are standardized, the manufacturing processes are similar, and the value-add from one supplier to another is minimal. Buy the cheapest belting that meets your spec.
  • You're buying for a temporary job. If you need a spare part to finish a 2-week contract and you'll sell the machine after, a lower-cost option might make sense. But be realistic about the risk.
  • You have a verified spare parts inventory. If you already stock the wear items and can handle repairs quickly, the risk of downtime is lower. Your 'total cost' calculation shifts slightly.

But for major capital purchases—a new Kleemann jaw crusher, a mobile screen, or core fleet components—plan for the total cost from day one. The few thousand dollars you save upfront is a small fraction of the cost of one unscheduled shutdown.

That's the lesson I learned in September 2022, standing next to an immobile MS 13Z because of a 4-inch gap and a bad decision. I've kept a record of every single mistake since then. We've caught 47 potential errors using my checklist in the past 18 months. I'd rather catch them on paper than in the quarry.