Not all mobile crushing plants are created equal — and choosing the wrong one can lead to downtime, high fuel consumption, and poor material output. If you’re unsure which model suits your job site or material type, this guide is for you. In the sections below, we’ll guide you step by step—from selection criteria to configuration options—so keep reading to find the ideal mobile crusher plant for your needs.
Step 1: Assess Your Crushing Requirements
Before investing in a mobile crushing plant, it’s essential to fully understand your project’s material and output demands. By evaluating the following four aspects, you’ll ensure the machine you choose is well-suited for your application, avoiding underperformance, excess wear, or unnecessary cost.
Types of Materials to Be Processed
Different materials require different types of crushers. Start by identifying the hardness, abrasiveness, and moisture content of the materials you’ll be working with. Common materials include:
- Granite & Basalt – Very hard and abrasive; require robust crushers like jaw or cone crushers.
- Limestone – Softer and more brittle; can be efficiently processed by impact crushers.
- Concrete and Reinforced Concrete – Requires machines that can handle embedded steel and varying densities; often processed with jaw or impact crushers.
- Demolition Waste & Asphalt – Contain mixed and potentially contaminated materials; best suited to impact crushers with good separation features.
Matching the right crushing technology to the material type helps minimize wear, maximize output, and ensure operational efficiency.
Daily or Hourly Production Capacity (TPH)
Your required output in tons per hour (TPH) is a key factor in choosing the right mobile crushing machine:
- Small-scale Projects (20–80 TPH): Mini mobile crushers or compact jaw/impact plants may be sufficient.
- Medium-scale Operations (80–250 TPH): Require mid-sized mobile units with higher feeding capacity and possibly dual-stage crushing.
- Large-scale or Continuous Production (>250 TPH): Demands more robust, high-capacity machines with multiple crushers and screens.
Be realistic about your capacity needs — overestimating can lead to overspending, while underestimating may lead to production delays and equipment strain.
Required Final Product Size and Shape
Consider the exact specifications of your final product. Mobile crusher plants can produce a wide range of sizes and shapes depending on the configuration:
- Coarse Output (40–100mm): Often used for road sub-base or filling material; a jaw crusher might suffice.
- Medium Output (10–40mm): Suited for base course or structural fill; a jaw followed by cone or impact crusher is common.
- Fine or Cubic Output (<10mm): Ideal for asphalt or high-grade concrete aggregates; impact or VSI crushers are better suited.
Uniformity and shape also matter — especially for high-performance concrete or asphalt. VSI crushers, for instance, are excellent for shaping particles into a more desirable cubic form.
Intended Use of the End Product
Understanding the application of the crushed material helps determine both the crushing configuration and screening requirements:
- Road Base or Sub-Base: Usually needs coarse and well-graded materials; a primary jaw crusher is often sufficient.
- Concrete Aggregates: Require consistent shape and size; cone or impact crushers with screening units are recommended.
- Asphalt Aggregates: Benefit from cubic shape and fine particles; VSI crushers can help meet tight grading specs.
- Sand Production: Fine particles (0–5 mm) are needed; specialized sand-making machines or VSI crushers may be necessary.
- Recycling Purposes: Involves processing concrete, bricks, and asphalt; mobile impact crushers with magnetic separators are ideal.
Choosing a plant that aligns with your end-use requirements ensures product quality and compliance with construction standards.
Step 2: Understand the Types of Mobile Crushers
Choosing the right type of mobile crusher is essential to match your material properties, output needs, and application goals. Mobile crushing plants are typically equipped with one or more of the following crusher types — each designed for specific crushing tasks and material characteristics. Understanding how each works will help you make a better investment decision.
Jaw Crusher: Primary Crushing for Large and Hard Materials
A jaw crusher is ideal for the primary crushing stage, where large, hard materials like granite, basalt, and reinforced concrete need to be broken down into manageable sizes. The material is fed into a V-shaped chamber and crushed between a stationary and a moving jaw plate.
Capacity：
20-1200t/h
Max Feeding Size：
＜680
Output Size：
3-60mm
Pros:
Very robust and reliable for hard materials
Simple design with low maintenance
High feed capacity
Cons:
Output size is coarse and irregular
Not suitable for shaping or fine gradation
Bulkier compared to other crushers
Best For: Mining operations, hard stone quarries, and concrete recycling where large chunks need initial reduction.
Cone Crusher: Secondary/Tertiary Crushing-Finer Gradation
Cone crushers are commonly used for secondary or tertiary crushing, especially for hard and abrasive materials. Material is compressed between a rotating cone and a fixed outer shell, gradually breaking into smaller particles.
Capacity：
50-1200t/h
Max Feeding Size：
＜350mm
Output Size：
3-60
Pros:
Consistent and fine output size
Handles hard and abrasive rock well
Lower wear rate than impact crushers for hard material
Cons:
Higher initial investment
Slower processing for softer materials
Less effective on wet or sticky material
Best For: High-production quarries, mining sites, and applications requiring controlled particle size and high-quality aggregates.
Impact Crusher: For Soft to Medium Materials-Cubic Output
Impact crushers are used for secondary crushing and are excellent for medium-hard to soft materials like limestone, concrete, and asphalt. Material is thrown against impact plates and broken by repeated high-speed impacts.
Capacity：
20-900t/h
Max Feeding Size：
＜700
Output Size：
5-180mm
Pros:
Produces well-shaped, cubic aggregates
Good reduction ratio
Ideal for recycling applications
Cons:
High wear rate with abrasive materials
Less effective on very hard rocks
Requires more frequent maintenance
Best For: Road base material, recycled concrete, and aggregate production requiring good shape and uniform size.
VSI Crusher: Sand-Making and Shaping Capabilities
Vertical Shaft Impact, known as VSI crushers are designed for sand production and aggregate shaping. Material is accelerated and thrown against a rock-lined wall or steel anvils, breaking into fine, cubical particles.
Capacity：
60-480t/h
Max Feeding Size：
30-55mm
Output Size：
0-4.75mm
Pros:
Produces high-quality, well-shaped sand
Excellent for final product shaping
Great for asphalt and concrete aggregate specs
Cons:
Not suitable for primary crushing
Limited feed size capacity
High energy consumption for coarse materials
Best For: Manufactured sand production, shaping coarse aggregates, and improving overall material quality.
Step 3: Consider Site Conditions and Mobility Needs
Selecting the right mobile crushing plant isn’t just about the crusher itself — your site conditions and mobility requirements play a major role in determining the most efficient and cost-effective setup. Here’s what to consider:
Wheeled vs. Tracked Mobile Crushers
4 In 1 Wheel Type Mobile Crushing Plant
- Configuration: Vibrating feeder + Primary jaw crusher + Adjustable Secondary Crusher(cone crusher, impact crusher, or fine jaw crusher) + vibrating screening, suitable for various jobsites
- Capacity: 50, 80, 100, 120tph
- Feeder Size(mm): ＜625
- Output Size(mm): 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-40
- Crushing Raw Materials: Granite, marble, basalt, iron ore, river pebbles etc.
- Features: ①Tri-axle Chassis Design: Enables rapid relocation and easy site transition; ②With Ski Plate Support, Increased ground contact area for enhanced stability.
- Application: Supplying aggregates for construction industry, especially for infrastructure construction, like roads and buildings
Crawler Type Mobile Crusher Plant
Crawler type crusher plants are designed for rugged terrain, steep inclines, and sites where frequent repositioning is required. The tracked mobile crushers offer superior maneuverability and can move around the site independently, making them suitable for dynamic or hard-to-access locations like quarries or demolition zones.
- Capacity: 80-450 T/H
- Feeder Size(mm): ＜700
- Crushing Raw Materials: Rocks, ores, and demolition debris etc.
- Main Models: APYL2-J Mobile Jaw Crusher, APYL2-J Mobile Cone Crusher, APYL2-F Mobile Impact Crusher, APYL-S Mobile Screening Plant;
- Application: Aggregate production, building construction, etc
Space Limitations and Maneuverability
If your worksite has tight spaces or limited access, a compact and highly mobile unit — typically a tracked model — is the better choice. Larger crushing plants may offer more capacity, but they can be challenging to position and operate in confined areas. Consider turning radius, setup footprint, and whether you need additional support equipment to feed or move materials.
Andamine mobile crushing plants integrate snow sled-type supports that increase the ground contact area, which greatly improves the stability of the equipment during operation. This design feature is especially important for maintaining steady performance in challenging site conditions.
Transportation and Relocation Frequency
Projects that move frequently — such as roadworks or short-term crushing jobs — benefit from mobile plants that are easy to disassemble, transport, and reassemble quickly. Tracked plants shine here due to their ability to “self-relocate” without disassembly, reducing downtime.
Power Supply: Diesel vs. Electric/Hybrid
Diesel-powered units are highly flexible and operate independently of site power sources, making them ideal for remote or undeveloped areas.
Electric or hybrid models offer lower operating costs, reduced emissions, and quieter operation — ideal for urban environments or companies focused on sustainability.
Choosing the right mobility features, such as three-axle chassis design for speed and flexibility, combined with structural stability elements like snow sled supports, ensures your crushing plant adapts seamlessly to your jobsite’s real-world conditions while minimizing operational disruptions and maximizing safety.
Step 4: Evaluate Flexibility and Customization Options
When choosing a mobile crushing plant, flexibility and customization are key to optimizing performance across various job sites and material types. The right setup can improve productivity, reduce operating costs, and streamline workflow.
Single vs. Multi-Stage Crushing Setups
A single-stage crusher, typically using a jaw or impact crusher, suits simple, low-volume projects with basic material requirements. For more complex applications or finer gradation needs, multi-stage setups—combining primary, secondary, and sometimes tertiary crushers—offer better control over final product size and quality. Secondary crushing stages can often be configured with either fine jaw crushers or impact crushers, allowing adaptation to various materials and desired outputs.
Integrated Screening Units and Conveyors
Many modern mobile plants adopt an integrated design that combines feeding, crushing, and screening in one seamless system. Built-in vibrating screens and conveyor belts facilitate immediate material sorting by size on site. This reduces the need for additional equipment, saves space, and streamlines workflow, ultimately lowering operational costs.
Modular Design Benefits
Modular mobile crushing plants enable easy swapping or expansion of components according to changing project demands. This flexibility ensures long-term value and simplifies system upgrades without lengthy downtime.
Remote Control and Automation
Advanced mobile crushers now commonly feature integrated control systems that allow one-touch startup and operation via PLC touchscreens or button controls. Remote monitoring through IoT technology enables real-time tracking of equipment status and automatic maintenance reminders, helping reduce downtime and maintenance costs. Remote control of feeder speed further ensures consistent material flow and continuous production.
Step 5: Review Key Performance and Efficiency Metrics
Before finalizing your choice of a mobile crushing plant, it’s essential to assess its performance and efficiency metrics. These factors not only affect day-to-day operations but also impact long-term operating costs and productivity.
Throughput and Material Handling Capacity
The throughput rate—measured in tons per hour (TPH)—determines how much material your plant can process. Choose a plant that aligns with your project’s production goals without overloading the system. Pay attention to the feeder size, crusher inlet dimensions, and conveyor capacity to ensure smooth material flow and prevent bottlenecks.
Fuel Consumption and Energy Efficiency
Operating costs are heavily influenced by fuel usage. Diesel-powered crushers are flexible but can be costly to run continuously. Electric or hybrid models often offer better fuel economy, reduced emissions, and quieter operation. Consider fuel efficiency ratings and whether energy-saving systems like auto-idle or load-sensing hydraulics are included.
Ease of Maintenance and Spare Parts Availability
Routine maintenance is key to minimizing downtime. Opt for machines with easy access to wear parts, centralized lubrication systems, and user-friendly diagnostics. It’s also important to check local or regional availability of spare parts and service support, especially if operating in remote locations.
Crusher Wear Parts Life Expectancy
The lifespan of jaw plates, hammers, cones, and liners directly affects your maintenance schedule and costs. High-quality materials and proper configuration can significantly extend wear part life. Choose a model that balances performance with long-lasting components and provides wear indicators or alerts to assist with proactive maintenance planning.
Step 6: Budget, ROI, and Long-Term Value
When investing in a mobile crushing plant, balancing upfront costs with long-term benefits is crucial to maximize return on investment (ROI) and operational efficiency.
Initial Cost vs. Long-Term Savings
While a lower purchase price may be appealing, it’s important to consider the total cost of ownership. High-quality equipment with durable components often reduces downtime, repairs, and replacement expenses, leading to greater savings over time.
Operational and Maintenance Costs
Regular maintenance, spare parts replacement, and labor contribute significantly to ongoing expenses. Choosing machines designed for easy maintenance and with readily available parts can reduce these costs. Automated monitoring systems can also help prevent costly breakdowns by enabling proactive servicing.
Fuel Usage and Workforce Optimization
Fuel efficiency plays a major role in daily running costs, particularly for diesel units. While hybrid or electric models may require a larger initial investment, they offer lower fuel usage and emissions. Automation features also reduce reliance on manual labor, cutting staffing costs.
Resale Value and Upgrade Potential
Investing in a mobile crusher plant with modular design and upgrade-friendly features helps preserve its resale value. Equipment that can adapt to future project needs or be expanded with additional modules offers better long-term flexibility and financial return.
Step 7: Choose a Trusted Manufacturer or Supplier
When purchasing a mobile crushing plant, product quality matters, but equally important is the support and service you receive before, during, and after the purchase. A reliable crushing plant manufacturer ensures smoother operations and protects your investment in the long run.
Why Manufacturer Support Matters
A trusted manufacturer offers comprehensive installation guidance, operator training, and after-sales service that ensures your plant runs smoothly from day one. Proper installation reduces the risk of early breakdowns and helps you achieve optimal performance faster. Training helps your operators use the equipment safely and efficiently, minimizing errors and accidents. Furthermore, ongoing after-sales support—such as troubleshooting, maintenance advice, and warranty coverage—protects your investment over the plant’s lifetime. We are a Strategic Partner of Fortune 500 Companies and reliable in offering mobile plant solutions for worldwide clients.
Global Service Networks and Spare Parts Support
Crushing plants often work in remote or challenging environments, making quick access to spare parts and service technicians vital to avoid costly downtime. Choose manufacturers with extensive global service networks and readily available spare parts inventories. This ensures you receive timely technical support and genuine parts when needed. We have set up branch offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines Uzbekistan and Russia, and we have many service outlets all over the world to serve our clients better and quicker.
What Makes a Manufacturer Reliable
Reliable manufacturers typically offer:
- Flexible equipment configurations to match different project scales
- Rugged, easy-to-maintain designs built for durability
- Advanced features like automation, energy efficiency, and remote monitoring
- Responsive technical support and comprehensive training programs
Some manufacturers focus on cost-effective, adaptable designs—perfect for jobs that require frequent relocation or material variability. Others are known for cutting-edge technology, ideal for large-scale or high-demand applications.
Request Case Studies and Customer Reviews
Before making a final decision, ask for case studies and customer testimonials. These provide valuable insight into real-world performance, reliability, and service responsiveness. Positive reviews from companies working in conditions similar to yours can give added confidence that you’re choosing the right partner.
Partnering with a trusted manufacturer like Andamine—with a proven track record, global service reach, and solid customer feedback—ensures your mobile crusher investment delivers long-term value, performance, and peace of mind.
In Conclusion
Now that you understand how to choose the right mobile crushing plant, it’s time to make your project goals a reality. Our advanced mobile crushers are engineered for maximum flexibility, durability, and performance—ensuring smooth operations and fast ROI. Whether you’re processing recycled aggregates or quarry rock, we offer tailored solutions backed by reliable service and fast parts support. Reach out to our team today and discover the perfect mobile crushing plant designed specifically for your site and material needs.