From construction and demolition recycling to quarrying and mining, every material processing job presents a unique challenge, and buying the right crushing equipment can often seem complex, especially when your company’s bottom line is—well, on the line.
When it comes time to buy crushing equipment, you may find yourself asking the question: mobile or portable? Although these styles of crusher plants may appear similar, their distinctions could impact the profitability of your business and consequently deserve a closer look.
As a matter of definition, portable crushing plants are mounted on wheels while mobile crushing plants utilize tracks. The key advantage of mobile crushers is clear: because they are self-propelled, the time and labor it requires to move the machines from site to site on the job is comparatively lower than their portable counterparts which require tractors in order to move.
Due to its tracks, a mobile plant can navigate certain terrain that wheeled units may find more difficult. Although, as mobile plants become more complex, especially when a screen is hung on the discharge conveyor, moving them can require the screen to be removed before tracking to a new spot.
While mobile crushers are compact, the need to fit the chassis on tracks results in a plant with minimal clearance that makes it far harder to service. Just as well, the distance between the crusher discharge and the plant belt is compromised. Meanwhile, a portable plant can maximize this space in order to enable steel and large volume material to pass onto the plant belt.
Since a mobile plant has limited space between the crusher discharge and plant belt, as well as smaller feed hoppers than portable plants, production is severely compromised with a mobile unit. Production is king with a portable plant while mobility on the job site is the mobile plant’s strong suit.
Transporting both portable and mobile requires a tractor. Some mobile units have a specialized trailer built for that unit or requires a gooseneck double drop trailer with ramps. The larger mobile units require multiple loads to transport.
Larger portable plants generally need to be partially disassembled; for example, the hopper feeder and magnet, if used, needs to be transported on a separate trailer. However, there are single-pull portable plants, such as our RapiDeploy® and 500-CV as well as smaller mobile plants that only need a trailer.
Bearing each of these comparisons in mind, the value of a crusher makes itself known, not only through its intended application, but through the broader context of your business itself. It is imperative to consider all of the variables that crushing presents so at the end of the day you can make a confident purchasing decision to preserve your bottom line.
Mobile Crushers
• Smaller Output
• Moves Quickly
• Compact
• More Difficult to Service
• Lower Resale Value
Portable Crushers
• Larger Output
• Moves Less Quickly
• Less Difficult to Service
• Higher Resale Value
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