Crushing With Confidence
First published in the October 2025 issue of Quarry Management
New crushing and screening train, supplied by Molson Finlay, boosts output for Braunton Aggregates
In order for Braunton Aggregates to really deliver for their customers and push up output following an increase in the business’s production needs, the time had come to take the plunge and invest in a crushing and screening train. However, choosing the right machines from a dealer they could trust was key.
Operating from Vyse Quarry in North Devon since 2004, the primary aggregates supplier produces a range of sandstone aggregate products for local builders’ merchants and individual customers. The stone is used in a wide range of applications, from large-scale projects requiring more than 100,000 tonnes to small domestic needs, such as driveways.
Before investing in their own equipment in May this year, Braunton Aggregates had rented two crushers and a screener. This arrangement worked well, as the demand for their processed aggregates was not enough to have the machines running at all times, so the flexibility of being able to off-hire the equipment during quieter periods allowed the company to run more efficiently.
However, as demand began to grow Braunton recognized the need to own their own equipment, and when they started to look at options available in the market, it became apparent they would need to have confidence that the dealer they chose would not just supply the right crushers and screeners, but would also provide setup and after-sales support. Following a strong recommendation from another quarry, the business reached out to Molson Finlay with their extensive range of Finlay crushing and screening equipment.
Starting from scratch
To find out exactly what the Braunton Aggregates team needed, Molson Finlay’s crushing and screening development manager, Ben Sherratt, visited the site to see their processes and machinery, and to understand their production and material-specification goals.
‘The team already had some experience with our equipment,’ explained Mr Sherratt. ‘They’d used a Finlay 883+ mobile scalping screener to pre-screen product in the winter for a cleaner result, and were satisfied with its flexibility and output. However, to get maximum throughput, they needed a mobile setup with several quality machines.’
Mr Sherratt’s industry experience meant he could recommend a train configuration that would maximize efficiency and production. ‘The team wasn’t sure exactly what equipment they needed,’ he said, ‘but by listening to what they wanted, we decided that a closed-circuit train with two crushers and a screener would offer the most value.’
Configuring for efficiency
Mr Sherratt worked with Molson Finlay engineers to set up a primary J-1170 jaw crusher, which provides a big reduction ratio, breaking down the quarried stone to 100mm and below. This crushed material is then directly fed into a C-1540 cone crusher to create a more desirable rounded shape before entering a three-deck 694+ screener to separate four saleable products. Designed with high production efficiency in mind, these three machines offer both the robustness and the portability that the Braunton Aggregates team were seeking.
Also configurable for construction and demolition applications, the power of the hydrostatically driven single-toggle jaw chamber of the J-1170 jaw crusher ensures high capacity and means users can benefit from precise chamber control, with a reverse functionality for clearing blockages. The heavy-duty automatic variable-speed vibrating grizzly feeder (VGF) means material can be continuously fed through the machine, helping the team to maximize throughput, whilst the crusher’s hydraulically assisted closed-side setting adjustment allows for quick setup and adjustment, increasing uptime and productivity.
Fuel efficiency is a major benefit of the C-1540 cone crusher with its clutch-controlled direct drive transmission. A hydraulic tramp relief system with automatic reset, an integrated level sensor, and a metal-detection and purge system on the feed belt all help protect the cone and remove any contaminants that could cause damage and downtime. Advanced load-sensing auxiliary hydraulics also maximize plant efficiency.
The 694+ screener is also designed to meet high production demands. With three 6.1m x 1.53m decks, the high-energy screenbox can process even the smallest aggregate sizes efficiently. A variable-speed belt feeder consistently supplies material to the machine, whilst an upgraded hydraulics system and powerpack means it can provide optimum power at lower engine speeds.
A reconfigured folding mechanism on the onboard product conveyors makes operation and deployment easy, as do the hydraulically folding catwalks, which are provided as standard. Screenbox angles can be hydraulically adjusted between 18° and 32°, whilst the fourth conveyor also helps the team operate its closed-circuit system efficiently.
Set up for success
The inclusion of each machine in the new setup also means the business can offer new products. With the 883+ already helping to produce 50–100mm clean and 50mm down sub-base, the new 694+ screener means the team can deliver 20–40mm clean, 14–20mm chipped, 6–14mm chipped, and 0-6mm dust. Moreover, the J-1170 has made the delivery of 100mm down possible, with the C-1540 producing 0–50mm sub-base.
As well as offering customers more products, the efficiency of the machines and the ability to move the entire setup across the site more easily has helped keep cost per tonne low, as James Lake, Braunton Aggregates’ quarry manager, explained: ‘Having the Finlay machines has given us a better product for our customers. The build quality is unbelievable, and having them on site means we can produce the products on demand for our customers when they need it.
‘Dealing with Molson has been a pleasure from start to finish. Ben and his team came down to install the machines with us. He went through it all with the guys and spent a week with us. Even when we’ve had little niggling teething problems, he’s been down within the hour. It’s been an absolute pleasure dealing with Molson.’
Having the Molson Finlay team on hand to help install the machines and troubleshoot any problems, helped ensure a smooth, successful transition, as Ben Sherratt explained: ‘We wanted to make sure this setup was running efficiently as quickly as possible. In this industry, it’s all about minimizing downtime and getting the best cost per tonne possible. That’s why we supported the team with machine installation, operator training, and after-sales, to maximize throughput from day one, helping Braunton Aggregates to become an even more profitable business.’
Subscribe to Quarry Management, the monthly journal for the mineral products industry, to read articles before they appear on Agg-Net.com
