CalPortland’s Rocky Canyon Aggregate Plant in Atascadero, California, has been supplying construction materials across the Western U.S. for decades.
The site processes two types of granite – blue vein and brown vein – to produce aggregates that are used in concrete, asphalt and road base. For years, though, the plant’s production was limited by the jaw crusher at the center of its operation.
The original crusher, inherited from a previous setup, simply wasn’t built for the scale CalPortland needed. It could only accept material up to 18 in., forcing the drilling and blasting team to work within narrow limits and creating constant bottlenecks.
“It would plug up all the time,” says Ronnie Tremper, operations manager at CalPortland, describing the routine of digging out jams with an excavator.
Plant manager Kevin Greer, meanwhile, recalls running only three or four days a week and spending long hours trying to get the machine back up and running after a breakdown.
The inefficiency wasn’t sustainable. CalPortland sought a crusher that could handle larger rock, run reliably and support the site’s growing production goals. That’s when the company turned to McLanahan and Aggregate Machinery Specialist for a tailored crushing solution.
Improving performance and throughput
Seeking a solution to increase performance, reduce maintenance and meet higher production rates, McLanahan suggested a 3254H Universal jaw crusher.
With an ability to accept material up to 24 in., the crusher allowed for wider blast patterns and more efficient quarrying. Its adjustable settings gave the team the flexibility to handle both granite types, slowing the jaw for the harder blue vein to maintain a proper choke feed, and running full capacity on the softer brown vein material.
The impact was dramatic. Production doubled from 150 tph to more than 300 tph. Downtime dropped sharply. Electricity costs fell. The installation itself was remarkably quick.
“Once we pulled out the old jaw and installed the new McLanahan jaw, we were running within three days,” Tremper says.
The new crusher didn’t just improve output; it streamlined the entire workflow. The 4-in.-minus material it produces feeds smoothly into a cone crusher before being sent to a finishing plant, creating an efficient process.
Maintenance, which was once a constant issue for the site, has decreased significantly. This allows for easier operation and minimal downtime.
“The maintenance is virtually nothing,” Greer says. “It’s really easy for the guys to work on.”
Positioning for long-term growth
For CalPortland, the 3254H Universal jaw crusher has become a crucial piece of equipment in its operation. By eliminating bottlenecks and giving the team the capacity it needs, the Rocky Canyon Aggregate Plant is now positioned for long-term growth.
And with the success of the new jaw, CalPortland is considering adding more equipment to the operation.
Sometimes the right machine doesn’t just improve production; it changes the trajectory of an entire site. Rocky Canyon is proving exactly that.
Information for this article courtesy of McLanahan Corp.
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