Breedon, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading construction materials groups, has recently expanded its equipment fleet at Tom’s Forest Quarry in Aberdeenshire with the addition of three new Powerscreen machines, supplied and installed by Blue Machinery Scotland.
The busy site which is part of Breedon’s network of around 80 quarries, has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s and remains an important producer of granite, gravel, and sand. Today, it also processes reddish granite from Corrennie Quarry, supporting concrete and asphalt production across the region.
The latest additions to Tom’s Forest include a Powerscreen 1300 Maxtrak cone crusher, a Powerscreen 1000 Maxtrak cone crusher, and a Powerscreen Chieftain 2200 triple deck inclined screen. These join an existing Chieftain 2200 screen already in operation on-site, creating a high-performance processing set-up capable of meeting Breedon’s demanding production targets.
Owen Gourlay, Technical Sales Manager at Blue Machinery Scotland, and Senior Field Service Engineer Robbie Brennan spent five days at the quarry overseeing installation and providing comprehensive operator training. This included both classroom-based learning and hands-on practical sessions to ensure Breedon’s team could get the very best out of their new machines from day one.
The Powerscreen 1300 Maxtrak, built around the 1300 Automax® cone crusher, delivers exceptional cubicity, high throughput, and superior reduction ratios – making it ideal for producing high-quality sub-base and aggregates. Alongside it, the Powerscreen 1000 Maxtrak, also featuring an Automax® crusher, is designed for direct-feed applications and provides excellent reduction and product consistency, with a fuel-efficient direct drive system and hydraulic release for uncrushable material.
Completing the set-up, the Powerscreen Chieftain 2200 triple deck screen offers operators maximum versatility. With two double screen boxes providing a total screening area of 22’x5’, and a unique drive system that allows switching between 2 and 4 bearing, it handles sticky materials with ease while delivering high-specification end products at impressive throughputs.
Robbie Brennan explains how the new set-up operates:
“The 1300 Maxtrak feeds the first Chieftain 2200, producing 24mm, 16mm, and 5mm aggregates. Oversized material goes into the 1000 Maxtrak in a closed loop, before being reprocessed and passed through the second Chieftain 2200, which delivers smaller aggregates sizes of 12mm, 8mm, 5mm and dust. Thanks to the lively double screen boxes, throughput is unrivalled at these tight specifications.”
He added that Breedon’s choice to invest in Powerscreen equipment was not only about the brand’s reputation for build quality, ease of operation, and reliability, but also about achieving a consistently low cost per tonne.
Owen Gourlay concluded:
“It was a pleasure to work alongside Breedon’s team and see how quickly they adapted to the new equipment. Providing this level of training ensures operators are confident, efficient, and able to maximise the performance of their Powerscreen machines. We look forward to supporting Breedon for many years to come.”
With its enhanced processing line, Tom’s Forest Quarry is now even better equipped to meet the demands of the construction materials sector, combining the strength of Powerscreen technology with the local service and expertise of Blue Machinery Scotland.