How Poclain Helps Powerscreen Deliver Safer and More Efficient Jaw Crushers
For more than a decade, Poclain and Powerscreen, part of Terex Materials Processing, have worked together to develop reliable solutions for the most demanding crushing applications. Their collaboration on the Premiertrak 450 jaw crusher perfectly illustrates how the right hydraulic technology can enhance machine performance, operator safety and productivity while preparing manufacturers for future regulatory requirements.
A Discussion on Performance and Reliability
In this video, Nicolas Durlin, Sales Engineer at Poclain, speaks with Robert Gilmour, Lead Engineer at Terex Corporation, about the development of the Premiertrak 450 and how Poclain’s hydraulic motor technology helps improve safety, productivity and machine availability through an innovative remote unblocking function.
A High-Performance Jaw Crusher Built for Tough Conditions
Today, the Powerscreen Premiertrak 450 is one of the company's best-selling jaw crushers, used worldwide in quarrying, recycling, demolition and mining applications. Operating in harsh environments where dust, vibration, shocks and changing material characteristics are everyday challenges, these machines require components that combine ruggedness, reliability and long-term performance.
Manufactured in Northern Ireland and sold across global markets including North America, Europe, Australia and South Africa, the Premiertrak 450 is designed to reduce large rocks into usable aggregates for construction and infrastructure projects.
Capable of processing around 400 tonnes per hour, the machine is used as a primary crusher in quarries, but it can also handle recycling and demolition applications. Whether operating in a remote quarry or an urban jobsite, the machine must maintain high productivity while minimizing downtime.
Robert Gilmour, Lead Engineer at Terex Corporation, explains : “Crushers work in the worst possible conditions. In the wet, in the snow, in the heat, in the dust in the mud. Which is why we need to have a reliable partner. It’s very important to us.”
To achieve this level of reliability, Powerscreen relies on trusted technology partners such as Poclain.
Combining Efficiency and Flexibility with Poclain's Hydraulic Motor
From the earliest stages of development, Poclain supported Powerscreen to optimize the application, validate duty cycles and ensure the best balance between performance, durability and efficiency.
The crusher is equipped with Poclain MSE11 hydraulic motor, specifically integrated to enable the machine's hydraulic unblocking function.
During normal crushing operations, the Premiertrak 450 operates in mechanical direct-drive mode to maximize fuel efficiency. The Poclain hydraulic motor remains in freewheel mode most of the time and is activated only when required to clear a blockage. « This enables the best of both worlds.” says Robert.
Compactness that Simplifies Machine Integration
One of the key reasons Powerscreen selected the Poclain solution was its compactness. Mobile crushing equipment must remain within strict transportation dimensions while integrating an increasing number of functions and safety features. Finding a powerful motor that could be integrated without compromising the machine design was therefore essential.
The compact size of the motor enabled us to fit it within the transport envelope of the machine. It was very attractive from that point of view.
The combination of high torque density and compact design made the Poclain hydraulic motor an ideal solution for the Premiertrak 450. Beyond its compact footprint, the motor also delivers the ruggedness required to withstand years of operation in dusty, high-vibration environments.
Improving Safety and Productivity Through Hydraulic Unblocking
A blocked crusher chamber can quickly become a major issue for operators. Oversized rocks or unexpected shutdowns can leave material trapped inside the crushing chamber, resulting in significant production losses and potential safety risks.
Traditionally, clearing these blockages often required manual intervention around the crusher, exposing operators to hazardous situations and causing extended downtime.
The Poclain hydraulic motor makes it possible to perform a remote unblocking operation directly from the machine controls. Thanks to its ability to rotate in both directions, the system allows operators to move the crusher mechanism backward and forward in a controlled manner until the blockage is removed.
Powerscreen emphasizes the value of this feature: “The unblock feature on it is a very useful. It improves safety on the machine, it improves your productivity, helps you get any issues dealt with a lot quicker and safer.”
Instead of losing hours manually clearing a crusher, operators can often restore normal operation within minutes.
Ready for the Future European Regulation
The value of the hydraulic unblocking function extends beyond productivity and machine availability. It is also closely aligned with the evolving regulatory landscape facing manufacturers of crushing equipment. From 2027, the implementation of BS EN 1009-6 « Machines for mechanical processing of minerals and similar solid materials - Safety. - Part 6: Specific requirements for mobile machinery » will reinforce safety requirements across the industry.
For manufacturers of jaw crushers and other mineral processing equipment, these new requirements will drive the need for safer, more automated unblocking solutions. Features that were once considered optional are expected to become increasingly important in machine design, helping OEMs improve compliance while enhancing operator safety and reducing operational risks.
Powerscreen has already anticipated this shift. As the company explains: “This option will become a standard feature on our machines to provide the best flexibility for our customers and a safer operating environment.”
As manufacturers look for compliant solutions that combine safety, efficiency, ruggedness and compactness, Poclain is emerging as a strategic partner. Beyond supplying components, Poclain supports OEMs throughout the machine development process, helping them integrate hydraulic functions that address both operational challenges and future regulatory requirements.
Looking for a Compact and Robust Hydraulic Solution?
Whether you are developing jaw crushers, recycling equipment, forestry machines or construction equipment, Poclain can help you identify the right hydraulic solution for your application. Contact us!
