Innovative Iron Awards 2019: SMI Compact’s New Crushers and Screening Plants
In the off-highway equipment industry, most of the machine options are already pretty fantastic. Skid steers that boast insane hydraulic power to the attachment, zero-turn nimbleness and automation as sophisticated as giant loaders. Micro excavators with retractable undercarriages that fit through narrow gates, boasting zero tail swing, 10 ft of reach and a ridiculous amount of breakout force for their size. Almost any brand and unit on a dealer lot today can be outfitted with standard or optional features that sound futuristic — from telematics to grade control. My point is: The standard for greatness is very high today because the status quo is already pretty damn impressive. That is why we bow to these 2019 Innovative Iron Award winners. These ideas are taking already amazing machines to a whole other level.
Our New Crush: It’s Hard Not to Love SMI Compact’s New Crushers and Screening Plants
There’s really nothing like these products on the market today. A skid steer, track loader or even one of those big stand-on compact tool carriers could feed SMI Compact’s new crushers and screening plants. These smaller-scale crushing and screening machines fill a void, especially in urban areas, where full-size crushing and screening machines are just too large or for small-scale businesses that don’t process enough material to keep a full-size crusher or screening plant in service. These would be awesome in rental. The current SMI Compact line consists of six models. The 50TJ, the largest machine in the line, weighs in at 26,000 lbs and requires a semi-tractor trailer for transport, but the rest of the line can be moved with a heavy-duty pickup truck and transport trailer. They can be fed by hand or by a mini excavator or skid steer and are ideal for jobs like concrete recycling, allowing the material to be re-purposed onsite. For more info, visit smicompact.com.
