Liberty Jaws Are Breaking Barriers in Recycle Work

Recycled concrete jobs can be brutal. Rebar, wire mesh, and unpredictable feed materials often make even the toughest equipment struggle. But more dealers are finding that Superior’s Liberty Jaw Crusher thrives in those conditions, creating new opportunities in the growing world of recycled aggregates.

For example, Kimball Equipment recently placed a Portable 3055 Liberty Jaw Plant on rent with Teichert Construction in California.

"They didn't have great luck with the uptime of a competitor’s machine and came to us for help," says Lee Mellor, general manager of Kimball's Sacramento branch. "I knew we had a couple 3055 Liberty Jaws in stock and they had a big pile of recycle they needed to crush."

Teichert wanted a jaw-and-cone combination but had struggled with a Powerscreen 1150 Maxtrak in the past. So, Kimball paired the jaw with a P400 Patriot® Cone Crusher, and the setup has proven its worth. The spread is still running—producing about 150,000 tons in just two months—delivering the reliability and production the customer had been missing.

Built for Recycle’s Rough Material

Recycle applications can be punishing, but the Liberty Jaw’s straightforward design and unobstructed chamber let it process material that gives other crushers trouble.

Matt Hanson, a business development lead, serves as a resource for dealers exploring new opportunities in recycle. As Superior’s products have evolved for the market, he’s spent more time supporting these applications. Hanson says the Liberty Jaws' success comes down to how they interact with steel and rebar.

“The compression design pulverizes the concrete while letting the rebar slide right through,” he explains. “There’s nothing inside for the metal to get wrapped around and that makes it ideal for recycle.”

An optional hydraulic toggle adds a layer of protection. If uncrushable material gets lodged in the chamber, the hydraulic system automatically releases pressure and allows it to pass. The feature is like an insurance policy, helping operators avoid damaging the crusher and allowing them to get back to work faster.

Sentry HSI Crushers are also making an impact in recycled concrete, like this General Equipment plant operating in south Minneapolis. 

Expanding the Recycle Lineup

Hanson says dealers across the country are finding similar success stories. General Equipment & Supplies has secured multiple recycle projects. Kimball Equipment has several running as well, including a high profile project near Los Angeles where a Liberty Jaw is processing concrete from homes cleared after recent wildfires.

“The 3055 is a great rental option because it’s easy to move and powerful enough for many jobs,” Hanson says. “However, for larger recycle spreads, the 3363 is proving itself to be a beast."

To be featured in Superior's booth at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, the 3363’s large feed opening with a 25" max feed swallows oversize slabs and foundation pieces, while its CSS range allows a coarser discharge that frees rebar and reduces packing. A hefty flywheel and high-horsepower give the inertia needed to push through reinforced concrete.

“We’ve got portable plants in the field today that are performing really well,” Hanson says. “At the same time, our engineering teams are developing Fusion® Platforms with Liberty Jaws for recycle applications. Their fixed nature provides a solid foundation for producers who want room to scale and expand their capabilities down the road.”

A 33×63 Liberty Jaw Plant sold by Power Equipment Company to CRH’s Four Corners Materials in western Colorado.

Opportunity Rising in Recycle

The market for recycled concrete is gaining serious momentum. Globally, the sector is projected to grow from about $7.5 billion in 2020 to roughly $13 billion by 2028. It's being driven by sustainability mandates and infrastructure rebuilds. 

That means more feed material, more job sites, and more opportunity for dealers who have the right equipment ready.

As Kimball's Lee Mellor puts it, when the right spread is on the ground for a job like Teichert’s, the results speak for themselves.

“They’re monster eaters,” he concluded.