Finlay hybrid crusher proves perfect for Prichard’s
First published in the August 2025 issue of Quarry Management
Finlay J-1280 Hybrid jaw crusher from Molson Finlay improves production and reduces fuel consumption at Seth Hill Quarry in South Wales
Prichard’s are one of Wales’s largest family-run, privately owned multidisciplinary businesses, specializing in demolition, recycling, rail, remediation, and civil engineering. Their Seth Hill Quarry produces a wide range of aggregates for the construction, building, and rail industries. Located in South Wales, Pant-y-Ffynnon Quarry, also known as Seth Hill Quarry, is home to one of four recycling facilities operated by Prichard’s and produces high-quality crushed carboniferous limestone. This supports construction, recycling, environmental remediation, earthworks, rail, demolition, and support services for both public and private sectors.
Prior to adding the Finlay J-1280 Hybrid, Prichard’s operated a Finlay train consisting of an I-140RS impact crusher and both a 693+ and 694+ inclined screener. Whilst effective, this setup required aggregate to be processed twice to achieve the high standards that Prichard’s demand. The introduction of the J-1280 primary jaw crusher has eliminated this need, allowing for single-pass processing and significantly improving efficiency. Prichard’s also utilize a Finlay C-1540 cone crusher to complete the train and produce a high-quality chippings product with a consistent shape and size.
With a 1,200mm inlet width to the jaw chamber and a hopper capacity of 9.3m3, the J-1280 has increased production at Seth Hill Quarry. Additionally, thanks to its hybrid feature, Prichard’s have been able to lower their cost per tonne while increasing output. Seth Hill Quarry’s crusher operator, Mark Lang, who is hands-on with the hybrid machine every day, said: ‘This is our primary crusher for the site, and we are seeing consistent fuel savings. We’re producing our target tonnage figures comfortably, and the reliability and ease of use is exactly what we need for the conditions we work in.’
Guided by Gareth Johnson, the Molson Finlay sales manager for the South West, the J-1280 was quickly identified as the best solution for Prichard’s requirements at Seth Hill thanks to its proven Terex 1,200mm x 820mm jaw chamber with an onboard electric drive for maximum efficiency. What sets this unit apart is its hybrid setup, giving operators the flexibility to run on mains electricity where available, significantly lowering running costs and environmental impact. This flexibility is essential for sites like Seth Hill, where infrastructure can vary, to futureproof its operations.
As demand for high-quality aggregates continues to grow, Prichard’s strategic investment in the latest equipment ensures they can meet the needs of their customers by keeping their costs competitive whilst not compromising on product quality, all at scale. With the Finlay J-1280 now a key part of their fleet, they are well-positioned to deliver both productivity and sustainability in their quarrying operations.
‘The service and backup for parts is very reliable,’ Mark Lang remarked. ‘Whenever we need anything, Molson are quick to respond.’ Something that may be seen as a given but is not in an industry that creates harsh working environments, where a reliable source of consumables and spare parts is essential to keep an operation running. With over £16 million worth of parts in stock, strategically positioned in their nationwide network of service centres, Molson have invested to support their customers in the quarrying and aggregates sector.
Gareth Johnson said: ‘It isn’t enough to have the right parts on the shelf, we need to get that part into our customers’ hands when they need it. A big part of that is knowing our customers’ machines, and having the industry experience to make sure we guide them to the right solution.’ As anyone running heavy equipment will have experienced, this process is littered with complexities. With many models of machines having different part numbers for the same model of the same year, the only way to find the right one is by the machine’s serial number.
Molson believe they have stood out from their competitors by creating a team of experts who can guide customers to the right solution, with the knowledge, tools, and infrastructure to get the parts needed to reduce customer downtime. A significant development to enhance the ability to deliver this commitment has been the creation of a bespoke spare parts platform that is available to customers and the Molson team.
Mr Johnson added: ‘Our new parts platform is a great tool for our customers to find the exact part, right down to the nuts and bolts they need. So, no matter if they have their own engineers or they use our service team, they can view their fleet of machines, click into the one they require parts for and even use schematic diagrams to drill down to the exact parts needed. All with an Amazon-style checkout system and order tracking, it’s easy to use, and they know exactly when their parts will arrive.’
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