McLanahan unveil QUICKCHANGE filter cloth changeout system

27 August, 2025

McLanahan’s new QUICKCHANGE rapid filter cloth changeout system

First published in the August 2025 issue of Quarry Management as Peak Performance

Highlighting their commitment to innovation, equipment efficiency, and continuous safety, McLanahan recently unveiled their new patents-pending QUICKCHANGE filter cloth changeout system that allows plant operators to change filter cloths in less than one minute without having to climb on top of, or inside, the filter press

At this year’s bauma exhibition, McLanahan showcased their latest equipment solutions, technologies, and service offerings, including the worldwide unveiling of the company’s QUICKCHANGE rapid filter cloth changeout system – a patents-pending innovation set to transform filter press maintenance and efficiency.

‘After a hiatus in 2022 due to the impact of the Covid pandemic, we were delighted to return and be part of bauma 2025,’ said Stuart McCrum, McLanahan’s marketing lead for Europe. ‘The event was a great success and offered a global platform to showcase our latest innovations and sustainable solutions, as well as demonstrate how McLanahan’s cutting-edge technology can help customers boost productivity, improve efficiency, and lower operational costs in the aggregates, waste-recycling, and industrial sand markets.’

UK quarry operators are always seeking ways to minimize downtime, enhance safety, and reduce operational expenditure. As the emphasis on sustainability and establishing a circular economy within the materials processing industry persists, the importance of water recycling and tailings management becomes more crucial than ever.

McLanahan and their sister company Diefenbach have introduced the innovative QUICKCHANGE system to assist their customers and partners in achieving these goals.

Suitable for use in all types of tailings, including mining applications, quarries, and construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling, as well as the dewatering of sludge in water-treatment facilities, QUICKCHANGE offers a quicker, safer, and more cost-effective method to replace filter cloths – a task long regarded as one of the main causes of downtime in filter press operations.

‘Unlike traditional methods requiring extensive manual labour or specialized lifting equipment, the QUICKCHANGE system allows operators to perform maintenance at ground level in a very short time frame by reducing the industry-standard replacement time of 10–20 minutes per cloth to just 1–2 minutes,’ commented Mr McCrum. ‘This significant reduction in changeout time minimizes downtime and maximizes productivity.’

The QUICKCHANGE system offers a quicker, safer, and more cost-effective method to replace filter cloths, increasing overall washing equipment uptime

With the QUICKCHANGE solution, the filter cloths easily glide in and out of the top of the filter plate. Both sides of the cloth feature heavy-duty Velcro-branded fasteners that hold the fabric in place. When a cloth is ready to be swapped, the operator simply detaches the Velcro on each side of the fabric, folds the cloth in half from the bottom, and slides the cloth out from the top of the plate.

The QUICKCHANGE system is also designed to minimize material waste and long-term maintenance costs. Unlike traditional filter presses, where both sides of the filter cloth must be replaced when one side fails, QUICKCHANGE allows for the replacement of only the damaged side. This allows end-users to enhance their environmental sustainability and achieve estimated additional savings of 30–50% on filter cloth replacements.

To extend the cloth service life even further, the QUICKCHANGE filter cloth changeout system features a specially designed feed shoe that controls the velocity of slurry entering each plate, protecting high-wear areas and maintaining consistent performance.

More importantly, the QUICKCHANGE system raises the bar in safety. The risks associated with working at height or in confined spaces are mitigated by eliminating the need for personnel to climb on to or inside filter presses for cloth changeout.

Mr McCrum concluded: ‘It’s a win-win for the McLanahan business and our customers. As a premium full-line OEM, the QUICKCHANGE demonstrates our commitment to continuous innovation, safety, equipment efficiency, and application-driven performance in tough segments such as quarrying, mining, and recycling.’