THE STACK
DEMAND IS COMING. ARE WE READY — OR ABOUT TO GET CAUGHT?
The numbers are turning.
New Zealand housing consents have lifted roughly 9% yearon-year, pushing annual approvals back toward 37,000 homes. That is not speculation. That is forward workload. More houses mean more concrete. More roading. More drainage. More aggregates.
Demand is building. And here’s the uncomfortable question: Is the industry actually ready for it?
Because growth doesn’t just reward the prepared. It exposes the unprepared.
The Risk No One Likes Talking About
As an equipment supplier, we have a genuine concern about future plant availability.
Not because demand is weak. Because demand is strengthening.
When activity accelerates, lead times stretch. Components tighten. Electrical systems, engines, specialist parts — they do not magically appear because a project timeline demands them.
If operators wait until they are under pressure to secure plant, upgrade capacity, or replace ageing equipment, they may find the market has already moved.
We have seen this cycle before.
Busy sites. Deferred maintenance. Utilisation pushed to the limit. Capital decisions delayed — until they become urgent.
And urgent in this industry usually means expensive.
Back to Basics — Or Back to Reactive
The next cycle will reward operators who understand three things:
Material handling costs. Machine utilisation. The numbers.
If you don’t know exactly how many tonnes you must sell per day to break even, rising demand won’t fix that problem.
If you don’t know your true cost per tonne — including handling, double handling, downtime, labour, maintenance and finance — then higher volume may simply amplify inefficiency.
If your 400-tonne-per-hour crusher averages 220, you don’t have a demand problem. You have a utilisation problem.
And if your layout requires material to be handled twice, demand will not suddenly make that profitable.
The Hard Truth
When demand increases, two types of operations emerge:
Those who convert activity into margin.
And those who get busier — but not more profitable. The difference is preparation.
Preparation means:
• Securing plant before you desperately need it.
• Building utilisation headroom.
• Protecting uptime.
• Managing preventative maintenance with discipline.
• Reducing handling costs now — not when you’re under pressure.
The industry should be optimistic.
But optimism without preparation is exposure.
The Opportunity
The theme “Back to Basics: People, Plant and Profit” is not nostalgic. It is a warning and an opportunity.
The pipeline is strengthening.
The work is coming.
The question is not whether demand will lift.
The question is whether we will be operationally ready — or scrambling for capacity while competitors are already producing.
In this next cycle, profit will not favour the biggest. It will favour the disciplined.
And those who prepare early will not just survive the lift — they will dominate it.
Bert Hart General Manager
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SCREENING, CRUSHING, AND EXPANDING: THE HOLDEN HEAVY HIRE STORY
In the limestone quarry of Te Kūiti, AJ Holden stands among the machines — an S5 track stacker, a K5 screening plant, and a B3 jaw crusher all running on site.
“This quarry is where it all started for us,” AJ says. “My father, Warren, started contracting here under Ruakuri Contracting over 20 years ago. It’s special being back here with our own gear.”
A Small Team with a Wide Reach
Holden Heavy Hire is still a small operation — five staff across the workshop and sites, including AJ’s father and his partner — but their work spreads
“We’ve got hire gear over in Tauranga — a Cat 352, a couple of 730 dump trucks, and a D7 dozer,” AJ explains. “Up in Whangārei, we’ve got another K4 screening plant, and we’re working on a deal to possibly get another R3 crusher up there by the end of the year.”
Their approach to hire contracts is hands-on. “We try to customise each job,” AJ says. “We sit down with the client, see what products they’re making, what kind of splits they’re after, and try to offer any added value we can.”
across the North Island.
“We started here with one machine. Now we’ve got gear running all over the North Island.”
- AJ Holden
“The K5 gives us more deck area, more retention time, and a cleaner end product.” - AJ Holden
Why Keestrack?
Holden Heavy Hire have tried different brands over the years, but they keep returning to Keestrack machines.
“They’re the most reliable, easier to work on, and very versatile,” AJ says. “Being able to change different screen decks and punch plates from finger cassettes makes it easier to screen different materials and produce a cleaner product.”
The K5 screening plant is a step up from the K4. “It gives a bit more screening deck area, which means more retention time for the rock and a cleaner product at the end,” AJ says. “You can also shift the main belt down onto the bottom deck, so you don’t always need a three-way split — a two-way split works if that’s what the job needs.”
Currently, they’re running a 30x33 screen split — a 65mm punch plate on top and a 40mm screen on the bottom — creating a three-way split. The material feeds into a closed-loop circuit with the crusher, so everything is reprocessed and sorted again, keeping the final product consistent and free of contamination
“Equip2 didn’t just sell us machines — they helped us build a business.” - AJ Holden
Support When It Counts
Even with reliable machines, problems can arise. AJ says Equip2 has been a key part of keeping the operation running smoothly.
“We’ve had a few issues over the years, but if we get stuck, Equip2 are always ready to help,” he says. “Everyone — from sales to parts to service — has been great to deal with.”
When local work slowed, Equip2 helped get Holden Heavy Hire’s machines out on hire around the country, which helped launch the hire side of the business.
Looking Ahead
From the Te Kūiti quarry where it all began, Holden Heavy Hire continues to grow its presence across the North Island.
“It’s still a small team, but we’ve got gear running in multiple locations,” AJ says. “We hope to get even bigger over time.”
Click here to watch the full interview
Key Takeaways
Local Roots: Started in Te Kūiti, still running from the original quarry.
Hands-on Hire: Contracts customised to client needs
Reliable Gear: Keestrack machines chosen for ease of use and versatility.
Consistent Product: Closed-loop screening ensures uniform output.
Backed by Support: Equip2 provides parts, service, and advice when needed.
QuarryNZ Conference 2026 – Equip2 Brings Real Iron to Invercargill
QuarryNZ Conference 2026 is themed Back to Basics – People, Plant and Profit, and Equip2 is taking that literally. Rather than a stand full of brochures and branded pens, we're arriving in Invercargill with one of our biggest presences at a New Zealand quarry conference — and something genuinely worth the trip down south.
The Washplant You Can See in Action — Oreti Aggregates Invercargill
The centrepiece of Equip2's presence at QuarryNZ 2026 is a working washplant installation at Oreti Aggregate's Invercargill operation.
Delegates will have the opportunity to see the plant running in a live production environment — not on a trade show floor, but onsite, processing real material, doing real work. This is the kind of hands-on access that answers the questions no spec sheet can: How does it handle your feed material? What does throughput actually look like? How is it maintained and supported?
The washplant represents Equip2's approach to aggregate processing — fit-for-purpose equipment engineered for New Zealand conditions, designed around uptime and operational simplicity. For quarry operators looking at sand and aggregate washing as part of their production mix, this is a rare chance to evaluate the equipment in context, not in a controlled demonstration environment.
We'll be coordinating site visits during the conference — if you're interested in getting out to Oreti Aggregate's site to see the plant running, get in touch with the Equip2 team ahead of the event to confirm your place.
Come see the washplant in person with Equip2 at Quarry Conference this year
/// QUARRY CONFERENCE 2026
A Large Presence — Built Around Conversation
Beyond the site visit, Equip2 will have a significant presence at the conference itself. Our team will be on the ground across all three days, ready to talk through:
• Washing and classification systems — including the washplant range and how it fits different aggregate and sand production requirements
• Mobile crushing and screening — performance, configuration, and what's new
• Parts availability and service support — specifically for South Island operations where response times matter
• Customised solutions — for non-standard feed materials, site constraints, or production targets
This isn't a passive presence. We're there to work through real operational questions with quarry managers, owners, and plant operators — the people making decisions about capital equipment and production performance.
South Island Relevance — Not Just a Conference Stop
Invercargill isn't just a conference location for us. The South Island is home to a substantial portion of our customer base — operations running in regional and rural environments where equipment reliability isn't a preference, it's a requirement.
The Oreti Aggregates Invercargill washplant installation is one example of the work we're doing in the region. For South
Island operators at the conference, it's a chance to see Equip2 equipment performing in conditions close to their own — and to have direct conversations with the team that supports it.
See the Plant. Have the Conversation.
QuarryNZ 2026 is a working conference for working operators. Equip2 will be there in that spirit — with real equipment on the ground, a team ready to engage, and a site visit that puts the plant in front of the people best placed to evaluate it.
If you're heading to Invercargill in July, come find us. And if you want to lock in a spot for the Oreti Aggregates site visit, reach out to the Equip2 team now.
High Torque Shredding Power for MSW, C&D, Organics & More
In the waste and recycling industry, performance is everything. Machines need to be tough, flexible, and efficient—not just powerful on paper. That’s exactly where the EDGE VS420 makes its mark.
This isn’t just another shredder; it’s a machine built for the realities of today’s high-demand waste environments. With the highest torque in its class, the VS420 delivers sheer shredding power that makes light work of the toughest materials. From bulky waste to green waste, construction debris to commercial materials, this machine doesn’t hesitate—it dominates.
The VS420 isn’t just a shredder; it’s the next generation of waste processing.
Versatility Meets Customisation
Every site is different. That’s why the VS420 was designed to adapt. Its versatile configuration options and customisable setup mean you can tailor it to fit your operation, not the other way around. Need flexible loading? No problem. Looking for specific rotor or chamber setups? The VS420 has you covered.
Built to Withstand the Tough Stuff
When the job gets heavy, the VS420 doesn’t flinch. Its highly resistant build ensures reliability even under the harshest conditions, cutting downtime and keeping your site productive.
Smarter, Not Harder
Efficiency isn’t just about muscle; it’s about brains too. The VS420’s intelligent load management system ensures smooth operation, protecting the machine from overload while maximising output. This translates into lower operational costs and consistent, high-capacity shredding that pays dividends over time.
The
VS Status Link
With the VS Status Link, operators get real-time insights and control, taking the guesswork out of operations. It’s part of EDGE’s focus on building machines that don’t just work hard—they work smart.
EDGE VS420
Click here to watch the VS420 Video
Watch Equip2 demonstrate the EDGE VS420 in action.
Click here to watch the VS420 Walkthrough
12,000 HOURS AND COUNTING: HOW THIS ONE NEW ZEALAND QUARRY BUILT A DECADE OF UPTIME
From the Riverbed to the Road: Who is Raukawa Aggregates?
Raukawa Aggregates Limited is a quarry operation based in Palmerston North, owned and operated by Byfords Construction and the Blackley Group. The bulk of their output comes from old alluvial river run material excavated from the Manawatū River corridor — a geologically rich seam of naturally rounded gravel and sand. In addition to virgin river material, the operation also processes waste concrete, transforming demolition rubble into reusable base coarse aggregate. This dual-stream approach supports both sustainability objectives and commercial demand.
With over 200,000 tonnes processed annually, Raukawa Aggregates supplies material to some of New Zealand's most significant infrastructure ventures — and that means their processing equipment cannot afford to let them down.
The Machine at the Centre of It All: The Keestrack R5
For almost a decade, the backbone of Raukawa Aggregates' processing operation has been the Keestrack R5 — a tracked, mobile impact crusher supplied by Equip2 Processing Solutions. The R5 is a heavy-duty, high-capacity machine designed for demanding primary and secondary crushing applications, capable of producing a wide range of product sizes with efficiency and consistency.
Richard Apthorp, General Manager of Byford Construction and Raukawa Aggregates, describes the machine as central to their operation:
The R5's versatility has been a key factor in its sustained use.
At Raukawa Aggregates, it is regularly employed to produce a variety of base course grades — both from raw river run material and from crushed concrete. This flexibility means a single machine can serve multiple product lines, reducing capital expenditure and simplifying operations.
Crucially, the machine is mobile — a feature that has extended its usefulness beyond the primary quarry site. Byfords have deployed the R5 at other locations as project needs have demanded, making it a genuinely multi-site asset.
“The guys have really enjoyed working with the machine, and we find it quite versatile. But what we have really enjoyed is how reliable it's been." - Richard Apthorp
10 Years, 12,000 Hours — What Does Reliability Actually Look Like?
In a quarry environment, machinery reliability is everything. Unplanned downtime translates directly into lost production, delayed deliveries, and damaged commercial relationships.
For Byfords and Raukawa Aggregates suppliers to major infrastructure projects — equipment failure is not simply inconvenient; it can have serious contractual consequences.
This makes their experience with the Keestrack R5 all the more remarkable. Over ten years of active use, the machine has accumulated in excess of 12,000 operating hours with very few mechanical failures. Apthorp is candid about the minor wear and tear the machine has seen over that time:
Wear parts such as blow bars, impact plates, belts, and rubbers are universally acknowledged as consumable items in any crushing application — their replacement is planned maintenance, not unplanned failure. The clutch issue referenced by Apthorp represents the only notable unplanned mechanical event over a decade of operation — an exceptional track record by any industry standard.
For context, industry benchmarks for mobile impact crushers typically expect planned maintenance interventions every 250–500 hours, with major overhauls becoming necessary around the 5,000–8,000 hour mark depending on application intensity. Reaching 12,000 hours with only routine consumable replacement and a single minor mechanical issue is a testament to both the quality of the machine and the care with which it has been operated and maintained.
"There's the usual things like belt rubbers and the normal wear parts. We've had a few cracked bits and pieces of steel. I think a minor breakdown with a clutch — but largely it's been very reliable."Richard Apthorp
On the Job: Major Projects Powered
by the R5
The proof of any quarry operation's capability lies in the projects it has served. Raukawa Aggregates' R5-processed material has been used on some of New Zealand's most high-profile roading and infrastructure developments.
Richard Apthorp cites the Te Ahu a Tauranga Manawatu Tararua Highway and Transmission Gully as notable examples — two projects that demanded consistent, specification-grade aggregate delivered reliably and at scale.
Transmission Gully — the 27-kilometre motorway north of Wellington — was one of New Zealand's largest roading projects, completed in 2022 after years of construction. Projects of this scale place enormous demands on material supply chains, requiring aggregate of consistent quality in very large volumes over sustained periods. The fact that the Keestrack R5 underpinned part of that supply without incident speaks to its suitability for exactly this kind of high-stakes application.
The Equip2 Factor: Why Aftercare Makes the Difference
Purchasing capital equipment is a significant investment decision — but for experienced quarry operators, the machine itself is only part of the equation. What happens after the sale matters just as much: parts availability, technical expertise, response times, and the quality of advice you receive when things need attention.
Richard Apthorp is clear that the support provided by Equip2 has been a decisive factor in his operation's satisfaction with the Keestrack R5:
He goes further, framing after-sales support as one of the most important considerations when evaluating a major equipment purchase:
This is a perspective shared by many of the most experienced operators in the industry. An impact crusher that performs well but is backed by slow parts supply or poor technical support can quickly become a liability. Conversely, a machine supported by a responsive, knowledgeable team retains its value — and its operator's confidence — far longer.
For Byfords and Raukawa Aggregates, the relationship with Equip2 has delivered on both fronts. Apthorp summarises the trust that has built up over a decade of working together.
The Bottom Line
Raukawa Aggregates' experience with the Keestrack R5 and Equip2 is a case study in what long-term value looks like in the quarrying industry. It is not simply about the lowest purchase price or the most impressive specification sheet — it is about a machine that performs day after day, year after year, across demanding real-world applications;
and a supplier relationship built on honest advice, timely support, and follow-through.
For operations evaluating mobile impact crushing solutions for aggregate production, recycled concrete processing, or large-scale infrastructure supply, the evidence from Raukawa Aggregates is compelling: 200,000 tonnes per year, 12,000 hours, ten years, two major infrastructure projects — another successful partnership.
One of the great things about owning a Keestrack machine is the service. Equip2 offer a really great service. Certainly can't complain about the service of the machine — the support, the supply. It's really good." - Richard Apthorp
Click here to watch the CSP-10 Walkthrough
USED EQUIPMENT
EX-DEMO MCCLOSKEY S130 RINSER
Hours: 200 +/-
· 13’ x 5’ Triple-Deck Rinser Screenbox
· Integrated Spray Bars on all decks
· Diesel-Hydraulic Drive (CAT engine)
· Heavy-Duty Hopper with controlled feed
Asking Price:
$520,000 NZD + GST
KEESTRACK R5H
Hours: 6,700 +/-
· Punch plates topdeck prescreen
· Prescreen bottomdeck woven mesh
· Magnet overband
· Cummins engine
· 10 Function radio remote control
Asking Price:
$575,000 NZD + GST
KEESTRACK K5 SCALPING SCREEN
Hours: 135 +/-
· Plate Apron Feeder with Split Blackwall
· 65mm Punched Plate TD
· 40mm Woven Wire Screen mesh BD
· Main Conveyor 5000x1200mm
Asking Price:
$470,000 NZD + GST
BARFORD SM312 SCREENER
· Power unit: CAT 2.2 37kw
· Screen box on coil springs
· Head motor on conveyor 400cc
· 27CC Pump
Thompson: 027 404 4430
Hart: 021 244 5797
Asking Price:
$97,000 NZD + GST
KEESTRACK B3
Hours: 1,878 +/-
· Punch plate top deck pre-screen 40mm
· 3-section folding side belt conveyor
· Toothed jaw plates 18Mn2Cr, reversible
· Radio remote control, 10 functions
Asking Price:
$530,000 NZD + GST
KEESTRACK K4
Hours: 2,000 +/-
· Punched Plate Topdeck 100mm HB450 Set
· Woven Wire Screen mesh BD 40 x 40 x 8
· Main Conveyor - SXL 7000 x 1200 mm
Hydr. Slidable, Turnbuckle Hanging, 11 kW
· Radio Remote Control 10 Functions (EU)
Asking Price:
$405,000 NZD + GST