Why Holtmeier chooses Kleemann

When Holtmeier Construction Inc. began expanding its crushing and recycling capabilities, it was looking for equipment that could keep pace with growing demand while minimizing downtime.

Now, the southern Minnesota-based contractor operates mobile crushers and screens supplied through Kleemann, a product division within the Wirtgen Group, a John Deere Co.. According to Holtmeier Construction co-founder Joe Holtmeier, the decision came down to proven performance, engineering and dependable support.

Holtmeier’s first exposure to Kleemann equipment came in the summer of 2014, when a salesman invited him to see a Kleemann MR 130 mobile impact crusher operating near the city of Mankato, Minnesota. At the time, Holtmeier Construction was running a single crusher.

“I went and watched it for a while and talked to the operator running it and was just really impressed,” Holtmeier says, noting is compactness, the onboard screen and throughput.

That firsthand experience led to the company’s first Kleemann purchase—an MR 122 impact crusher—followed by its first MR 130 a year later. “We still are running that 130, and the guys call that the ‘OG,’ as in the original,” Holtmeier says.

Today, Holtmeier Construction operates multiple impact crushers, a cone crusher and a mobile screen from Kleemann for recycling applications and sand, gravel and limestone quarry work.

Support and service have been equally important. Holtmeier points to Kleemann’s technical expertise and the depth of experience behind the product line. “Their support team in Nashville really knows their product well,” he says. When a problem is encountered, “Someone has seen it before, and the answer is a few hours away, not days of trial and error.”

On the local level, Holtmeier Construction works with RDO Equipment Co., which acquired the Kleemann line in Holtmeier’s region, for parts and service. “When the acquisition was happening, they came out and met with us, talked us through what products and parts we’d like to see, and they talked to my crushing superintendent,” Holtmeier says.

Longevity is another reason Holtmeier continues to invest in Kleemann equipment. The company’s oldest MR 130 has been in operation since 2015.

“From the beginning, it’s designed to last,” Holtmeier says. “You start with a good product, and then you pair it with good people that are passionate about what they do. It’s easy for an owner to go and buy equipment,” he says, but making a margin on that purchase requires personnel who know that $500 in maintenance will save $10,000 in repair costs.

Ultimately, Holtmeier says the choice comes back to performance and support. “[It’s] equipment that performs and equipment that’s supported by the people who designed it.”