The major benefits of each type of system are as follows.

Easily the biggest benefit of tracked plants is they provide captive power sources, which enable the equipment to be deployed to remote locations where line power simply isn’t available, and to be easily relocated within the job site. Such plants can also be set up and operating in minutes – versus hours or even days – capturing precious and valuable time and lost production.

If the engines are used as a direct drive to large horsepower crushers (such as a cone crusher), they also eliminate the need to toil with the large, cumbersome electrical cables that must be connected to the electric motor(s). Such plants are generally also safer to set up.

Having each plant equipped with individual power units also gives the added flexibility to separate or split the system and only turn on the engines required for a specific job, which can help offset liquid fuel costs. For example, if you only need to produce 40mm base material, you will likely be burning fewer engines and less fuel than if you are producing 20mm asphalt rock.

Historically, with most tracked systems, diesel engines are coupled with hydraulic motors and control valves. This simple circuit eliminates mobile cone crusher stations, expensive starters, cables and connectors, etc.

Then there is the service aspect. Chances are the same mechanic that services your loader can also service the engine on your tracked crusher or screen. Also, compared with electrical systems, hydraulic systems do not require a rocket scientist – or at least a journeyman – to maintain them.