Callahan Ag & Gravel continues to build its reputation in Royal City, Washington, as a trusted aggregate supplier.
Behind the leadership of owner Paul Davies and a commitment to meet tight project demands with precision and efficiency, Callahan’s success is built on making smart choices – not only in how the business operates, but in the equipment powering its production.
The history
Callahan Ag & Gravel’s roots stretch back to 1991, when Davies’ father-in-law opened a pit out of necessity.
The two needed gravel for their own use, but what started as a straightforward need has evolved into a thriving business under Davies’ guidance.
Taking over the operation, Davies saw the potential to expand and grow the pit into a full-scale aggregate production company. With an eye on efficiency and quality, he transformed the family venture into a reliable material supplier capable of handling large-scale orders and meeting high-production quality demands.
Built for high demands
On a recent project, Callahan Ag & Gravel handled about 60,000 tons of base course and top course – a significant production goal with a strict turnaround timeline.
Callahan’s standard equipment lineup didn’t have the capacity to handle that much output in such a short time. But Davies knew targets could be hit with the right machinery.
That need drove Callahan to a rental spread from Powerscreen of Washington that includes a Premiertrak 400X jaw crusher, a 1300 Maxtrak cone crusher, a Chieftain 2100X inclined screen, and a stacking conveyor.
The equipment combo offers a closed-circuit flow from primary crushing to secondary sizing and screening, which is capped by material stacking that allows Callahan to operate at maximum productivity with minimal material handling.
Power & reliability
Each machine in the equipment lineup plays a role in the production process.
The Premiertrak 400X serves as the primary crushing unit, providing robust throughput and consistent performance. Designed with a quick-release system and easy service access, it’s built for high uptime – which is ideal for aggressive production schedules like Callahan Ag & Gravel’s project.
The 400X jaw crusher takes in material via a 16-ft., 1-in. x 8-ft., 2-in. hopper. It then resizes aggregates in its 44-in. x 28-in. crushing chamber, achieving an output up to 441 tph.
Material is then moved to the 1300 Maxtrak cone, a secondary crusher ensuring reduction and product shape. This is essential to meet strict quality specifications that Davies’ customers demand.
The Chieftain 2100X inclined screen, meanwhile, has a high-screening capacity, handling multiple material sizes while delivering consistent product. Its Caterpillar C4.4 engine and 20-ft. x 5-ft. screenbox allow the plant to reach up to 661 tph with ease.
Going the extra mile
Davies credits much of Callahan Ag & Gravel’s success to the responsive support from Powerscreen of Washington.
When faced with tight deadlines, having reliable equipment is critical. But so, too, is having a dealer that can deliver fast, dependable service.
“Powerscreen of Washington has been awesome,” Davies says. “I gave them very late notice, and they were able to get the machines on-site fast.”
When Davies’ previous cone crusher from another brand could no longer keep up with Callahan’s production needs, Powerscreen of Washington had a replacement 1300 Maxtrak cone crusher delivered within three days. The turnaround time kept the project on track without costly delays.
“Whether it’s a service need or technical questions, seven days a week, the Powerscreen team is always readily available and fast to respond,” Davies says.
Advanced tech
Two features of the Powerscreen lineup that stand out to Davies and his team are the ease of use and modern technology integrated into the machines.
“We love the very few breakdowns, the efficiency and the technology,” Davies says. “Being able to adjust the machines at the touch of a button is way easier to work with.”
The ability to fine-tune machine settings quickly and easily not only boosts production but reduces operator fatigue and the potential for errors – key factors when working against tight deadlines.
Yet another advantage setting the rental experience apart for Callahan Ag & Gravel is the coaching and support Powerscreen of Washington provided to help streamline the production process and improve overall efficiency.
“They coached me through making sure that this plant was self-recirculating,” Davies says. “It allowed my team to touch the material the least amount possible, which made it a no-brainer why I should go with them as my dealer.”
This article has been repurposed from an original piece written by Pit & Quarry.
