As Powerscreen of Canada celebrates its 50th anniversary, the first machine sold by the company is still in the field and operational today.
In 1975, Doughty Aggregates in Lakefield, Ontario, purchased the first Powerscreen MK1 sold in Canada.
Since that first sale, Powerscreen of Canada, based in Oshawa, Ontario, has grown to become a supplier of portable screening, crushing, washing and stockpiling equipment for the aggregate and recycling industries.
Today, the company serves Ontario and Quebec, with the Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador being serviced by its dealer, Aggregate Equipment based in Truro, Nova Scotia.
“We are honoured to be celebrating this milestone,” said Brian Farmer, Co-Founder of Powerscreen of Canada.
“Little did we realize, when we started out in the 1970s marketing the small but highly efficient MK1 Screening Plant to an industry having difficulty screening fine, wet and sticky aggregate materials, that this would become our springboard into a business that would grow into the much larger Powerscreen range – encompassing crushing, screening, washing and recycling equipment.
“It is indeed a reflection of the hard work, efforts and resilience of our employees and not forgetting the close relationships and trust we have with our customers, who make this all possible. As the saying goes, ‘from small acorns, big oak trees grow’.”
To mark the 50th anniversary, Farmer visited Doughty Aggregates, to see the MK1, which is still operational. In fact, the Lakefield, Ontario based Doughty Aggregates used the MK1 as recently as two years ago to wash pea stone.
“When there’s an opportunity to use it, we do, if it suits the application,” said Kerry Doughty, Owner and General Manager of Doughty Aggregates.
“Our guys look after the equipment well, but at the same time, it was built pretty sturdy. It was well used for many, many years.”
The MK1 was the first screen plant purchased by Doughty’s father, Don, who had subcontracted production before acquiring the machine.
“He recognized it was a great leap in productivity,” Doughty said.
For Doughty Aggregates, customer support is one of the main reasons they turn to Powerscreen for equipment.
“When needed, they’re readily available for parts and for field service,” he said. “It’s important to have that kind of service. They have really competent people that have been with them for long periods of time.”
History
Powerscreen International was founded in 1966 as Ulster Plant in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, where R&D and manufacturing continues today.
Powerscreen’s founders pioneered the idea of mobile screening, which brought the machines to the quarry face rather than moving materials to the machine.
In 1969, the company began exporting, with the first machine arriving in Sweden. By the 1970s, the Powerscreen name was born and marketing worldwide commenced.
Powerscreen International extended its congratulations to Powerscreen of Canada on reaching it’s 50-year anniversary.
“Reaching 50 years in business is a tremendous achievement, and we are incredibly proud of the entire team at Powerscreen of Canada,” said Sean Loughran, Powerscreen Business Line Director and General Manager.
“The Farmer family are well known and respected on the global crushing and screening stage. As one of our original and longest serving dealers, they have become synonymous with the Powerscreen brand, embodying our values of innovation, quality and customer support.”
