Kleemann crushing and screening technology helps revitalize a First Nation community in Ontario
A major highway rehabilitation project near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is doing more than renewing pavement — it’s creating jobs, generating revenue and expanding aggregate production for a First Nations community.
The Garden River First Nation is supplying graded aggregate for the rehabilitation of a 16-km section of Highway 17A.
The road runs through the reserve and serves as a bypass for the Trans-Canada Highway.
To fulfil demands in terms of tonnage and grain quality, Garden River First Nation invested in a fleet of Kleemann machines, including a Mobicat MC 110 EVO2 jaw crusher, two Mobicone MCO 90 EVO2 cone crushers, two Mobiscreen MSC 953 EVO screening plants and a Mobibelt stacker.
Depending on the final product specifications, the machines work in combination as primary, secondary or tertiary crushing and screening plants.
Aggregate and job production
Canada’s First Nations are vital to the fabric of the nation, preserving Indigenous culture, language and family ties.
In some communities, population is shrinking as many band members move to larger centres with more opportunities for jobs and housing.
The Garden River 14 reserve region, located just east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has a population of 3,500 band members, just more than 1,000 of whom live within the reserve. Of those, 200 are employed by the community itself, and 13 people are currently employed in the materials processing operation.
The aggregates produced are essential for infrastructure construction, and the newly acquired Kleemann plants contribute to the generation of higher revenue and more jobs.
An investment in the future
The resurfacing began in late 2025 and is scheduled for completion in 2028. The project requires close to 100,000 tonnes of aggregate for the base layer, 170,000 tonnes for the subgrade and 100,000 tonnes of asphalt dust and Superpave.
The latter is a recently developed, performance-based system to produce asphalt mixes and selection of suitable road surfacing binders. It is designed to ensure the paved surface can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations and heavy traffic without any problems.
“When we became aware that the bypass was going to undergo resurfacing and we were to be partnered into that project, we realized that our old crusher was too outdated and wasn’t capable of producing some of the products like the Superpave,’ said Chris Morettin, Business Entities Manager for Garden River First Nation.
“We needed to replace that model with something brand new that had the capabilities to meet Ontario Ministry of Transportation requirements.”
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Morettin and Aggregate Supervisor Travis Belleau decided to invest in a Kleemann plant train.
“We conducted a financial analysis based on revenues that were going to be generated, and we were able to see that purchasing this equipment would pay for itself over the lifespan of this project,” Morettin said.
In Northern Ontario, jaw and cone crushers are popular options to tackle the hard rock.
“The harder the rock, the more damage there is to an impactor. That’s why we typically see a lot of jaw and cone crushers in operation in this region. They’re just more cost effective,” said Richard Perzan, Vice President Sales, Construction and Forestry (Central) at Brandt, the authorized Wirtgen Group dealer in Canada.
Intuitive, safe and versatile
Aside from the low fuel-consumption, Belleau was also impressed by the intuitive operating concept.
“I haven’t been crushing very long. I found it fairly easy to learn. I think that speaks volumes,” Belleau said. “What I like most is the touch screen, which has tons of information on it.”
Belleau is also impressed by the SPECTIVE operating concept. SPECTIVE is an intuitive control system that centralizes machine setup, operation and monitoring through a user-friendly touchscreen interface. It simplifies crushing and screening workflows by providing clear process information, guided adjustments and diagnostic support to help operators work more efficiently and reduce downtime.
“Our old machine didn’t have a touchscreen, so you would just have to trial-and-error everything,” he said “These machines, they can pinpoint what’s wrong, so you’re not just swapping everything out to try and band-aid a problem. You’re able to diagnose it quickly, have the part replaced and then be back up and running as soon as possible. That’s a huge asset.”
As well as the logical operating concept. The crew appreciates the safety functions. The plant activates an alarm when there’s a problem and switches itself off.
“Then all the operator has to do is just walk over to the machine and diagnose the code. The safety factor that is built into the machines has been instrumental to helping us to learn and understand the machines and keep them running longer,” Belleau said.
Another advantage is the use of smart line coupling, which also protects the machines. Sensors detect when the cone crusher gets too full and smart line coupling then automatically reduces the speed of the feeding unit of the upstream jaw crusher.
Revenues reinvested
The aim of Garden River First Nation is the reinvestment of the income from the operations to boost the revitalization of the community.
Last year, the band built 20 new homes and supplied all the aggregates required from their own plant. As well, with the opening of several subdivisions, the economic growth continues.
“That gives us more work for the community and makes it possible for more people to move back,” Belleau said.
The resurfacing of Highway 17A brings jobs not only in materials processing but also in road construction, where machine operators, construction workers, surveyors and other human resources are required.
