For a hire company considering adding a new machine to its fleet, the biggest question is usually not "what does it cost?" but:

"Will it earn its place in my fleet?"

Every machine has to justify the space it takes in the yard, the capital invested, and the time spent maintaining it. A compact crusher is no different.

The good news is that crushers are becoming increasingly popular with both contractors and end users because they solve a genuine problem: turning waste concrete and rubble into a reusable material rather than paying to remove it and bring new aggregate back in.

But what does the investment look like from a hire company's perspective?

Understanding the opportunity

The Dragon Equipment CR450 Diesel Crusher sits in the middle of our range and has become one of the most popular models because it offers a balance between productivity, transportability and ease of use.

With the ability to crush up to 10 tonnes per hour, the CR450 Crusher can process a significant amount of material during a typical working day.

In many cases, customers do not need the machine for weeks at a time. A one- or two-day hire is often enough to complete a project, depending on the amount and type of material being crushed.

This short-duration hire pattern can work well for hire companies because the machine has the potential to serve multiple customers and projects throughout the year.

What do hire companies charge?

Hire rates vary depending on location, demand and the individual hire company.

Across the UK, compact crusher hire rates commonly range from approximately £150 to £350 per day, with around £200 per day being a realistic example figure for modelling purposes.

The actual return will depend on:

local market conditions,
competition in the area,
customer demand,
and how actively the machine is promoted.

A successful hire asset is not simply a machine that sits in the yard waiting for enquiries. The best-performing machines are actively marketed, included in customer conversations and offered as a solution to common site problems.

An example finance scenario

To understand the potential return, let's look at an example ownership model.

Assume:

Customer provides a 25% deposit
Remaining balance financed over 5 years
Indicative finance repayment: £125.39 per week*

Finance rates change regularly, so this should only be treated as an example based on current available finance illustrations.

This equates to approximately:

£543 per month
£6,520 per year

Alongside finance, a hire company should consider planned maintenance.

A manufacturer maintenance contract is available from £750 per year, covering scheduled servicing, including labour, travel and service parts.

This provides a predictable ownership cost:

Annual cost - Approximate amount

Finance payments £6,520

Maintenance contract £750

Total fixed annual ownership cost £7,270

How many hires does it need?

This is the question every hire company wants answered.

The honest answer is: it depends.

Demand varies by region, season and how effectively the machine is promoted. However, we can look at some examples.

Using an average hire rate of £200 per day:

Hire days per month - Monthly hire revenue

5 days £1,000

10 days £2,000

15 days £3,000

At around 5–6 hire days per month, the machine is already making a meaningful contribution towards its finance, maintenance and ownership costs.

At higher utilisation levels, the machine has the opportunity to become a strong revenue-generating asset.

The important point is that a compact crusher does not need to be hired every day to make commercial sense.

Why utilisation matters more than the purchase price

A hire company's return is determined by three things:

1. Demand

The machine needs customers.

Many hire companies find that once contractors understand what a crusher can do, repeat demand follows. Customers often return when they have another project involving concrete, rubble or excavation waste.

2. Availability

A machine sitting in the yard earns nothing.

That is why reliability and easy maintenance matter. Every day lost to unnecessary downtime is a missed hire opportunity.

3. Cost control

Predictable ownership costs make planning easier.

A maintenance contract helps remove uncertainty by ensuring scheduled servicing is completed by trained engineers using the correct parts.

Designed for hire environments

The CR450 Crusher has been designed with uptime and ease of ownership in mind.

Features such as anti-stall and no-stress technology help protect the machine when difficult materials enter the crusher box, reducing unnecessary strain and helping keep production moving.

Daily maintenance has also been simplified. Routine checks involve five grease points, all located together in an easily accessible area on the side of the machine.

The main wear component is the crushing jaw. Wear rates depend on several factors, including:

hours worked,
type of material being crushed,
and how the machine is operated.

The jaws are manufactured from Hardox steel for durability and are designed so that only one jaw needs replacing at a time.

More than just a machine purchase

For a hire company, buying a crusher is not simply about adding another item to the fleet. It is about adding a machine that helps customers save money, reduce waste and work more efficiently.

The strongest hire assets are those that solve a clear customer problem. Compact crushers do exactly that by allowing customers to recycle material on-site instead of paying for removal and importing new aggregate.

When could the machine pay for itself?

Every hire company will have different overheads and operating costs, but an indicative example shows the potential.

At an average hire rate of £200 per day and just 5 hire days per month, the CR450 could generate around £12,000 of annual hire revenue.

Allowing for finance payments and the annual maintenance contract, this level of utilisation demonstrates how the machine can work towards paying for itself within 3-4 years, while the finance agreement is still running.

The long-term view

A well-maintained machine will continue working long after the finance period has ended.

The most successful hire companies focus not just on the first year of ownership, but on building a long-term income-producing asset.

For hire companies looking to add a practical, in-demand piece of equipment with predictable running costs and strong customer appeal, a compact crusher can be a valuable addition to the fleet.

*Finance figures take from Arblease.co.uk on 16/07/2026 and are accurate at time of publishing. All figures are indicative, and actual figures will vary.