In the scenic landscape of Phillipsburg, Montana, F&R, LLC has carved out a reputation for efficient aggregate production. Founded by Tom Mazza in 2007, the company has seen a significant surge in growth in recent years, with the increased demand being met by a fleet of crushing and screening equipment supplied by Powerscreen of Washington.

The Heart of The Operation

Joey has been with F&R for over a year, and in that time, he has become a key part of the company’s success story. Each day, Joey loads and operates the Powerscreen Premiertrak R400X jaw crusher, his canine companion Cinch watching quietly from beside him. The duo has become something of a fixture on the site, and Joey’s performance is proof of the results that can be achieved when powerful equipment meets capable hands.

Since switching to Powerscreen, Joey has noticed a sharp improvement in productivity and consistency. “Our operation has grown quite a bit,” he said. “Our Powerscreen machines are great. They are easy to set up and are very well built.”

A Full Setup from Powerscreen of Washington

F&R, LLC sources all its current equipment from Powerscreen of Washington, and the investment has paid off. Their complete setup includes a Powerscreen Premiertrak R400X jaw crusher, a Powerscreen Chieftain 1400 inclined screen, a Powerscreen 1000 Maxtrak cone crusher, and an MGL 836X 80’ stacking conveyor.

This combination allows F&R to process everything from pit run to sand, 3/4″ gravel, clean rock, and down to 5/8” minus material. It’s a versatile spread tailored for performance and adaptability across changing jobsite needs.

The system is arranged for maximum efficiency, where the R400X serves as the primary crusher. Its side conveyor feeds directly into the 1000 Maxtrak, which performs further material reduction, while the R400X’s end conveyor loads finished material onto the MGL 836X conveyor to build consistent and clean stockpiles.

Power Behind the Machines

Each piece of equipment plays a key role in the site’s performance. The Premiertrak R400X is a tracked jaw crusher built for high-demand applications with a hydraulic release system designed for minimal downtime and straightforward maintenance. It features a 441 US tph output potential, excellent reduction capabilities, and working dimensions of 54’7” in length, 14’2” wide with the side conveyor, and 13’6” in height.

As one of Powerscreen’s most popular tracked screens, the Chieftain 1400 is a perfect match for small to medium-sized operations needing flexibility like F&R. It offers fast hydraulic folding conveyors, maintenance access walkways, and a drop-down tail conveyor to simplify screen changes. Featuring a screen size of 11’ x 5’ and a max output of 441 US tph, with a working footprint of 53’9” long and 16’10” high.

The 1000 Maxtrak cone crusher is designed for direct feed without pre-screening. At its core is the Automax cone crusher featuring hydraulic setting, tramp release, and an automatic unblocking system. 

Growth and Reliability

Before switching to Powerscreen, F&R used equipment that was not easily mobile, limiting their flexibility and increasing operating costs. Moving the older machines was a chore, often requiring additional labor and handling time just to reconfigure the layout. Since making the transition to Powerscreen, that’s no longer an issue. “We can move these machines to different jobs easily,” Tom Mazza shared. “That keeps our costs down from having to mine and move all materials two to three times to get it through the crusher like previous machines I had, which is a huge benefit.” This mobility has translated directly into improved productivity. The team can adjust their layout quickly to accommodate changing site conditions or project demands. According to Joey, “We’re never behind in production. Even when customer demand goes up, our Powerscreen equipment keeps up and gets the job done.”

Dependable Support

Behind the scenes, the partnership with Powerscreen of Washington has been a cornerstone of F&R’s success. With their Montana-based team located in Helena, Joey and Tom know that support is just a phone call away. “Working with the team here in Montana from Powerscreen of Washington, they do a very good job and answer all our calls whenever we have service requests or need parts,” Joey said. “We know we can count on them.” Tom echoes that trust. “Our growth has increased substantially since we began in 2007 to now, especially thanks to the Powerscreen machinery I purchased relatively recently,” he added. “We’re able to crush more or less any time we want, because of how reliable our machines are and how much we trust them to deliver results.”

Ready For What Comes Next

With a capable team, a loyal four-legged coworker, and a fleet of powerful machines, F&R, LLC is well-positioned for continued success in the Montana aggregate market. Their ability to produce a wide range of material types, move quickly between jobs, and maintain reliable uptime has already set them apart. As the company continues to grow, its investment in quality machinery and strong dealer relationship will keep them crushing day in and day out.