Metso’s Lokotrack line turns 40

Finland-based aggregates processing and recycling equipment maker Metso Corp. says 2025 “marks a notable milestone for Metso as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking Lokotrack mobile crushers.”

The European company says the Lokotrack’s story begins with two Finnish contractors, Mauno Vuorsola and Olavi Puputti, who wanted to move their crushing and screening equipment from site to site, ideally in the form of a crawler-mounted cone crusher for a two-stage crushing and screening plant.

According to Metso, “In 1985, they pitched their idea to Metso, then called Lokomo, where they found like-minded innovators who saw potential in their idea.” At the time, says Metso, its predecessor company already was making wheel-mounted crushers.

In May of 1985, while the design of what would become the Lokotrack was still in its infancy, the Metso sales department successfully pre-sold a model.

From there, says Metso, “The first Lokotrack was delivered in record time—just four and a half months after the deal was made. On Dec. 31, 1985, the groundbreaking equipment was handed over to its first customer, proving that fast prototyping and visionary thinking could go hand in hand.”

Since that first sale in 1985, “Lokotrack has earned its place as a trusted name in the global aggregate crushing industry, with over 11,000 units sold,” states Metso.   

“We are excited to make the 40th anniversary of the iconic Lokotrack line a key highlight at all our events and trade shows throughout 2025, celebrating this milestone with our customers, partners and industry peers,” says Jarmo Vuorenpää, a vice president with Metso. 

Metso says it began wider production of Lokotrack crushers in 1987. Now the machines “can be found on every continent, including Antarctica, where their reliability and performance continue to set the standard for mobile crushing solutions,” says Metso.

The Lokotrack product line now includes 23 machines, each offering 50 configuration options.

As the market evolves, Metso says innovates to stay ahead of trends and customer expectations. More than 300 diesel-electric units have been delivered for what Metso calls cleaner, more efficient operations. The new Lokotrack EC range, launched last year, offers another low-carbon production option, says the firm.

A more in-depth look at the 40-year history of Lokotrack can be found on the Metso website.