McLanahan to debut Discovery Wash Plant at Hillhead 2026

MCLANAHAN, together with Anaconda and RubbleCrusher, will showcase a range of equipment and technologies for crushing, screening, washing, and resource recovery applications at Hillhead 2026.

The McLanahan showcase will be led by the new Discovery Wash Plant, a compact washing solution designed to provide an accessible entry point into wet processing whilst delivering improved product quality and operational efficiency.

Developed in response to growing demand for accessible wet-processing solutions, the Discovery Wash Plant has been engineered to provide small skip operators, construction and demolition (C&D) materials recyclers, and compact aggregate producers with a practical, high-performance washing option. The goal is to provide a small-footprint washing option whilst improving the quality of the product offering.

The Discovery Wash Plant offers a compact, cost-effective alternative to traditional wash plants, which often entail high costs, require ample space, and involve civil works. It can process 50-70 tonnes per hour and serves as a middle ground between simple dry processing and large-scale washing setups.

The plant is also designed with logistics in mind, allowing efficient shipping in two or three containers or on flatbeds, supporting rapid deployment and reducing installation complexity and costs.

Although designed as an entry-level solution, the Discovery Wash Plant incorporates several established McLanahan technologies, including a Coarse Material Screw Washer (CMSW), a hydrocyclone, a split-deck dewatering screen, a sand-blending conveyor, and an integrated sump-and-pump system.

The combination of these components allows producers to wash, classify, dewater and blend material within a single compact plant, delivering multiple high-quality products whilst minimizing space and infrastructure requirements.

Efficient material processing
Material is fed into the system via the conveyor, which then enters the CMSW. Aggregates are scrubbed, while lighter contaminants and some sand fractions float over the weir and are directed to one side of the split-deck dewatering screen. These materials are then dewatered and discharged to a stockpile or skip.

The cleaned coarse material is transferred to the Sizing Screen, where it is separated into distinct product sizes. This multi-size capability allows operators to produce specification-grade materials for a variety of applications.

The sand fraction is collected in a sump and pumped to the hydrocyclone, where it is washed and classified. The cyclone underflow is then directed to the opposite side of the split-deck dewatering screen to remove residual moisture.

A notable feature of the Discovery Wash Plant is its sand-blending conveyor, which enables operators to reintroduce a controlled proportion of washed sand into the coarse aggregate stream. Typically directed on to a 10–20mm product conveyor, this capability allows producers to tailor product specifications more precisely to meet individual customer requirements and market demands.

Whilst designed as a standardized washing solution, the Discovery Wash Plant provides the flexibility to accommodate different feed materials and production requirements. As part of McLanahan’s UltraSCRUB range, the system offers options including alternative screen media configurations, adjustments to screw washer paddle arrangements to increase scrubbing action, and the selection of different hydrocyclone sizes to meet specific sand-processing requirements.

As with all McLanahan equipment, the Discovery Wash Plant is supported by the company’s long-standing engineering expertise and focus on reliability. The plant has been designed with maintenance accessibility in mind to help minimize downtime, whilst robust, high-quality components and enhanced wear protection contribute to long service life in demanding operating environments.

Additional features include McLanahan’s proprietary sand-blending conveyor and an innovative screen design engineered to improve separation efficiency and product quality. Combined with its compact footprint, these attributes make the Discovery Wash Plant particularly well suited to sites where space is at a premium.