Smarter backfill, better projects: How Ozzies and ALLU are raising the bar on small-scale site work

Effective backfill separation can have a major impact on project quality, cost control and long-term sustainability. By improving material consistency and reducing waste, contractors can deliver cleaner finishes while lowering overall input costs. Few companies understand this better than Ozzies Specialized Machinery, pioneers of mechanical backfill separation and the original developers of the “Padder” machine in 1989.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Ozzies’ specialized equipment is now used worldwide, with machines operating across Europe, South America, Australasia and the Middle East. Yet despite that global reach, the company continues to refine its offering to better meet customer needs. When Ozzies identified that some jobs were not ideally suited to its traditional backfill machinery, the company looked for a complementary solution. That search led them to screening and crushing bucket specialist ALLU.

“We wanted to expand our equipment offerings at Ozzies to help our customers with more solutions,” explains Travis Casper, Head of Sales and Rentals at Ozzies. “ALLU’s quality products were the answer we were looking for.”

Precision where it matters most

For smaller or more intricate jobs, accuracy can be just as important as output. According to Casper, not every project justifies deploying large-scale padding equipment.

“Some of the smaller jobs didn’t make sense for our own backfill equipment,” he says. “Padding buckets like ALLU’s have a great place in our market. They can place material much more accurately, which is critical on certain projects.”

These applications include renewable energy installations, pipeline construction and maintenance, civil construction and water infrastructure, sectors where controlled material placement and consistent gradation are essential. Ozzies now regularly deploys ALLU buckets across these types of work.

On a recent customer site in Phoenix, the Ozzies team combined its own equipment with two ALLU attachments, including the ALLU DN 3-12 TS screening bucket. Fitted with 8 mm blades, equivalent to approximately 5/16 in. (with additional blade options at roughly 5/8 in., 1 in. and 1-3/8 in.) the bucket allows the team to accurately separate and place 3/8 in. minus material directly into the trench.

“The ALLU buckets can produce this material all day long and stay within spec,” says Casper. “Then it can be placed directly where it’s needed. The efficiency and accuracy of material placement from the ALLU Transformer D-Series buckets is unmatched.”

One machine, multiple processes

By combining screening, processing and placement in a single attachment, ALLU Transformer D-Series buckets help eliminate the need for additional equipment on site. In addition to pipeline backfill, they are used for compost aeration, landscaping, material handling and construction waste processing.

The buckets are hydraulic attachments that mount to excavators and loaders using a plug-and-play setup. Once installed, they can screen, crush, aerate, mix, separate, feed and load material in a single step.

“Once the buckets and machines are set up with the proper pressures, flows and delays, it’s a pretty maintenance-free operation,” Casper notes.

ALLU’s self-cleaning design minimizes clogging and maintains capacity even when working with wet material. Changeable blades and drums allow the same bucket to be quickly adapted for different applications, increasing flexibility while reducing downtime.

The ALLU Variable Drum system, compatible with the D-Series frame, allows individual shafts to be removed and swapped using a simple two-bolt locking system—without accessing the drive compartment. Likewise, ALLU’s Top Screen Rapid (TSR) blades enable worn blades to be replaced directly on the shaft, cutting maintenance time by roughly two hours compared to standard blade changes.

Sustainability with real-world benefits

This mobile processing approach delivers more than just productivity gains. By reusing material already on site, contractors reduce the need to purchase, haul and dispose of virgin material. That means fewer truck movements, lower fuel consumption and less waste sent to landfill, benefits that directly support both cost control and sustainability goals.

“With this setup, we can deliver a higher-quality finish more efficiently while keeping costs down,” Casper says. “It’s a win for us and a win for our customers.”

A partnership built on performance

Ozzies’ collaboration with ALLU has allowed the company to take on a broader range of projects and better tailor solutions to customer needs.

“ALLU’s been a great partner for Ozzies and for our customers,” Casper adds. “Their move to Nashville, Tennessee has been a big advantage, being centrally located means parts can be delivered quickly, efficiently and at a competitive price.”

ALLU echoes that sentiment. Jacqueline Day, Vice President of Marketing (North America) at ALLU, says: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Ozzies. They demonstrate exactly how versatile and capable ALLU buckets can be when applied thoughtfully on real jobsites.”

From Harry Hunter – Awesome Earthmovers Magazine Editor

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