Recorded at Terex Omagh — the home of Finlay — Episode 3 of RockTalk With Finlay takes a deep dive into the people, products and decisions that have shaped the brand for more than six decades.In this extended conversation, Charlie sits down with Matt Dickson, Business Line Director for Finlay and General Manager of both Terex Omagh and Coalville, to explore Finlay’s journey from its earliest innovations to where the business is heading next.Matt reflects on his own career path, from engineering graduate to leading some of Finlay’s most significant product developments — including the J‑1175 jaw crusher — before stepping into broader leadership and commercial roles. Along the way, he shares the importance of mentors, learning the commercial side of the business, and why engineering remains such a strong foundation for leadership within Terex.The conversation then steps back to look at Finlay’s history, beginning in 1958, when John Finlay built the first screening machine — and how his original ethos of building robust, durable and reliable equipment still underpins the brand today. From early wheeled machines, through the tracked evolution in the 90s, the global success of the 883, and the emergence of flagship crushers like the J‑1175, Matt outlines the key moments that defined Finlay’s growth.Recorded on site in Omagh, Matt also walks through the evolution of Terex Omagh since 1976 — from fabrication and assembly expansions, through the 2008 downturn that shaped the site into a global Crushing Centre of Excellence, to its role today building crushers for multiple Terex MP brands.The episode also covers:
- How innovation at Finlay has evolved — from the Hi‑Way Crusher to hybrid technology, digital tools and T‑Link
- The role of customer feedback in shaping new products
- Recent developments including compact equipment, conveying and the I‑130 / I‑130RS impactors
- Where Matt sees Finlay heading over the next 5–10 years, including distribution, NPD, hybrid/electric solutions and digitalisation
We close with RockTalk’s Big Question.This is a detailed, reflective conversation recorded at the heart of the business — offering rare insight into Finlay’s past, present and future.This is RockTalk With Finlay.
