Adriana Spragg

B.I.D Canada’s Bulk Handling Solutions

Posted on March 31, 2021October 20, 2021 by Adriana Spragg

Basic Industrial Design (BID) helps industry move what matters. Our expertise in the design and manufacturing of bulk material handling systems helps manage bulk material safely, efficiently and responsibly.

Learn more about our custom bulk material handling systems.

Babcock & Wilcox: 75MW Burgess Biomass Power Plant

Babcock & Wilcox is a multinational company based in the United States best known for manufacturing steam boilers and nuclear power systems. The company was in search of a bulk handling company that could supply a complete fuel handling package in the development of a new power plant for Burgess BioPower in Berlin, New Hampshire. Two ageing black-liquor recovery boiler systems needed to be updated so that they could be used to generate power for residential and industrial users in New Hampshire. BID Canada was tasked with the design, supply, manufacturing and delivery of a new woodyard fuel handling system for the 75MW biomass power plant.

READ MORE >

McInnis Cement: Conveyor System Optimization

McInnis Cement is situated in the Gaspé region of Québec. The plant was built next to a large limestone deposit and an ocean port. Investors saw this plant’s unique features and 2.2 million metric tons annual production capacity as a significant opportunity to bring great economic benefit to the Gaspé area and the province of Quebec. BID Canada was approached by an engineering consulting firm to help optimize the mechanical design of the cement plant’s conveyor systems. BID and McInnis Cement needed to correct its conveyor systems operations in order to produce and deliver its high-performing Portland cement.

READ MORE>

Potash Corporation: Potash and Salt Conveying System

Potash Corporation (now Nutrien) is a producer and distributor of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products for agricultural, industrial, and feed customers worldwide. PotashCorp operated their existing Penobsquis mine for many years, however they decided to develop a new nearby deposit they named Picadilly to replace the Penobsquis operation. BID Canada was tasked with handling the design and supply of conveyor belt systems that can efficiently convey materials throughout the mine.

READ MORE >

Caribbean Cement Company Limited: Modular Conveyor System

Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL) is the sole manufacturer of high-quality Portland and blended cement in Kingston, Jamaica. The cement company benefits from its access to indigenous raw material (mineral deposits) and a natural harbour utilized for importing coal and exporting cement. CCCL announced its Kiln 5 expansion project to expand its production capacity. BID Canada was selected to supply material handling (conveyor) systems and associated structures for this project to help improve efficiency and environmental performance.

READ MORE >

With nearly 50 years of niche experience, combined with our central location, we are leaders in the bulk material handling industry in eastern North America. Contact B.I.D. Canada today for more information about our custom bulk handling solutions.

Essential Safety Measures in Bulk Material Handling

Posted on March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 by Adriana Spragg

Safety is a vital component of bulk material handling. Industry standards and guidelines ensure organizations operating in bulk material handling abide by safe work practices and prioritize protecting their employees.

Safety Standards & Guidelines

Bulk handling operations are held to an incredibly high safety standard and must abide by several rigorous standards and guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

OHAS (Occupational Health & Safety)
MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration
CE (Compliance with goods sold in the EU)
CSST (Construction Site Safety Technician)

Safety Guarding

With any bulk handling system comes legal requirements, such as machine safety guards that must be complied with in order to operate in a safe manner. The engineering and design of proper machine guarding is just as important as the conveyors themselves. Proper guarding provides optimized safety features to protect workers from fatal accidents related to working near, inspecting, adjusting or maintaining conveyor belts.

A general rule in regards to safeguarding is that equipment must be guarded at accessible pinch points. Pinch points are places where it’s possible for a body part, clothing, or object to get caught between moving machine parts or between moving and stationary machine parts. Such accessible pinch points must be guarded at head, tail, drive, and deflection pulleys of conveyor systems. Proper safety guarding your bulk handling equipment is the law and must be prioritized by both manufactures and operators.

Important Safety Measures to Consider When Working with Conveyors

Conveyors are designed and manufactured specifically for the materials being conveyed. However no matter the size or its contents, there are standardized safety measures all conveyors should be equipped with. All conveyor systems have inherent dangers when in motion. The following standards can reduce risk to workers by following safe work practices during operation and maintenance.

OHAS

Emergency stop button or pull cord
Emergency stop cables that extend the entire length of the conveyor so they can be accessed from any location
Ensure appropriate personnel perform inspections prior to restarting the conveyor after being stopped due to an overload
Provide guards where conveyors pass over work areas or aisles
Ensure proper ergonomics of conveyor system in regards to the size and weight of the material being conveyed

MSHA

Audible and visible warning systems to signal the start of the conveyor
Practical belt crossing facilities at strategic locations near controls
Pull cords for emergency stops at strategic locations
Ensure adequate guarding is installed to prevent contact between workers and moving parts of the conveyor
Ensure power is disconnected during maintenance and repairs by locking out and tagging out the energy source
Never attempt to cross a moving conveyor belt except at suitable crossings

It is essential to be able to protect workers while keeping up with production imperatives in bulk material handling. Working with experienced leaders in the bulk handling industry will ensure that equipment is designed and manufactured according to the proper safety standards and guidelines and operates efficiently.

Basic Industrial Design (BID) helps industry move what matters. Our expertise in the design and manufacturing of bulk material handling systems will help you manage bulk material safely, efficiently and responsibly. With nearly 50 years of niche experience, combined with our central location, we are leaders in the bulk material handling industry in eastern North America.

The Backbone of Bulk Material Handling: Conveyor Systems

Posted on March 31, 2021September 9, 2024 by Adriana Spragg

In the bulk handling industry, conveyors are the most prominent piece of equipment which enables the transport of materials from point A to point B. Conveyors are an essential component across several industries; environmental, energy and power, lumber and wood, metals and mining, oil and gas, pulp and paper, stone, glass and concrete. Depending on the industry, conveyors are strategically designed and manufactured based on the properties of the materials being conveyed and for a wide range of capacities and distances.

Types of Conveyors

Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors are typically used to convey materials such as salt, ore, grain, sand from mines or pits to processing plants. They are considered to be the most economical of the three conveyor types as belt conveyors are capable of handling high volumes of material at faster speeds and for long distances. Belt conveyors consist of two or more motorized pulleys with a continuous loop of belting material to convey materials.

Screw Chain Conveyors

Screw chain conveyors are known for their versatility as they can withstand a wide variety of free-flowing and non-free-flowing materials and fulfill many different functions. Chain conveyors are typically used for heavier loads and operate by a series of gears connected into a continuous system by the chain.

Pneumatic Conveyors

Pneumatic conveyors are typically designed to convey dry, low-bulk density materials such as sands, cement powder, sugar and wheat using pressure differentials and the flow of compressed air or nitrogen. Materials are enclosed in tubes or pipes and pushed throughout the conveyor by different pressure levels.

Modular Conveyor Systems

Often, conveyor systems are built off-site and require being shipped to production facilities from afar. Considering the significant size of such systems, their rigidity can pose problems. Additionally, inflexible equipment can often result in deficiencies such as maintenance disruptions and logjams leading to costly repairs and replacement. Modular conveyor systems allow for several benefits, can improve process flow and provide companies with competitive advantages.

Benefits of Modular Conveyor Systems:

Flexible shipping solutions
Ease of construction, fabrication, installation
Allow for many types of configuration
Shorter assembly time
Expedite maintenance
Facilitate system integration
Enhance quality assurance
Reduce labour and replacement costs

Conveyor Maintenance Should Not Be An Afterthought

Careful thought in the design process has a direct correlation to the ease of maintenance for your conveyor system. It’s crucial to consider the technician who is responsible for maintaining the system, so they’re provided with easy and safe access to equipment and can perform maintenance in a timely manner. It’s also important to ensure the components in your conveyor system are carefully and correctly designed and selected. High-quality design and supplies provide for easy maintenance practices, enable trouble-free operations and achieve maximum uptime.

Preventative Conveyor Maintenance:

Ensure system is properly installed to ensure long term performance and reliability
Follow a comprehensive maintenance plan
Check chain and belt tension regularly
Monitor belt tracking closely
Clean conveyors regularly
Perform conveyor system audit and documentation

Proper conveyor maintenance plays an important role in the systems reliability, safety, and overall environmental conditions of the conveyor and surrounding facilities.

Questions?

Efficient Bulk Handling Design Practices

Posted on March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 by Adriana Spragg

Well-designed bulk handling equipment and supporting infrastructure is at the centre of operating efficiency and system reliability. Contrarily, poorly designed bulk handling equipment can lead to frequent system failures and losses in revenue as a result of not being able to meet required throughputs.

There are several factors to consider in the design stage of bulk handling equipment development that will maximize the effectiveness and longevity of your system.

Bulk Handling Tools: 3D Layout and Design Solutions

Prior to infrastructure development, it’s wise to create and assess preliminary designs using 3D models. This is a common practice amongst leaders in the bulk handling industry. Bulk handling design tools produce a series of layouts based on preliminary designs that are optimized for geography, local terrain, throughput, energy efficiency and capital cost. Such layouts help determine the most effective designs and allow you to compare and validate different designs so that you end up with the most effective and efficient bulk handling system.

Bulk Materials and Their Properties

Understanding the properties of the materials being conveyed is an essential part of operating an efficient bulk handling system. It’s important to establish material properties in the initial stages of design to ensure all of the components of a system (conveyors, chutes, silos, etc) are designed to suit the material. The following factors should be considered.

Bulk density
Surcharge angle
Angle of repose
Lump size
Particle size distribution
Flammability
Moisture content
Explosivity
Hygroscopicity
Colour
Adhesiveness
Strength/friction

Once material properties are determined, the design process can progress more easily.

Like anything, strategic planning typically always results in better outcomes. When it comes to bulk handling, there are no shortcuts. Each step involved in the engineering, design, manufacturing and installation process requires an in-depth understanding of the logistics of the system. Consulting with experts in the industry is the best way to ensure your bulk handling systems are customized and optimized specifically for materials being conveyed.

Bulk Handling 101

Posted on March 31, 2021March 31, 2021 by Adriana Spragg

Would you be surprised to know that almost every industry that manufactures consumer goods, processes food for the market, or burns waste for energy involves a bulk material handling system at some point in their lifecycle?

To name a few; biomass, cement, agriculture, mining, paper, steel, food, wood, textiles, power/energy, and many other industries all depend on high-quality bulk-handling systems to enable the transfer, handling, and storage of crucial process assets.

What is Bulk Material Handling?

Bulk handling is an essential part of business for any industry that processes dry materials. Put simply, bulk material handling is a system for moving and handling materials of all types. The process of bulk handling involves the engineering, design and manufacturing of the equipment used to do so.

The typical bulk material handling process involves raw bulk materials being received from trucks, ships, and trains and unloaded in a yard or storage facility by way of a conveyor system. Depending on the size, the material is then either stored in stockpiles or silos. Material is reclaimed from stockpiles by way of reclaim tunnel hoppers and feeders and then conveyed to the processing facility.

Bulk Handling Equipment

Conveyors

The two most common types of conveyor systems are belt conveyors and chain conveyors. Belt conveyors are typically used for conveying salt, ore, grain, sand and coal and consist of two or more motorized pulleys with a continuous loop of belting material to convey materials. Chain conveyors are typically used for heavier loads and operate by a series of gears connected into a continuous system by the chain.

Hoppers/Bins/Silos

Hoppers, bins or silos are essentially a large funnel used to transfer bulk materials. They are a crucial component for the flow and control of bulk handling. They range in size depending on the volume of bulk material in which they are created to safely store and are commonly used to store coal, cement, wood-ships, sawdust, as well grain.

Chute work

Chutes are used to contain, direct, and deliver bulk materials at a nominated rate to a conveyor, hopper/bin or stockpile.

Guarding

Proper equipment guarding is an essential aspect of bulk handling operations. Guards are used to help protect equipment, keep people safe, and provide for more efficient equipment maintenance.