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New partnership joins two of New Brunswick’s premiere manufacturing teams and facilities

BID Canada has been acquired and will be partnering with McDonough Manufacturing Company. This acquisition, combined with McDonough’s flagship location in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, allows McDonough and BID Canada to increase production capacity, human resources, and product offerings.

McDonough Manufacturing is a family owned and operated manufacturer of custom sawmill machinery, founded in 1888. BID Canada will continue to operate in our facility in Woodstock, New Brunswick with Bruce Bradley as General Manager, and retaining existing team members under the McDonough umbrella. The BID Canada location will remain focused on our existing customers and projects, while contributing to the production of McDonough sawmill machinery.

This is an exciting chapter, and we are grateful for the support of our many customers, vendors and supporters. We are confident that this expansion will only serve to increase our capabilities and expertise. We thank you for your trust in us and we remain confident that the goodwill we have built will continue to grow with your support.

To learn more about McDonough Manufacturing’s 135 year history, visit www.mcdonough-mfg.com

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

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.