This Father’s Day was truly special for my dad and me. It marked a new chapter in our relationship as I stepped into a role I never imagined before—his colleague. This year, instead of just being his daughter, I joined him in the world of Bulk Material Handling through an internship at Martin Engineering.
Before this opportunity, my dad’s stories about his work often seemed like a foreign language to me, filled with technical terms and experiences I couldn’t fully grasp. But now, working in the Martin office, I’m starting to understand the intricacies of his job.
One recent story he shared particularly stands out: his first visit to an underground potash mine. Let's just say, he is braver than I thought (Ha, sorry dad)! My dad is brave in many ways...but large bodies of water and being trapped in tight spaces is where he draws the line (I’m right there with him). So, him taking a ride 1 kilometer (3,280 feet) underground was definitely not on his bingo card.
Story Time With Dad
This opportunity came to us based upon the end user’s issues with the muck, the mine potash, sticking to the large underground hoppers. This happened particularly when they had to shut the process down for a variety of reasons. Under normal operating conditions, the material generally flows without the need for outside intervention. But when the material is left in the hoppers for a time, it starts to solidify, and when the process comes back online, there is no flow. The methods of intervention include; miners having to swing heavy sledgehammers against the outer wall of the hopper, using long rods to poke up through the opening, and in extreme cases, using dynamite to break the muck apart.
After several meetings and phone calls, it was determined that a site visit would be in order. He had never been underground before, so he was quite nervous. They loaded into the cage at 7:30 am. At that time, he was still unsure as to how he would react once the cage door slammed shut. But as he looked around and the other 12-15 people in the cage seemed calm, he decided to play it cool. As the cage was lowered, all he could see through the door was earth! Once they arrived at the bottom, the unloading area was lit up like a city.
They loaded into an underground vehicle and drove through the mine to the hoppers. Seeing the massive hoppers provided a perspective that the previously-provided drawings could not. They gathered valuable input from others not involved in the initial meetings, including miners charged with swinging sledgehammers.
Once they viewed the area, discussed options, and agreed a solution to eliminate sledgehammer swinging was in order, they proceeded to the underground engineering office. Martin recommended installing Thumper™ Series Timed Impactors that could be automated to strike at an interval or operated manually.
Dad Knows Best
According to Dad, "Though I was anxious about going underground at first, I found it to be a really cool experience.” As an intern, I not only gain insights into his expertise, but also witness firsthand the impact of Martin solutions in solving complex industry challenges. Working together, sharing lunch breaks, and discussing industry insights have brought us closer than ever before. I’m grateful for the chance to not only learn from him but also to appreciate the commitment he brings to his work every day.
Here’s to many more shared experiences, both in the office and beyond. And to quote my wise, brave dad, "Though I was anxious about the internship at first, I'm finding it to be a really cool experience.” Hope you had a great Father’s Day, Dad & see ya at work!
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