Don't Let Thanksgiving Tasks & Conveyor Care Overwhelm You

Turkey time is almost here. While I am looking forward to visiting with family and enjoying a great meal, I'm not looking forward to all of the hard work that goes into pulling off a successful Thanksgiving afternoon and meal.

• Ensure the house is clean
• TRY to encourage the children not to argue and partake in a food fight (this Mom will come unglued)
• Plan ahead by taking the turkey out days in advance (this is a nerve-racking ordeal and I check on the turkey often the night before like checking on a baby)
• Plan the menu
• Buy groceries ($$$)
• Make seating arrangements (get the leaf out to extend the table, grab extra chairs, get the kids' table and chairs from the basement)
• Make sure to remove the neck and giblets from the turkey (gross)
• Be sure to remove ALL wrapping from the ham (yes, I cooked it once with the second layer of wrapping on)
• Put the turkey in the oven (or your preferred cooking method)
• Make SEVERAL side dishes (my favorites include: mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mac & cheese, oyster stuffing, sweet potato casserole [topped with pecans instead of marshmallows], and corn casserole) I am more of a side chick!
• And the list goes on...and on...

The Stress of Thanksgiving & Material Handling

Thanksgiving meals involve so much prep and execution...they can feel challenging and overwhelming while carrying the expectation of flawless results. Good thing I blew that out of the water years ago when my sister asked if I meant to cook the ham with the wrapper on.  Being familiar with the stress and intense deadline I am under when hosting Thanksgiving dinner. I can't imagine the amount of stress those in charge of material handling operations are under. If I fail to execute a portion of the dinner or a dish is a flop, I might receive unfavorable reviews and sarcastic comments at most. But failing to execute conveyor upgrades or enforce safety protocols could result in hefty fines, lost profit, reduced productivity, severe injury, or even worse.

While I lay awake at night due to the impending holiday stress, I can't help but think of how I have it easier than others dealing with the stressors at bulk materials handling facilities. My stress and issues usually stop at midnight after the guests have left and the kitchen is clean (call me Cinderella 👠). While operation inefficiencies can last all year long if not corrected. 

Improving Productivity & Safety = Reduce Stress

This operation was under an immense amount of stress and wanted to get things on track. They needed a little help in doing so, and that is where we came in. 

Problem

A coal-fired power plant in Indiana supplies electricity for smelting operations. The plant’s coal handling equipment needed reconstruction and improvement, including enhanced systems to control spillage/dust and provide cleaner, safer, and more productive coal handling

Solution

After assessing the situation and talking with personnel at the plant, we agreed on the following solutions:

• New Chute Structure
• Martin® Wear Liner
• Martin® Impact Cradle
• Martin® ApronSeal™ Skirting 
• Martin^® Tail Sealing Box
• Martin® Dust curtain
• Martin^® Dust Bag
• Martin^® Tracker™
  

  

Our service crew performed the reconstruction of all 16 transfer points in the coal handling system over a six-month period to accommodate the plant's outage schedule and not interfere with production. The actual working time to perform an upgrade of this stature is roughly nine weeks. 

At each transfer point, the project included the removal of existing chute walls, skirtboard, idlers, and impact roll assemblies. Additionally, the work included the removal of the existing chute and flop-gate assembly. Our team field-fabricated stainless steel pulley guard assemblies for the 10 conveyors in the coal handling system.

Results

The transfer point reconstruction project dramatically improved plant conditions by controlling dust, eliminating material spillage, and improving belt tracking. Our service crews received a favorable review (A+). Unlike the tough food critic at my house who grades my meals (I have yet to receive an A+). 

Safety was also improved. Workers no longer have to continuously perform manual cleanup, putting them in close proximity to moving conveyors. Airborne dust was also drastically reduced, creating a cleaner and safer work environment. A safe environment is immeasurable. I will keep that in mind this week while I am working with extreme heat (boiling water/broth) and sharp objects (knives) during meal prep.