Case Studies

Customer: MFA, Inc. - Palmyra, MO

Project: New Barge Receiving System

Challenge: MFA, Inc was suffering from a very in-efficient receiving system. It involved filling four rail cars from the barge, then moving the rail cars around the facility to unload the cars in three different buildings.

Solution: Waconia Manufacturing, Inc. designed and constructed a system of conveyors to route the product directly from barges in to any of the main storage buildings. This provides a completely automated system, which reduces manpower and improves product quality through reduced handling of the product. It also provides a safer environment for employees.

Customer: CHS Crop Nutrients - Muscatine, IA

Project: Barge to Rail Receiving System

Challenge: A method was needed to accurately load rail cars directly from barges. The original system involved unloading the barge into the building and then moving the product with an end loader through the load-out system and into the rail car. No accurate weight was available.

Solution: Waconia Manufacturing, Inc. designed and constructed a totally automated solution utilizing the existing receiving system to feed a bulk weigh system which allows continuous unloading of barges
and loading of rail cars. This results in increased efficiency ay allowing the customer to off load an entire barge in less than an 8 hour day. The system also provides NTEP approved weights of the product loaded into the rail cars while feeding two tracks. This allows the customer to load up to 17 rail cars (an entire barge) continuously.

“Waconia’s design team did an excellent job of taking my concept to a final design which exceeded all my expectations.”

~ Brian Rankin- Terminal Manager