by Blake SandnesWe recently caught up with Matt Podany of EBM Construction to talk about feed mill expansion. From planning and design to integrating new animal feed mill equipment, we go over everything you need to consider when making upgrades.
EBM – Millwright Construction Services
RMS’s Blake Sandnes talked to Matt Podany of EBM Construction, a millwright contractor specializing in the feed and grain industry and a longtime partner of RMS. Matt is the Director of Marketing & Development for EBM, and we reached out to get his take on feed mill expansion projects.
Planning is Essential When Expanding a Feed Mill
When planning for an expansion, it makes sense to “go slow so you can go fast.” Spend time on planning now to avoid roadblocks later. Here are some important steps to follow:
Step 1: What Do You Have Now?
Every expansion project should begin with a careful evaluation of what the customer already has. This drives the project and helps create a picture of what it will look like, keeping the project feasible, aligned with the goals, and ultimately delivering the best return on investment.
Step 2: Consider Future Needs
Planning not just for immediate needs but also for the future is a crucial element of an expansion project. As Matt explains, it’s best to spend a lot of time with customers up front in the planning phase to ensure the project will serve the mill both now and five or ten years from now. Early and extensive design and collaboration saves time and money in the future.
What can sometimes happen as you begin planning for a minor update or expansion: “It’s not necessarily just an expansion of the existing mill. It might be a whole new mill next door.”, says Matt. These unexpected needs might arise and are important to address during the planning stages.
Step 3: Leverage Technology
Technology, like 3D scanning, can be a great tool when planning projects. This technology, combined with in-house drafting and design means most issues are spotted before they become real problems.
Matt emphasizes that going slowly in the beginning with planning helps mills avoid costly mistakes, and ultimately gets them to their goals sooner. Their use of 3D laser scanning for precision measurements help eliminate a lot of preliminary issues before even going on site.
Consider Downtime When Planning a Feed Mill Expansion
One of the most common mistakes customers make when beginning an expansion project is failing to consider downtime. Customers often don’t realize how big a project can be and the effect it has on operations.
According to Matt, “We’ll do a lot of weekend nights to minimize shutdown times if possible.” This kind of planning can help you lower costs with fewer or shorter shutdown periods. Even with careful planning, you need to be prepared for planned shutdowns. Don’t forget to include this cost in the overall budget for making upgrades.
The Future of Your Mill
Planning for the future of your mill is essential for a successful expansion project. By thinking five or ten years down the line, you can avoid the need to redo or renovate so soon again.
For example, plan to ensure that any new equipment or accessories will marry seamlessly with existing machinery. If you don’t carefully plan for this, you may be making replacements sooner than you wanted.
When planning for the future, it’s also essential to consider automation. This is one of the biggest trends in the industry, although many older mills are still operating by weighing and adding ingredients manually.
Automation is the future of feed mills, so any expansion projects should bear this in mind. Automating some of the processes helps mills create a better product, meet legislative requirements for feed, and free up employees to do other work at the mill.
Ensuring Smooth Equipment Integration
Feed mill expansions are often much more complicated than many mill owners realize. One of the big challenges is getting new equipment and making sure it integrates smoothly with existing machines. According to Matt, one of the most important factors is working with trusted equipment suppliers, like RMS.
Bringing in and integrating new equipment should be seamless. Having a trusted OEM to answer questions and have your back will ensure a confident and smooth transition.
As the customer, you should be there with your contractor talking directly to the equipment manufacturer. This allows you to get to know them and their products and establish a good working relationship for the future.
Getting Started with a Mill Expansion
If you’re inspired to upgrade or expand your feed mill, getting started is simple. Contact EBM Construction. They’re happy to meet with potential customers to go over needs and goals and to tour their facility.
If you have questions about upcoming projects or equipment needs, reach out to us to learn more about what we offer and how we work with companies like EBM Construction.
