A sugar plant expecting to process 30 million tons of product was hampered by a muddy road. Midwest enabled the plant to maximize productivity with its patented soil stabilization technology and application.
The largest producer of beet sugar in the U.S. has a mere 14 days to process and freeze over 30 million tons of sugar beets — their entire annual stockpile. Any production delay and the beets will begin to spoil, creating losses for the company and frustrating co-op farmers at 51 different grow sites.
Trucks drop off the beets at processing stations, where long conveyor belts transport them for stockpiling on large concrete slabs. The ground area surrounding these slabs, however, is composed of soft natural soils. Even a ¼ inch of rain can make them muddy and untraversable, bringing operations to a halt. The plant understood the importance of stabilizing these roads, and contacted Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. for assistance.
Working Within Tight Margins
With little time to spare, and with 51 sites positioned strategically for a tight turnaround, any hiccup in production could throw off the entire schedule. Midwest’s goal was to transform the surface into something that could not only withstand any inclement weather, but wouldn’t give out after an army of trucks carried 30 million tons of product across them. Moreover, Midwest aimed to save on overall costs by cutting down significantly on stoppages and boosting savings on maintenance.
Following a close consultation, Midwest decided that their GreenPave® soil stabilization solution would be an ideal fit for the worst-faring processing sites. GreenPave uses advanced synthetic polymers to bind natural soils, turning a loose roadway into a pavement-like surface.
GreenPave is not only as strong as asphalt, but also more environmentally friendly and comes at a significantly reduced cost. Roads treated with GreenPave only increase their load-bearing capacity (CBR) with continual use, which means that maintenance expenses can be expected to diminish over time.
Implementing a Solution
Midwest was able to accomplish the full scope of the project in a few short steps. Because the native soils were so brittle, the first step Midwest’s team of field experts took was to dig 6-8” into the roadway and mix in sand to stabilize the area. Then, soils were mixed with the GreenPave green product Eco-Pave before being compacted into a uniform roadbed. Finally, professionals applied a topical coat of Eco-Pave to seal the soils into a water-resistant and durable surface.
The results of the work were immediately apparent, as the roadway could now clearly withstand any and all inclement weather and heavy truck traffic. The new GreenPave-covered sites will almost certainly see a reduction in or even an elimination of any work stoppages associated with muddy roads. The company is likewise pleased with the project, and has contracted Midwest to repair other, less degraded sites, as well as consult with them to reduce operating costs and improve road performance overall.
At large operating sites similar to these, roads can have a surprisingly large impact on overall performance. With this project, Midwest is proud to continue their long legacy of helping facilities repair and rebuild their roadways in a way that meets their unique requirements and budgets. We hope that operators around the world will continue to recognize the advantages of alternative paving methods, using native soils to achieve a comparable solution at a fraction of the cost.
For more information, read the full press release here.
