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Both of the following entries are being highlighted for their innovative approach to solving a problem that hindered productivity for themselves and their customers.
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
When faced with the prospects of loading out millions of bushels of grain into the holds of ocean-going vessels, you want everything to move smoothly and without interruptions.
For Bill Hoffer, maintenance manager of CHS's Twin Ports grain facility in Superior, WI, keeping the facility up and running sometimes means taking matters into his own hands. When conventional metal spouts kept wearing out due to the heavy volumes running through them, he took matters into his own hands and designed and installed a ceramic-lined grain spout. The results were amazing.
Saving thousands in replacement costs alone, Hoffer estimates he's paid off that investment countless times over in time savings. In the last nine years, Hoffer's built and installed five spout linings and has run 400,000,000 bushels of grain through them with little wear.
"The last thing shippers want is to keep a vessel waiting for loading while you make repairs," Hoffer says. "In those cases the costs associated to downtime maintenance really adds up fast."
For Hoffer's ingenuity and expertise his efforts will be entered for consideration in the Production and Material Handling category.
'Tension-free' Conveying
In its nomination for the Innovation in Design category, 4B Components' Bolt 'n' Go Chain and Flight System was cited for its time-saving, simple design.