EAD was contracted to design and oversee the installation of conveyor systems for fuel ethanol plants in Nebraska and Indiana. One system conveyed grain from a farmers cooperative more than a quarter of a mile from the ethanol plant. The other two systems, which handled animal feed co-product, were identified as a gap in the general contractor’s scope late in the construction process.
The conveyor system design was fairly straightforward for EAD’s engineers, but complications were apparent with procurement, installation and interfacing with the co-op. EAD’s project management facilitated communications between the various parties (general contractor, plant owner, farmers co-op and equipment vendors) while maintaining an aggressive design and procurement schedule with quality control, constructability and structural clash detection driving the design. All three systems were designed, procured and installed under budget and before the remainder of the plants’ construction was completed.