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Pleasant River Lumber

Pleasant River Lumber and Moose River Lumber purchased BE&E’s drag conveyors to feed their chip storage areas.

HOME // Our Work // Case Study: Pleasant River Lumber

Pleasant River Lumber

Challenge

Tom Sylvester, plant engineer at Moose River Lumber near Jackman, Maine, needed drag conveyors to feed a new chip storage facility. He wanted to avoid belt conveyors due to the mess they produce and screw conveyors because they require too much maintenance.

At Pleasant River Lumber in Enfield, Maine, Michael Lebrun likewise needed conveyors. These units would transfer waste materials to a screener and a new chip bin, which Michael had installed as part of an expansion project. Michael, the general manager, had fabricated chain conveyors at the mill in the past but was hesitant to do so for this application. He also wanted to avoid belt conveyors for the same reason as Tom.

Challenge

Tom Sylvester, plant engineer at Moose River Lumber near Jackman, Maine, needed drag conveyors to feed a new chip storage facility. He wanted to avoid belt conveyors due to the mess they produce and screw conveyors because they require too much maintenance.

At Pleasant River Lumber in Enfield, Maine, Michael Lebrun likewise needed conveyors. These units would transfer waste materials to a screener and a new chip bin, which Michael had installed as part of an expansion project. Michael, the general manager, had fabricated chain conveyors at the mill in the past but was hesitant to do so for this application. He also wanted to avoid belt conveyors for the same reason as Tom.

Solution

Tom Sylvester saw an advertisement for BE&E and contacted us about our SMART Conveyors™. BE&E supplied him with two S-Series conveyors that transferred chips from a cyclone to the chip storage facility.

When Pleasant River Lumber needed conveyors, Tom recommended BE&E’s conveyors to Michael. The application at Enfield involved higher material volumes, so Michael opted for four of our larger M-Series conveyors.

Solution

Tom Sylvester saw an advertisement for BE&E and contacted us about our SMART Conveyors™. BE&E supplied him with two S-Series conveyors that transferred chips from a cyclone to the chip storage facility.

When Pleasant River Lumber needed conveyors, Tom recommended BE&E’s conveyors to Michael. The application at Enfield involved higher material volumes, so Michael opted for four of our larger M-Series conveyors.

Result

Tom Sylvester reported that the SMART Conveyors™ have run well since they were installed. He said they’re clean, and he liked their modularity.

The conveyors in Enfield initially ran well, but they experienced a mechanical failure when the head sprockets came apart as a result of inaccurate bolt torques. Michael called BE&E, which immediately sent technicians to Maine to address the issues.

Michael was impressed with the company’s response. “They’re clearly proud of their products,” he said. Not only did BE&E fix the issue, but they followed up multiple times to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Since the repairs, the conveyors have run without issue. That, too, made an impression on Michael. “Now that I’ve had a taste of a proper conveyor, it’s going to be hard to go back,” he said, referring to the drag conveyors he manufactured. “I now have four [additional] conveyors on order, and I intend to order a fifth,” he said.

“Now that I’ve hard a taste of a proper conveyor, it’s going to be hard to go back.”

— Michael LeBrun, General Manager
Pleasant River Lumber Enfield