Drax Satellite Mills

Read the full Drax article for additional details.

Overhead view of Drax satellite pellet mill equipped with BE&E bulk material handling equipment

Drax Satellite Mills

Read the full article for additional details here.

Overhead view of Drax satellite pellet mill equipped with BE&E bulk material handling equipment

Challenge

Drax publicly committed to increasing its wood pellet output to five million metric tons by 2027. Rather than build another large plant in the Southeast, Drax decided to build three small pellet plants in Arkansas that would utilize wood waste from existing wood-processing facilities in the region. These facilities would produce only a few tons of pellets per hour and would need to comply with the strict standards set forth by NFPA 664 for wood-processing facilities.

Challenge

Drax publicly committed to increasing its wood pellet output to five million metric tons by 2027. Rather than build another large plant in the Southeast, Drax decided to build three, small pellet plants in Arkansas that would utilize wood waste from existing wood-processing facilities in the region. These facilities would produce only a few tons of pellets per hour and would need to comply with the strict standards set forth by NFPA 664 for wood-processing facilities.

Solution

When several engineering and project-management firms failed to meet Drax’s requirements, BE&E stepped up to the challenge and supplied Drax with complete material-handling systems featuring the company’s SMART line of machines. Included in BE&E’s scope of work was project management, procurement of third-party equipment, and construction management for its portion of the facilities. Machinery BE&E manufactured for the project included trailer receiving bins, SMART Conveyors™, disc screeners, SMART Containers, metering bins, surge bins, and trailer load-out stations.

BE&E complied with NFPA 664 by equipping its trailer-receiving and load-out stations with pneumatic dust control and by designing its equipment with devices to mitigate fires and explosions. It conducted extensive tests of its SMART Conveyors™, as well, to ensure they could structurally withstand the overpressures associated with an explosion, if such an event were to occur.

Result

The first of Drax’s three satellite pellet plants began operation in Leola, Arkansas in February 2022. The SMART Containers proved troublesome at first due to faulty actuators and issues with water infiltration, but BE&E was quick to respond with on-the-ground support, replacement parts, and additional weatherproofing. The SMART Containers have since performed reliably, and Drax has procured additional services from BE&E for its remaining satellite plants, the second of which is currently under construction.

Solution

When several engineering and project-management firms failed to meet Drax’s requirements, BE&E stepped up to the challenge and supplied Drax with complete material-handling systems featuring the company’s SMART line of machines. Included in BE&E’s scope of work was project management, procurement of third-party equipment, and construction management for its portion of the facilities. Machinery BE&E manufactured for the project included trailer receiving bins, SMART Conveyors™, disc screeners, SMART Containers, metering bins, surge bins, and trailer load-out stations.

BE&E complied with NFPA 664 by equipping its trailer-receiving and load-out stations with pneumatic dust control and by designing its equipment with devices to mitigate fires and explosions. It conducted extensive tests of its SMART Conveyors™, as well, to ensure they could structurally withstand the overpressures associated with an explosion, if such an event were to occur.

Result

The first of Drax’s three satellite pellet plants began operation in Leola, Arkansas in February 2022. The SMART Containers proved troublesome at first due to faulty actuators and issues with water infiltration, but BE&E was quick to respond with on-the-ground support, replacement parts, and additional weatherproofing. The SMART Containers have since performed reliably, and Drax has procured additional services from BE&E for its remaining satellite plants, the second of which is currently under construction.

Rendering of a Drax satellite mill with a BE&E bulk material handling system.

Concept

Overhead view of Drax satellite pellet mill equipped with BE&E bulk material handling equipment

Completed Plant

Finding solutions for every challenge.

Talk to us about your needs or challenges in material handling, storage, processing, and receiving. We are confident that our experienced team will create a profitable and efficient solution.

Finding solutions for every challenge.

Talk to us about your needs or challenges in material handling, storage, processing, and receiving. We are confident that our experienced team will create a profitable and efficient solution.