Page 4 - VT Vibe Newsletter Dec 2019 FINAL

New Driveway Delivery System at Balgonie Highlights Focus on Innovation

A new automation system at Balgonie is how long it takes for them to make deliveries, safer environment.”
transforming the way farmers deliver grain while enabling our operations team to focus
to that facility. This system is designed so on grading and monitoring the control Our Balgonie location has undergone several
that our team can operate the facility more system as it elevates product into the facility,” other enhancements recently including:
effectively, and improve the delivery process says Tommy Kress, Manager, Automation • a new loop track for continuous loading
for our customers. This means better delivery Development. “We’ve also further integrated • high speed conveyors to reduce time on
planning, shorter waits and faster unload this process with Viterra’s business systems scale for customers/carriers
times. to eliminate multiple data entry points and • large capacity shipping legs
reduce data collection errors” • large capacity modern bulk weigher with
When a customer or carrier arrives at Balgonie state of the art filtering
at their scheduled delivery time, they now This system not only makes the delivery • updated roadway access
drive up to a probe kiosk where they enter process more efficient, but safer as well. • expanded storage capacity
all of the pertinent information related • upgrades to the facility exterior and a
to their booking, including the type and “Our goal through this project is to reduce the new office design.
quantity of grain they’re delivering. When amount of time customers are on our scales.
their information is confirmed, their load is Our new kiosks allow producers to stay in All of these enhancements are designed to
then probed. Once complete, customers are the unloading lane during the entire delivery improve our customers’ experience at the
directed to the driveway scale and another process and, compared to similar facilities, facility and support our focus on superior
kiosk that displays their delivery information. we’ve seen ‘time on scale’ at Balgonie service.
They capture their gross weight, empty their decrease by 20-30%,” says Derrick Galan,
truck, get their tare weight, collect their receipt Assistant Manager at Balgonie. “For producers
and exit the driveway. and carriers, not having to cross driveways to
get to the grading office and staying close to
“By providing self-service kiosks for customers their own vehicles and the kiosks decreases
on the driveway, we can significantly reduce overall movement in the driveway, creating a
Pacific Terminal Transformation Continues

Over the last few years, we’ve made significant engineers to secure the right permits and • Specialized abatement techniques such
upgrades to our Pacific port terminal to approvals through the Vancouver Fraser Port as containment and misting to minimize
enhance our strategic position on the west Authority and WorkSafe BC. As part of this dust.
coast and create one of the most efficient process, Viterra developed a comprehensive In fact, the traditional images we associate
port facilities in Canada. This has included the Construction Environmental Management Plan with a demolition – a wrecking ball, lots of
installation of a new low emission ship loader, (CEMP). noise and huge clouds of dust – don’t apply
a new air emission system, new low emission in this case. The facility is being taken down
truck loaders, and upgrades to automation gradually in pieces to ensure that it creates
systems to reduce energy usage. The plan incorporated a hazardous materials as little a disturbance as possible for local
assessment report, summarizing the
collection and analysis of over 500 samples, residents. And throughout the process,
Part of this significant series of investments and identifying potential areas of risk to the we’ve been proactively reaching out to our
includes the demolition of our PAC 3 elevator. environment, and established strategies for neighbours through mail-outs, open houses
At over 100 years old, the facility hasn’t mitigating those risks, including: and a dedicated page on our external website
been utilized over the last several years and to ensure they’re well informed about our
retrofitting it would be too costly. Although approach.
the demo work began a few months ago, it’s • A daily evaluation of planned tasks prior
taken a few years of careful planning to ensure to starting demolition activities. In cases Our top of mind focus on safety throughout
that the project is managed properly and that where weather presents a risk to safety, this project has resulted in positive feedback
there would be a minimal disturbance for area tasks are rescheduled or appropriate from our industry partners and port
residents. plans created to mitigate risks. associations.
• Continuous air quality monitoring
Since 2015, Viterra has worked closely through a third party consultant to ensure The expected date of completion for the
with specialist contractors and consulting that particulate levels are well within project is May 2020.
acceptable limits.

4 | VITERRA VIBE WIN TER 2019