Mill Duty Drag Conveyor for Wood Products Manufacturer

General Description

West Fraser is a leading North American wood products manufacturer with operations across Canada and the United States. The company’s Grande Prairie facility in Alberta, Canada, is a major producer of lumber and other value-added wood products, supplying both domestic and international markets. This plant operates around the clock to meet high production demands, requiring reliable and efficient material handling systems to manage the movement of wood chips and related by-products throughout the facility.

Two KWS Drag Conveyors Transfer Wood Ash from Silos Above

Design Parameters

Product Type: Wood Ash
Material Density: 40 to 50 Lbs. per Cubic Foot
System Capacity: 60 Cubic Feet per Hour
Duty: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

KWS Advantages

At KWS, we take pride in delivering heavy-duty, custom-engineered solutions for the forest products industry. Our team worked closely with West Fraser engineers to design, manufacture, and deliver two drag conveyors that met the high-capacity, continuous-duty requirements of the Grande Prairie facility.

West Fraser selected KWS because of our ability to manufacture durable, dependable equipment on time, even under tight deadlines. Our U.S.-based manufacturing ensures consistent quality, precision, and the ability to expedite production when project timelines demand it. By partnering with KWS, West Fraser received equipment built to last in an abrasive environment while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.

KWS Special Features

To ensure long-term performance and minimize maintenance in an abrasive, high-wear environment, KWS supplied two mill duty drag conveyors with several unique features including AR400 flights and trough liners. AR400 steel significantly increases service life in harsh conditions and is ideal for applications where frequent contact with hard, sharp, or gritty material occurs. The conveyor troughs were also lined with AR400. The liners are replaceable, ensuring that maintenance is easy and cost-effective while preserving the integrity of the trough body.

Specially designed explosion proof panel connections were included to mitigate risks associated with combustible dust created from the wood ash, ensuring compliance with safety standards and enhancing operator protection.

Every component, including the sprockets and drive unit, was designed for maximum durability. The sprockets were hardened to greatly increase wear life and the drive unit was sized for maximum torque under upset conditions. By incorporating these advanced features, KWS delivered a high-performance solution that met West Fraser’s demanding production needs, ensuring long-term efficiency, reduced maintenance, and lower total cost of ownership.

Customer Testimonial

“Overall, the installation of the KWS equipment went smoothly and it successfully passed the third-party QA inspection. Thanks again for your continued support.”

Kale Salacki, Reliability Engineer – West Fraser