Streamline Grain Terminal Barge Loading Efficiency & Safety
Barge loading at grain terminals has always presented challenges for safety, efficiency and cost. Coordinating multiple system elements while accounting for variables like current speeds, environmental conditions, and space limitations has historically placed oversized demands on manpower and equipment lifespan. Over 160 years of working with marine clients, Patterson Manufacturing has learned the pain points of barge management operations and taken advantage of improvements in technology to design a more streamlined and reliable barge haul system.
Precision and Control
When loading and unloading grain barges, being able to locate and control the motion and position of the barge as the load changes is critical to both the efficiency of the operation and the safety of employees. Over the past few decades, substantial decreases in both size and cost of electronics have allowed Patterson to develop barge positioning systems that incorporate a higher level of autonomy and increased precision, reducing the need for human oversight and eliminating guesswork. The result is a safer operating environment requiring fewer resources.
System Design
Proper system design, which takes into account the sequence of an operation, the duty cycles required and the river conditions, is critical to achieving the best results from equipment. The Patterson system can be customized to ensure that winch sizes and associated controls fit each operation’s environment and loading scenarios.
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Environmental Safety and Maintenance
By taking advantage of more cost-effective electronic controls, Patterson’s barge positioning systems have transitioned away from hydraulic pumps and motors for most applications. This has dual benefits, as hydraulics can require a high level of maintenance and have more points of failure. It also avoids the possibility of environmental contamination from hydraulic fluid escaping a leaky fitting or failed line. Today’s systems, driven by electric motors and controlled digitally, offer the same level of precision without the risks.
As technology for marine applications continues to evolve, operations will benefit most from seasoned equipment providers that can smoothly incorporate new advancements into time-tested systems, coupling the best of the future with the best of the past.
Download our free guide to learn more about these advancements, or if you'd like to work with us to tailor a system for your specific application, request a quote.
