More expansion work at our plant.

We did a similar upgrade a couple years ago. Added fiber optics, and some Cat 5 cables. It's good in some ways, managers and see what's in silos and active process... and managers can see......
We have the head engineer that likes to change settings without telling the operators......he's never held accountable, even when temps were wrong and he messed up a bunch of clay......let us screw up...it's curtains for you......
I've survived almost 37 yrs, light at the end of the tunnel is much bigger now than it used to be.

 

Another contractor is here now, installing the NG line. Other work is being done also, just can't get many pictures while their working

 

Got a chance to see what's been done since I was off. Looks like the purloins and roof structure has been added, top and sides can be added soon
Also, another part of this project is beginning to take place in another part of the plant. This was #2 dock.
Dock has been removed and part of the building will be taken off. The square building inside is one of the plant bathrooms. It will stay, they are digging right behind it.
My understanding is end of building will be removed and a tank or 2 will be placed there to hold the feed clay for the new calciner. In this building was one of the 1st baggers I ran when my career started here almost 37 yrs ago. That bagger has been taken out and a small MCC room built there. If you look past the bathroom, you can see the door to the left.
This new calciner will mostly be used for our railcar orders...

 

Did a walk-around last night. More work done on the new silo area.
The end of the building is open now...
And rerouting of pipes underground...
At the new calciner, the infeed dust collector has been installed on topnof the structure...
They have started laying the block walls for mill rooms...
And started more metal siding going up...

 

Hanging siding up high yesterday
They finished this side and are working on the right side today.

And speaking of expansion, we got some shocking and great news yesterday. Our little plant has maybe 120 employees at most.
A deal was announced yesterday that shows our owner/CEO/president is very serious about the future of Burgess Pigment...he's playing chess while the others are playing tiddlywinks
This is the article, I had to wait until it was posted before I could mention it...
BURGESS PIGMENT CO. TO ACQUIRE THIELE KAOLIN COMPANY | Thiele Kaolin Company

What's great is we (BPC) will have all the raw materials we need to keep operating for years to come, while also expanding our business into the paper markets.
BPC is acquiring 3 kaolin processing plants locally, a silica plant in TN, and a slurry plant in Sweden that supplies a big paper mill. Plus thousands of acres of kaolin land reserves.
I think it's about 800 employees added.
Canadian border VT probably understands the financial terms better than me. I like the part where BPC stockholders control things.

 

The burgess pigment company is privately held. This simple means share holders are not publicly traded. I did not see a listed price, not surprising I would not if not forced to do so. So figure in general manufacturing, that not high tech, has revenue of 150,000 to 300,000 per employee..

Your CEO definitely playing chess and quite well!!
If my understanding where the United States is going, and needing to bring manufacturing in the western hemisphere is accurate.

Your company is in an a rising tide environment

 

Yes sir. I'll try to give a better overall perspective on why this is great news.
Our founder, Malcolm Burgess Sr. started Burgess-Washington Clays, about 1946, which became Thiele Kaolin, after his friend, Paul Thiele came down. Burgess Pigment Co was started in 1948. We used to get our raw feed clays from different companies on railcard and 2 pipelines from Thiele. As our business has grown, we depended more on Thiele and the 2 pipelines, as they will move clay here faster. Thiele became our sole supplier of feed material, so if things went south, we were up the creek, so to speak.
Since the acquisition, we now have full control. The notice said both companies will be owned by Burgess Holdings, Inc. Burgess stockholders, with the Burgess family the majority stockholders.
They have made good decisions for 78 yrs. Sure hope that trend continues

 

I hope so too TJV, reality is we all trade time for dollars to survive and hopefully thrive, as they are your major source of income. They allow you and Miz Carole to help others and travel to FHC GTG etc etc Y’all are a great example of living the lord plan for his people.. with love and respect.
Lyle

 

Thanks, we also have a son and SIL that works on my department, plus some younger good folks that should have a great career here if they so choose.

 

Well, looks like the major part of the project build is done. Steel crew trailer and crane are gone. I guess our regular construction contractor will finish the rest of the build, along with the electrical contractor.
All siding is on...¼ of the top is still off
Big transformer is set and power is on...
Lights are being hung...
Concrete has been poured and dirt backfilled/graded...
A view inside the calciner shell from the top...that's the center shaft the arms attach too. Big round holes are where the 12 burners will be.

 

Hate to see y'all's gas bill!

 

It's not bad...

One of our hearth kilns daily use...we have 4 of those...may vary a little depending on grade of kaolin being produced...
One of our flash kilns daily use...we have 2 of those...
The yearly total from '25 off one hearth unit I run...bottom number...and flash unit eas higher than that...

 

Well, the steel crew is back. Getting more done...
Working on the piping/duct work now...
Some of the SS screw conveyors being installed...bet these were a few bucks apiece...
Stairways are complete. Up pretty high here...above the powerlines...
I think this will be one of the highest points in our plant.
This is where the Y-duct above is mounted.

 

Won't be long before the brick crew will be starting. I saw their big trailer here and the pallets of insulation, brick mortar and other items under the shed...

 

The masonry crew is back, floor insulation is down and walls are starting...
The insulation between the steel shell and inner brick...
The business end of a burner...
The cooling air for center shaft and the exhaust air duct work on top...
Got the air compressor and dryer in their room
In-feed mill and shaker screen in their room...

 

this is quite the project. Thanks for sharing.

 

Yes ma'am, it is. I've been here 37 years, they built #6 unit in '92, #7 in '03,
built a completely new #1 around '20 and now #8, which should be done by end of '26, maybe. Plus major rebuilds on units #2, 5 and 7...
No to bad for a company with only about 100 folks. Kinda like the little train engine...

 

Since the server is having issues downloading pictures, here's a link to the latest work. My off to that furnace masonry crew. The pictures posted above of the floor insulation was taken Saturday. In the folder, pictures taken Tuesday and Wednesday, the floor has been poured, 1st hearth forms set and hearth is done, today they are setting the big brick for the next floor.
All the brick pallets are lifted up on the chain hoist, then rolled around floor with pallet jack. Then rows of brick are moved by hand with the clamps, through the round opening to the guys inside.

Last picture is progress on a new silo footer.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8AyDRfWEd6KoWWhx9

 

Added a couple more pictures to album. They had moved the forms up to start a new hearth and birds-eye view down into calciner

 

Crew was working yesterday, tying rebar for the concrete silo pad.