Conrad Yelvington Distributors, Inc.

Industry
Rail-based Aggregate Distribution

Location
Florida, U.S.A.

Products
- 42″ x 170′ TeleStacker® Conveyor
- Channel and Truss Frame Overland Conveyors
- Custom-engineered Tunnel Conveyor Systems

Project Objectives
- Become more efficient unloading rail cars at 27 distribution terminals
- Maximize stockpiling capacity at lower costs per ton
- Minimize loader use to offset high fuel costs

Challenge
Conrad Yelvington Distributors, Inc. is the largest rail distributor of aggregates in the southeast U.S., annually moving more than 10 million tons of material through terminals in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Michigan. No matter what the material, the company’s goal is to maximize stockpiling capacity at each of its distribution sites to meet growing demand.

Solution
A locomotive pulls each car over a hopper that unloads onto a conveyor system where its load is conveyed to the TeleStacker conveyor. The TeleStacker conveyor then builds up to eight different product stockpiles or remotely adjusts to a 300-foot overland conveyor to transfer material to an additional yard. An entire 10,000-ton shipment takes approximately 10 hours to unload and stockpile, all without the use of a loader or truck. Before the use of a TeleStacker conveyor, the same size shipment took a full week to unload.

Quote
“With fuel, operator labor hours, and the current tire situation – we need to cut our operating costs and these conveyors allow us to do that,” said operations manager, Terry Cummings.