Case Study: ADM Grain East Dump Distributor

When ADM Grain's East Prairie Terminal distributor started mixing product and leaking grain, the fix wasn't simple. The aging rotary distributor had been modified over the years with custom discharge chutes—and the manufacturer's replacement unit couldn't be factory-modified to connect to the existing spouting. That meant custom chutes had to be fabricated and fit on-site before the new distributor could go in. The job sat 187 feet above ground in a restricted space tucked beneath the bucket elevator structure. ADM needed a partner who could engineer a solution on the fly, execute a complicated heavy rigging pick, and get the terminal back online fast. That's where ACME came in.

The Challenge

• Non-standard spouting. The old distributor's discharge chutes had been field-modified years earlier to match the existing spouting geometry. The new Schlagel distributor arrived without the ability to replicate those modifications at the factory—meaning the team needed a different path.

• Extreme elevation and restricted access. The installation point sat at approximately 187 feet, in a tightly confined area nestled under the bucket elevator structure. Getting equipment into position required a 270-ton crane and experienced riggers capable of manipulating the components precisely into place.

• Strict hot work environment. ADM grain facilities enforce rigorous hot work policies. Any welding or fabrication work required detailed planning and permitting well in advance to meet critical safety requirements.

Our Approach: Field-Engineered Precision

When the factory couldn't match the existing spouting, ACME found another way. We removed the three modified discharge chutes from the old distributor and delivered them to our local fabrication partner for duplication. Our partner turned the replicated chutes around quickly. When our team welded them onto the new Schlagel distributor, they fit up precisely.

With the chute fit-up solved, the focus shifted to the lift itself. The rigging plan called for a 270-ton crane to hoist the new distributor up to the installation point. But this wasn't a clean, open pick—the location underneath the bucket elevator structure required equipment to be maneuvered and drifted into position with precision. Our experienced riggers planned the lift carefully, sequencing the work to minimize crane time and keep the operation efficient and safe.

What We Delivered

• Custom-fabricated discharge chutes duplicated from salvaged sections by our fabrication partner, welded in place with a precise fit-up on the new Schlagel rotary distributor.

• A clean, injury-free installation executed 187 feet in the air using a 270-ton crane, with 400 manhours worked and zero recordable incidents.

• A terminal back online ahead of schedule. The project came in under budget and finished early, allowing ADM to reopen the East Truck Dump ahead of the original timeline and freeing capital for future work.

Safety + Execution

• 400 manhours worked, daily JSAs and morning safety meetings, zero injuries.

• Hot work planning executed in accordance with ADM's strict grain facility policies.

• Crane sequencing planned in advance to limit time on-hook and keep the rigging efficient.

The Outcome: A Properly Functioning Terminal, Back on Schedule

The East Prairie Terminal now has a properly functioning rotary distributor—no leaks, no product mixing, no chronic spill cleanups. ADM received a reliable system that eliminated the operational headaches of the aging equipment and got their facility back in service before they expected. The crew was recognized for working professionally, communicating well, and executing a complicated project safely from start to finish.