Propell’s New Sand-Handling System
Project Profile
The Client
Propell is a company that provides innovative equipment solutions for the oil and gas industry. They are the North American leader in well stimulation and completion equipment. As a subsidiary of TYCROP Manufacturing, they are based in Rosedale, BC, and have production facilities in Calgary, Alberta, and Granbury, Texas. Over the years, Mainland Machinery had partnered on numerous projects with TYCROP and then Propell, so that there was already a strong relationship of trust.
The Problem
When Propell needed help with their most advanced manufacturing project to date, they called Mainland. During the time that the oil and gas industry was booming, Propell was also experiencing an explosion of growth and opportunity due to their innovative solutions. They had developed a groundbreaking concept for a sand-handling system (called Sandstorm) and they asked Mainland to build the prototype. It was a very sophisticated project that involved many unique parts and therefore demanded a high level of coordination.
The Solution
Based on drawings from Propell, Mainland went to work in their own facility to manufacture the prototype of this cutting-edge mobile frac sand silo. As we built it, we gave feedback to Propell on aspects of design and functionality. Together with their team, we refined the product design to the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
After Propell were fully satisfied with the protoype, they asked us to put Sandstorm into production. The industry demand was so significant that Mainland set up a dedicated production line within their own facility, and over the next seven years, we built 300 units. At the peak of production, we were able to deliver one unit per day, which enabled us to keep pace with the skyrocketing sales demand.
The Outcome
Propell was extremely happy to partner with Mainland on this project. Together, they built a revolutionary product for the oil industry. Sandstorm was responsible for protecting the health of operators in the field and saving customers time and money in last-mile logistics. Purchased by CIG Logistics (USA) in 2018, Sandstorm has been used across North America. Although the oil industry has since slowed, it is still widely recognized as the safest proppant handling technology in the world.
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