American Crystal Sugar – Plant Renovation & Expansion

Project: Plant Renovation & Expansion

Owner: American Crystal Sugar

Scope of Work: Lakehead was hired as general contractor to renovate and expand a beet processing plant in Drayton, ND. The biggest challenge: 50% of the construction had to be completed in the six-week period between beet harvests. Lakehead met that deadline while accommodating more than two dozen change orders requested by the client.

The project began with demolition of the existing processing warehouse, its conveyor and connecting truss, piping and support systems; significant concrete removal; and rerouting of the fire loop and hydrant. Once demolition was complete, workers focused on concrete work. A sample of work includes: a new building foundation, stem and bunker walls, and a finished floor with trench drain; a deep pipe pile foundation for the tower diffuser, and elevated concrete equipment pads for electrical transformers.

Lakehead also installed three new conveyors and a galvanized steel support gantry with support towers and foundations; furnished and installed new steam, condensate and air pipelines, modifying steel and adding gantry connections; and set structural steel foundations for an additional building. Based on this work, American Sugar awarded Lakehead a second, $6 million contract to construct an additional building on the Drayton site.