Northern Platforms recently partnered with the Western Milk Pool to complete a fit-for-purpose truck loading platform for a unique dairy processing facility located in Blackfalds, Alberta. Learn more about this project below.  

About the Dairy Innovation West Facility

Dairy Innovation West (DIW) is a state-of-the-art facility located in Alberta, built as a result of a major collaboration between several Western Canadian dairy organizations. Serving as a major hub for dairy farmers and companies, this processing plant uses advanced technology to remove water from raw milk, producing concentrated products. DIW is unique for its profound environmental impact: for every three to four trucks of raw milk from local farms, only one truck leaves the plant. This means fewer tanker trucks on the road and reduced overall emissions over time. 

The Challenge: Efficient and Compliant Tanker Truck Top Access

Building a truck loading rack for this facility presented several challenges, including:

• Loading requirements: Most dairy operations rely on gravity loading rather than pumped loading arms. This impacted how the truck loading platform would be built.
• Fleet variability: The Dairy Innovation West Facility receives trucks from all over Western Canada. As such, their truck loading platform needed to accommodate a variety of truck sizes, lengths, and configurations. 
• Operator Safety: Like many tanker truck loading and unloading operations, workers needed safe access to the tops of tanker trucks, making consistent and reliable fall protection a top priority. 

The Solution: A Fit-for-Purpose Truck Loading Platform

Through close collaboration with the Western Milk Pool and a comprehensive site assessment, Northern Platforms was able to build a comprehensive, fit-for-purpose truck loading rack. Unique features of this system included:

• Sloped design: To guarantee smooth gravity unloading, the entire loading rack was designed with a slight incline.
• Articulating and tracking gangways: SafeRack’s self-adjusting stair gangways are a crucial component of this loading and unloading system. These gangways allow operators to safely align with tanker trucks, regardless of size, length, or configuration. 
• Dual-level truck loading platform: This allowed workers to access different connection points depending on trailer height and loading requirements. The result: improved operational efficiency. 
• Fall protection at every stage: Gangway safety cages and safety swing gates were integrated throughout the loading platform to ensure that operators were always protected. Thanks to high-quality products from YellowGate and SafeRack, these fall protection measures are integrated seamlessly into workflows and do not disrupt operational efficiency. 

The Result: Final System Details 

Once completed and commissioned, the DIW truck loading system included: 

• 3 raised truck loading platforms
• 15 tracking gangways 
• Numerous gangway safety cages 
• Several YellowGate safety swing gates

Ultimately, Northern Platforms was able to design, deliver, and install a system that met DIW’s operational needs with ease. The result? A one-of-a-kind truck loading rack for a one-of-a-kind facility. 

Why Choose Northern Platforms?

The Dairy Innovation West is simply one of many notable projects that the Northern Platforms team has completed. We’ve worked with notable oil and gas companies, local food processing facilities, national shipping operations, and more! Here’s why these companies consistently choose Northern Platforms for their fall protection systems:

• Complete turnkey installation: From initial system design to final installation, Northern Platforms can take care of it all. Plus, thanks to our expansive inventory from industry-leading suppliers, we design systems that seamlessly integrate from top to bottom.
• In-person consultations: Are you located in Alberta? Thanks to our central Leduc location, Northern Platforms can have a technician on site quickly to conduct thorough in-person assessments. Need a safe access solution installed fast? We’re the right team for you. 
• Dedicated inspection and maintenance programs: In addition to truck loading platform design and installation, we also offer comprehensive inspection and maintenance on key systems, including loading arms and gangways. 

Request a Quote Today!

Interested in partnering with Northern Platforms on a future project? We bring over 20 years of experience to every job. When you work with us, we guarantee you’ll receive a safe access system that integrates seamlessly into your operation. Request a quote through our website or call our office today to get started.