Louis Dreyfus Commodities Export Grain Terminal

Younglove was awarded the contract to complete the second phase of a major expansion at the Port Allen, Louisiana, facility for Louis Dreyfus Commodities.  This major expansion included two separate slipform structures—a set of 7 shipping bins in a cloverleaf configuration and a set of 12 silos in a staggered configuration 2 rows wide by 6 silos long with a bucket elevator tower married to the north end of the silo structure.

Grain is transferred to the shipping bins with a belt conveyor tied in from the existing distributor on the shipping bins completed during Phase 1.  Grain is dispersed to the seven shipping bins through a distributor.  Reclaim of grain is through proportioning gates that feed three belt conveyors.  The three reclaim belts convey grain out of the shipping bin structure and are fed through a two-way gate valve to either a conventional open belt conveyor for transfer to ship or a belt conveyor for rejected grain to be rerun.

Grain is transferred and distributed to the silos in the storage annex through a series of belt conveyors and distributors that are tied in from the existing facility.  Reclaim of grain is through proportioning gates that feed two belt conveyors.  The two reclaim belts convey grain out of the storage annex to a series of belts and drag transfer conveyors.  These transfer conveyors feed one new and two existing bucket elevators that tie in to the existing storage and cleaning tower on site.

Finally, Younglove prepared the foundation for the future addition of a grain drier to be added in the next phase of work for Louis Dreyfus Commodities.  This foundation also consisted of precast driven piles, and a mat slab was then formed and poured in preparation of the future grain drier.