How CMMS supports reliability from shutdown to shutdown
In Canada’s potash industry, reliability is everything. The rotary dryers, kilns, and cookers that process raw material into finished product operate under extreme conditions, heat, rotation, heavy loads, and abrasive environments. When one of these systems goes down, production halts, and the effects can ripple through the agricultural supply chain that depends on potash to grow crops worldwide.
Across Saskatchewan, Custom Machine & Mechanical Services (CMMS) has become a trusted partner in maintaining this reliability. Working with potash producers large and small, CMMS provides the mechanical expertise needed to keep key rotating equipment running smoothly from one shutdown to the next.
Mechanical precision in demanding environments
Rotating equipment in potash processing is subject to continuous wear, vibration, and misalignment. Over time, these stresses can develop into significant mechanical problems if not identified and corrected early. CMMS works alongside mine maintenance and reliability teams to detect the warning signs, perform critical alignments, and carry out precision machining to restore stability.
Using advanced measuring instrumentation, thrust balancing, and alignment tools, CMMS helps operations maintain consistent performance between maintenance cycles. Their work focuses on the root causes of equipment stress rather than temporary fixes, an approach that has proven effective across many Saskatchewan operations.
Case study: Restoring stability at Allan Potash
A clear example of this approach occurred at a mine site that is near Saskatoon, where a rotary dryer had developed severe vibration issues. The equipment was shaking so violently that it caused the entire building to tremble during operation. The vibrations not only threatened production, but also posed long-term structural and mechanical risks.
CMMS was brought in to investigate and resolve the problem. After a thorough assessment, the team identified significant thrust imbalance within the rotary dryer. Through a combination of repair services, realignment, and precise thrust balancing, CMMS was able to stabilize the equipment.
Following the intervention, the excessive vibration was eliminated, and the kilns returned to normal, steady operation. The result was a safer working environment, reduced wear on mechanical components, and restored production efficiency.
This example underscores how technical expertise and practical field experience can make the difference between ongoing equipment issues and long-term reliability.
Supporting a global industry
Potash production in Saskatchewan supports a much larger story — one that extends from mine sites to global agriculture. The fertilizer produced here plays a vital role in helping farmers maintain soil health and increase crop yields. Every hour of reliable production contributes to that global food supply chain.
By helping maintain the mechanical health of potash processing equipment, CMMS and similar service providers support not just local operations, but the broader mission of feeding a growing world population.
Reliability through collaboration
Sustaining equipment reliability in the potash sector is a collaborative effort that depends on experienced mechanical service providers, proactive maintenance programs, and ongoing monitoring. The work done by CMMS at mines and other sites across Saskatchewan highlights how targeted mechanical solutions can keep production moving safely and efficiently from shutdown to shutdown.
