AMI Consulting Engineers P.A.

Industrial Structure Design

The industrial department offers a wide variety of engineering services for a wide variety of structures. AMI understands the fine balance in design to meet design standards and codes while providing a structure that is practical, functional and buildable. The key to our success is the ability to integrate the owner and the construction team in the earliest stages of the planning process. A tight knit design team of Structural, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers work together to provide a result that is creative, innovative and cost effective, that satisfies the project design needs while adhering to the project budget and schedule.

Lake Superior Warehousing Co., Inc., Duluth, MN

AMI was retained to design, create fabrication drawings, test, and certify a specialized heavy lifting beams and spreader beams for LSW and the wide variety of cargo they bring through the facility. These lifting beams are used by the company for the loading and unloading of ships special and specific cargo. AMI has provided specialty loading and unloading assessments scenarios, lift plans, support structures and assessed lay down areas for support of heavy cargo for short and long term loading conditions. This has included asphalt pavement, concrete slab and reinforced soils assessment and design. AMI has supplied cribbing and support structure design for short and long term storage of cargo at the facility along with the analysis and assessment of the steel sheet pile dock walls for the support in offloading onto rail cars and specialty cargo equipment. To date AMI and its staff have assisted LSW with bringing in the heaviest single cargo pieces from across the globe through the Great Lakes system and into the LSW facility.

Minnesota Power Fond du Lac Dam, Thompson, MN

The Fond du Lac Dam is the first hydro project on the Saint Louis River when heading up river from Duluth. It is contained within the borders of the Jay Cooke State Park. In this region, the Saint Louis River drops 577 feet from an elevation of 1,179 feet in Cloquet down to the lake level of 602 feet. The Fond du Lac Dam is the final 78 feet of that 577 foot drop. The Fond du Lac Dam is owned by Minnesota Power, a division of Allete Inc. The dam generates 12 megawatts of power. A large volume of water goes over the spillway bypassing the power house. As a result, there are discussions about adding more generators and increasing the power output by 10 megawatts.

AMI provide a complete analysis and reinforcement of the existing 30'-0"wide x 9'-0 high tainter gates on the dam. The client required analysis to be completed to determine the cause of a common member issue at 6 gate locations and to assure the gates meet the current standards for ice loading. To complete the analysis, AMI had to determine the current hydrostatic and ice forces to derive proper loading scenarios. A complete structural model was developed in Ram Advanse. Within the program, a complete structural analysis was performed and the results determined recommendations for structural steel modifications and shoring. AMI designed and prepared the design to allow for sequential replacement of members while still under load to keep the dam in operation during the rehabilitation project.

In addition to the above services, AMI performed field inspections prior to the design changes and analysis, as well as provided assistance in completing the repairs. AMI prepared complete plans, specifications, and prepared complete calculations to FERC for review and approval prior to the construction activities.

Industrial Plant Structures, Nationwide Services

AMI has worked with hundreds of industrial plant clients nationwide solving tough issues surrounding expansions, modifying plant structures, removing and upgrading plant systems and integrating new systems within the old compact or difficult to get to spaces. AMI brings to any industrial project a staff that listens to the needs of the clients and integrates these needs and ideas into the final design. Our qualified staff can think outside the box and insure the systems are designed correctly and work to meet the demands of the plant and the environments they are subjected too. AMI has a staff that takes the lead and coordinates all aspects of the project with all disciplines and provides turn-key services. For many of our industrial plant client's confidentiality is important, and AMI insures plant rules, safety and regulations are met by all staff members and kept private in our system. AMI has found that paying attention to details, doing things right the first time and being thorough with the project design has saved our industrial clientele millions of dollars during the bidding and construction process by avoiding unnecessary delays, construction overruns, and expensive change orders. We look forward to serving you on your industrial project of any type!

  • Design of New Industrial Structures
  • Mechanical System Design
  • Mining & Plant Structures
  • Public Works Projects
  • Analysis of Machinery
  • Shop Drawing Review
  • Construction Inspection
  • Communication Structures
  • Feasibility Study
  • Structural Analysis
  • Special Inspections
  • Rehabilitation of Structures