Mainland Machinery Ltd.

Mainland Machinery Ltd. Mainland Machinery offers complete steel fabrication products and services for mining, energy, marine and industrial agriculture industries.

From engineering to manufacturing to installation, we work with world-class engineering firms and corporations in BC and Alberta delivering high-quality products and services, safely and on time. Specialties

Steel fabrication, Field erected tanks, Material handling and storage equipment, Oilfield equipment, Double wall invert tanks, Hydraulic catwalk

Why does the same cement feeder keep hardening shut? A plugged screw feeder rarely starts with the screw. In BC batching...
09/03/2026

Why does the same cement feeder keep hardening shut?

A plugged screw feeder rarely starts with the screw.

In BC batching and mixing plants, cement compacts long before it jams — usually
because of a condition the screw was never designed to fight.

Common root causes include:

• moisture reaching the cement through seals, condensation, or wash water �
• an inlet overfilled beyond the screw's flight progression �
• a restricted discharge backing material up into the casing �
• screw speed mismatched to how the material actually behaves �
• worn flighting and trough clearance letting material pack instead of move �

Clearing the hardened cement restores the opening. It doesn't stop the mechanism that caused it.

A properly engineered assessment traces the blockage back to its source, not just the symptom.

Learn more by reading the latest article on our blog: Why Cement Screw Feeders Plug, and How to Fix the Root Cause. (https://mainlandmachinery.com/cement-screw-feeder-plugging-root-causes/)


When production stops, waiting days for support isn’t an option.At your facility, downtime probably isn’t measured in re...
08/28/2026

When production stops, waiting days for support isn’t an option.

At your facility, downtime probably isn’t measured in repair costs—it’s measured in lost production.

That's why local support matters.

Mainland combines:
- local BC field service �
- custom fabrication through Helical Works �
- engineering expertise
- installation and retrofit capabilities �
- access to premium equipment from GSI and WAM �
From the initial inspection through fabrication and installation, one team stays connected throughout the project.

Because solving conveyor problems isn’t just about supplying parts. Rather, it’s about getting your operation running reliably, and keeping it that way.

Learn more by reading the latest article on our website: Why Conveyor Failures Continue to Cost BC Sawmills Thousands Per Hour. https://mainlandmachinery.com/bc-sawmills-conveyor-failures/

No two material-handling applications are exactly alike.When standard augers don’t fit the application, custom engineeri...
08/26/2026

No two material-handling applications are exactly alike.

When standard augers don’t fit the application, custom engineering makes the difference.

Through Helical Works, Mainland designs and manufactures custom augers and screw conveyors built around:

- material characteristics
- capacity requirements
- existing equipment
- available installation space
- maintenance accessibility

Whether it’s abrasive aggregate, wet biomass, wood residue, or difficult bulk materials, the goal is the same: Build equipment that keeps production moving—and is easier to maintain for years to come.

Because every operation handles material a little differently.

Learn more by reading the latest article on our blog: Why Conveyor Failures Continue to Cost BC Sawmills Thousands Per Hour. https://mainlandmachinery.com/bc-sawmills-conveyor-failures/

During your next shutdown, here are five things to inspect before they become expensive failures:- material buildup arou...
08/21/2026

During your next shutdown, here are five things to inspect before they become expensive failures:

- material buildup around transfer points �
- uneven or excessive wear on flighting and liners �
- bearing noise, heat, or vibration
- evidence of recurring spillage or carryback �
- areas that are becoming difficult to inspect or maintain �

These small warning signs often appear weeks before major failures occur.

A structured inspection program helps maintenance teams move from reactive repairs to planned reliability improvements.

Sometimes the best downtime is the one you prevent.

Learn more by reading the latest article on our blog: Why Conveyor Failures Continue to Cost BC Sawmills Thousands Per Hour. https://mainlandmachinery.com/bc-sawmills-conveyor-failures/

This is what a retrofit story could look like at your bulk material handling facility. Before: Maintenance was clearing ...
08/19/2026

This is what a retrofit story could look like at your bulk material handling facility.

Before: Maintenance was clearing the same conveyor plug every few weeks. Sure, the system kept running, but only after repeated repairs, cleanup, and production interruptions.

After: Instead of replacing the entire conveyor, the mill completed a targeted retrofit that addressed the actual failure mechanism.

Improvements included:
- updated flighting �
- improved transfer geometry �
- new liners �- bearing upgrades �
- better maintenance access �

The result wouldn’t just be fewer repairs. It would be fewer interruptions, lower maintenance hours, and more predictable production.

The best retrofit isn’t always the biggest project. Sometimes it’s the one that solves the real problem.

Learn more by reading the latest article on our blog: Why Conveyor Failures Continue to Cost BC Sawmills Thousands Per Hour. https://mainlandmachinery.com/bc-sawmills-conveyor-failures/

A 90-minute shutdown is rarely just 90 minutes.Imagine a residue conveyor plugs beneath a planer.The immediate repair mi...
08/14/2026

A 90-minute shutdown is rarely just 90 minutes.

Imagine a residue conveyor plugs beneath a planer.

The immediate repair might only require replacing a bearing or clearing compacted material.

But the hidden costs continue to grow:
- production slows or stops operators are diverted �
- maintenance crews abandon planned work �
- cleanup increases �
- downstream equipment waits for material �
- overtime begins �

The repair itself may be inexpensive, but the lost production often isn’t.

Instead of asking, How much will this repair cost? Ask, How much is recurring downtime costing every month?

Small reliability improvements often deliver much larger operational savings than expected.

Learn more by reading the latest article on our blog: Why Conveyor Failures Continue to Cost BC Sawmills Thousands Per Hour. https://mainlandmachinery.com/bc-sawmills-conveyor-failures/

Why does the same chip conveyor keep plugging? Many recurring conveyor problems aren’t caused by the conveyor itself. In...
08/12/2026

Why does the same chip conveyor keep plugging?

Many recurring conveyor problems aren’t caused by the conveyor itself.

In BC sawmills, wood chips and residue change constantly. Moisture, species, particle size, and inconsistent feed all affect how material flows.

Common root causes include:
- surge loading beyond design capacity
- poor transfer-point geometry
- material bridging at the inlet
- worn flighting and liners
- wet, compacting material that increases resistance �

Clearing the plug gets production moving again, but if the root cause isn’t addressed, the cycle repeats.

A properly engineered assessment looks beyond the symptom to identify why the conveyor is failing in the first place.

Reducing downtime starts with understanding how your material actually behaves.

Learn more by reading the latest article on our blog: Why Conveyor Failures Continue to Cost BC Sawmills Thousands Per Hour. https://mainlandmachinery.com/bc-sawmills-conveyor-failures/

Every industrial facility in British Columbia is unique. They don’t all face the same challenges.A conveyor moving wet w...
08/07/2026

Every industrial facility in British Columbia is unique. They don’t all face the same challenges.

A conveyor moving wet wood fibre has very different demands than one handling cement, grain, pellets, or aggregate. Every material behaves differently, and every operation has its own constraints.

That’s why Mainland Machinery has spent more than 50 years helping customers across BC solve their unique bulk material handling challenges with practical, application-specific solutions.

From custom fabrication through installation and ongoing support, our goal is simple: build systems that keep operations moving reliably for the long term.

Local knowledge. Engineered solutions. Responsive service.

That’s our commitment at Mainland.


Summer is peak production season for many BC​ industries. It’s also when small equipment issues can become expensive. ​W...
08/05/2026

Summer is peak production season for many BC​ industries. It’s also when small equipment issues can become expensive. ​

Whether you’re handling wood fibre, aggregates, cement, grain, or other bulk materials, midsummer is a good time to ask: ​

​- Are transfer points wearing faster than expected? ​
- Are screw conveyors showing signs of excessive wear? ​
- Is dust or material buildup affecting reliability? ​
- Are you prepared for your next scheduled shutdown? ​​

Addressing these issues before they become failures helps keep production​ moving when every hour counts. ​

​At Mainland Machinery, we work with facilities across British Columbia to​ engineer, fabricate, install, and support custom bulk material handling systems​ built for demanding industrial environments. ​

We sincerely hope you’re having a safe, productive summer season. ​

​

Our partnership with GSI (Grain Systems, Inc.) gives us an opportunity to provide our customers with a wide variety of p...
07/21/2026

Our partnership with GSI (Grain Systems, Inc.) gives us an opportunity to provide our customers with a wide variety of products that can be easily integrated into their bulk material handling operations.

GSI’s products are world renowned for their quality and how they contribute to a more efficient system. We are excited about bringing you these products and tailoring them to your specific needs.

Some of GSI’s most popular structural products are their modular towers and catwalks, which feature QuickBolt™ connections and enable faster and more intuitive installation.

QuickBolt Towers and QuickBolt Catwalks are both structures that will help you achieve swift and reliable operations.

To learn more about these products, go to our website at https://mainlandmachinery.com/portfolio-item/mainland-machinery-gsi-partnership/

Call us today and take the next step with upgrading your bulk material handling systems.

Address

2125 Windsor Street
Abbotsford, BC
V2T6L9

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(604) 854-4244

Website

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