Beginning this year, a previously unoccupied building in the Taylor Business Park is now home to Badger Mining Corporation’s (BMC) new state-of-the-art Research and Development Center. Renovations to the 5280-square foot building, which at one time housed an athletic apparel business and more recently was used for larger meetings and gatherings, began in September 2015 and were completed in early 2016. Final additions to the lab area continued until completion this summer.
Before moving to this building, research and development for Badger Mining took place in multiple locations throughout the state. “The new site allows for our group to be in a central location, as opposed to being spread out between multiple locations, which aids in calibration and our ability to work together as a cohesive team,” says Erica Grant, research and development leader at BMC. “It also gives us the space to adapt to changes in the industry, to bring in new equipment, and to perform tests that we have not conducted or were not able to perform in the past. There is currently 1450 square feet of lab space, with approximately 25% of the space open for new testing equipment for new products.”
Advanced testing equipment surrounds associates of BMC’s Research and Development Team at this new location. Devices in the lab are able to conduct many types of tests, including the ability to measure the capacity of a proppant sample to allow fluid to pass through it (conductivity testing), calculate viscosity of fluids in different conditions, sort chemical species in a sample of mass, run crush tests with a steady ramp, create small batches of new products for performance testing, and perform multiple unconfined compressive strength tests at one time.
Investing in a new research and development center showcases Badger Mining’s commitment to the future. “With expanded R&D capabilities, we will be able to keep our current products on top, while coming up with new ways to solve our customers’ problems,” says Grant. “R&D will help move the company into the future through innovation and diversification into new markets. Our world is changing at a rapid pace, and we have to change with it. By investing in research and development, BMC is proving that we plan to play an important role in our industry for many years to come.”
About Badger Mining Corporation
Badger Mining Corporation (BMC) is a family-owned, values-driven industrial silica sand supplier with a Team of awesome associates passionately pursuing excellence and stakeholder satisfaction. BMC is committed to producing high quality products, operating its facilities in an environmentally responsible manner, ensuring the health and wellness of its associates and of the communities in which it operates. The sand and coated sand products produced by BMC are used in a variety of industrial and environmental applications. The primary markets we serve are oil and gas production (hydraulic fracturing) and metals casting. Other markets include construction, field turf, filter media, and water filtration. For more information about BMC, please visit www.badgerminingcorp.com.