Port of Milwaukee: Oversized rotary kiln shipment highlights

Contact: Jeff Fleming (414-286-8580)

The Port of Milwaukee’s Role in Supporting Local Manufacturing

The Port of Milwaukee is uniquely positioned to support manufacturers that move oversized products around the world. As an example, six sections of a rotary kiln – pieces over 17 feet in diameter, up to 44 feet long and weighing as much as 225,000 lb – are loaded and ready to ship by barge to Quebec for installation at a Portland cement manufacturing plant. The rotary kiln pieces were manufactured by a local West Allis company, A-C Equipment Services (A division of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (USA) Inc.) for McInnis Cement.

Using Port of Milwaukee cranes, Federal Marine Terminals loaded the rotary kiln sections over the past weekend. Shipping the sections through the Port adds value and efficiency because transporting items this large over land is prohibitively expensive.

“Millions of tons of cargo move through the Port of Milwaukee each year. When companies ship through the Port, they promote the regional economy,” Mayor Tom Barrett said. “The Port’s efficiency supports local manufacturing jobs, and that’s good for everyone in our community.”

The steel used by A-C Equipment Services to build the rotary kiln arrived in Milwaukee through the Port. The finished sections are scheduled to depart Milwaukee early this week, traveling through the St. Lawrence Seaway to their final destination of Port-Daniels – Gascons.

The Port of Milwaukee is an economic entity of city government governed by the seven-member Board of Harbor Commissioners, a panel appointed by Mayor Barrett and confirmed by the Common Council. It administers operations on the 467 acres that make up the Port. It promotes shipping and commerce throughout the region by providing access to domestic and international ships, rail, and over-the-road transportation.