Providing solutions for equipment protection
Offering products for insulating and sheltering equipment, Clark Services & Insulations is filling a need in the mining industry
1 of 2This Heat-Shield insulation blanket is being used on a Finning Cat 980H wheel loader. — Photo courtesy Barry Friesen2 of 2Winkler Structures off
1 of 2This Heat-Shield insulation blanket is being used on a Finning Cat 980H wheel loader. — Photo courtesy Barry Friesen
2 of 2Winkler Structures offer wide, custom spans to accommodate large machinery and temporary dry space. — Photo courtesy Clark Services & Insulations
Clark Services & Insulations Ltd. saw an opportunity in the mining industry and went for it. Originally focused on insulation products for marine applications, the company has diversified to accommodate the needs of B.C.’s fastest growing sector: mining.
The company’s proprietary Heat-Shield insulation blankets are applicable in the marine, mining and forestry sectors, where companies are racing to contain heat or keep heat from reaching electrical components like in high-end electronic actuators or around engines.
“They are used on anything with an engine where the objective is to reduce heat or keep external heat out,” said Barry Friesen, the owner of Clark Services. “Heat destroys things over time, especially in some mining applications where the machine is running 24/7.”
There are three components that make up the insulation pads. The insulating material is an inner liner that is a stainless steel mesh or a high-temperature liner; the outer cover is a fibreglass cloth impregnated with either Teflon, silicone or aluminized composites; and the pads are sewn with high-temperature threads—not stapled—to avoid corrosion.
One of the most recent applications of the Heat-Shield was at the Wolverine Mine in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., where the exhaust blankets were used to help prevent engine fires on the drills, shovels and other equipment.
“Each one is made to meet the requirements of a specific job,” said Friesen. “At Wolverine, we took hand sketches in the field and produced a catalogue for each machine to simplify the process of ordering replacement parts.”
Clark Services & Insulations has also expanded to be B.C.’s distributor of Winkler Structures. These steel-frame Quonset structures are designed with a canvas top and are available in varying sizes; they can be used in rugged and remote locations. The Manitoba-made structures are constructed with 25 to 30 per cent more steel than most competing brands, and are ideal for open-pit mines, said Friesen.
“They are easy to move and relocate,” he said. “They are great for creating large, clear-span spaces—to accommodate the size of the heavy equipment they use.”
Mining operations typically need solutions of sufficient scale, and the shelters provide the needed height and width without obstructions. The width offers a clear 130-foot span, and the length can be customized to the client’s needs. The structures sit 20 to 45 feet high at the trusses, and snow-load and weight-bearing capacities are variable.
The structures can be assembled by the purchasing company, or better yet, Friesen will provide fully trained technicians to construct turnkey operations on site.
Company background
Clark Services & Insulations Ltd. is a Canadian company founded in 1986 in Vancouver, B.C. Its roots are in power generation and marine, but it eventually followed the market into mining.
A number of years ago when the Quintette Mine in northeastern B.C. was in operation, Clark Services was one of the first companies providing services to the mine. When the mine closed, the original owner gradually shifted away from pursuing projects outside the Lower Mainland.
When Barry Friesen took over in 2010, he saw the mining industry as an important and essential market to access, especially for the Heat-Shield blankets. He took the product to market in that sector, which now accounts for roughly 15 per cent of his business.
Clark Services & Insulations Ltd. is a Canadian company founded in 1986 in Vancouver, B.C. Its roots are in power generation and marine, but it eventually followed the market into mining.
A number of years ago when the Quintette Mine in northeastern B.C. was in operation, Clark Services was one of the first companies providing services to the mine. When the mine closed, the original owner gradually shifted away from pursuing projects outside the Lower Mainland.
When Barry Friesen took over in 2010, he saw the mining industry as an important and essential market to access, especially for the Heat-Shield blankets. He took the product to market in that sector, which now accounts for roughly 15 per cent of his business.
