EXPERT SOLUTIONS: SALVAGING 96,000 LBS OF POTATOES
BACKGROUND
At an Ore-Ida plant in Boise, they turn large Russet potatoes into instant mashed potato flakes. They’re turned into a massive batch of mashed potatoes and then freeze-dried and flaked. The potato flakes are pumped into silos, and later used for instant potatoes and Frito-Lay chips.
CLAIM
Storing potato flakes is a different animal. When the potato flakes are pumped out of the silo, the air at the top of the silo needs to enter through rubber flappers to displace the flakes, so a vacuum doesn’t form and damage the silo. When it rained, water would enter the flappers and cause the potato flakes to clump together. Foam rubber was installed in the vents to prevent water intrusion. Over time, the rubber was clogged with potato flake dust. While pumping the potato flakes out of the silo into Frito-Lay’s rail cars, the dust-filled foam rubber didn’t allow air to displace the potato flakes, and the top section of the silo collapsed like a pop can. The fiberglass-lined silo shattered, damaging both the 110-foot silo and 96,000 pounds of potato flakes.
“The top of the silo collapsed like a pop can. The fiberglass-lined silo shattered, damaging both the 110-foot silo and 96,000 pounds of potato flakes.”
SOLUTION
One of the things adjuster’s look for in a claim is salvage. Adjuster Consulting arranged for the silo to be dismantled and sold as scrap. Because the potato flakes had been potentially contaminated with fiberglass, the adjuster arranged for them to be sold to a pet food manufacturer that screens to remove impurities. To save costs, they arranged to use Frito-Lay’s rail cars to transport the flakes to the pet food manufacturer.
