Merritt Lane, president of Canal, said, “The addition of this direct transfer facility will further enhance and support Canal’s position as a premium provider of bulk liquid handling services in the greater Chicago area.” Canal is served via the CSXT rail system.

Once completed, Canal’s new direct transfer facility will allow for products to be transferred directly between tank cars and tank trucks, bypassing the need for storage. All transfer lines will be constructed of stainless steel, and products will be transferred utilizing either nitrogen gas pressure or dedicated pumps. Tank trucks will be loaded directly on a covered 90-foot truck scale allowing for multiple compartment loading without the need to pull on and off the scale. Should product heating be required, Canal can provide either hot oil or hot water, depending on individual requirements. In order to maximize the functionality of the facility, Canal will provide for all intra-plant rail car switching by means of a multi-car capacity rail mover.

Planning for the new facility began more than a year ago, when it became clear that the overall economic conditions were negatively impacting the ability for various chemical producers and users to source material into the Chicago area in a cost-efficient manner.