The Challenge
RaiseRite works with many dairy and goat farms throughout Wisconsin, and one issue we continue to see is movement beneath high-use agricultural slabs, especially around milking parlors, carousel systems, holding areas, and equipment pads.
At one active goat milking facility, the gravel and soil beneath and around a carousel pad had begun to consolidate. As the supporting material settled, the pad moved and cracked, making the carousel uneven. That unevenness created operational issues with the carousel system and caused rollers to wear prematurely.
For a farm operating on a strict milking schedule, downtime was a major concern. Interrupting the carousel for an extended period could disrupt production and create additional stress for the animals. The work also required careful planning because the pad included in-floor heating, and there was a cinder block structure near a pit. Both site conditions required a controlled approach to avoid unintended movement from the polyurethane foam injection process.
Before stabilization work began, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer testing was performed at four locations to help evaluate soil conditions, verify treatment depth, and guide the injection plan.
The Solution
RaiseRite used Deep Foamjection™ deep injection to stabilize the carousel pad by injecting 4 lb. HMI polyurethane foam beneath the slab and into the supporting soils.
Based on site conditions, the crew adjusted the treatment plan in the field. The original approach called for a larger number of injection points around the carousel pad, but the presence of in-floor heating and nearby block construction required a more precise injection pattern. To better manage expansion and lift response, the crew pivoted to 32 air-purged deep injection points spaced approximately 3.5 feet on center.
Each point was treated to a depth of approximately 4 feet, with foam injected incrementally to help stabilize the supporting soils while limiting risk to surrounding
Key project details:
- Application: Carousel milking pad stabilization
- Facility Type: Active goat milking facility
- Location: Wisconsin
- Method: Deep Injection
- Material: 4 lb. HMI polyurethane foam
- Verification: DCP testing at four locations
- Treatment Pattern: 32 air-purged deep injection points
- Spacing: Approximately 3.5 feet on center
- Treatment Depth: Approximately 4 feet
- Work Window: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. during scheduled maintenance
The work was completed in controlled stages during the farm’s existing maintenance windows. This allowed RaiseRite to stabilize the pad without interrupting the regular milking schedule.
The Summary
RaiseRite completed the carousel pad stabilization over three days, working only during scheduled 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. maintenance windows.
Results:
- Completed in Three Days: Work was finished within the limited maintenance schedule.
- Minimal Production Disruption: Stabilization was performed without interrupting the farm’s regular milking operation.
- Improved Pad Support: Deep injection helped address soil and gravel consolidation beneath and around the carousel pad.
- Reduced Equipment Wear Conditions: Stabilizing the pad helped address the uneven support conditions contributing to premature roller wear.
- Controlled Injection Approach: The crew adjusted the injection pattern to account for in-floor heating and nearby block construction.
- Verified Treatment Plan: DCP testing helped confirm soil conditions and support the selected treatment depth.
Agricultural facilities depend on reliable concrete and stable equipment support. For dairy and goat farms, even small slab movements can create larger operational problems when they affect milking equipment, animal flow, or production schedules.
This project shows how RaiseRite helps Wisconsin farms solve these problems with targeted polyurethane deep injection, careful jobsite evaluation, and scheduling that respects the demands of daily farm operations.
