Process Engineering & Design
Since 1980, our engineers have designed sanitary process and utility systems for food, beverage, and specialty processors — then drawn every pipe, valve, and vessel in CAD, 3D, and BIM before a single weld is made.
Industry Leaders in Sanitary Process Engineering Solutions
Our efficient process systems allow you to maximize yields and ensure product consistency. Our collaborative design-build process allows the project team to work on different parts of the process in parallel, providing cost-effective engineering and construction, while bringing your process online faster and at a lower cost.
Our work begins with conceptualization and continues through formal turnover and system acceptance. We partner with our customers to maximize process performance and deliver measurable improvements in yields, quality, efficiency, resource conservation, product safety, and plant sustainability.
Conceptual design & process development
Process plant design / greenfield /brownfield / upgrades / expansions
Process and utilities design engineering
Fluid dynamic & thermodynamic calculations
Mass balances & utility load calculations
Controls engineering, programming & validation
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition implementation
Process electrical design & installation management
Network & server specification and integration
Project management and field management
Complete 3D CAD, BIM, P&IDs, block diagrams, process flow diagrams and layout drawings
Utility support system design and installation
Process integration into legacy systems
Equipment sizing, specification & procurement
Modular, portable & skidded systems
System validation & startup support
Sanitary process systems
Process utility support systems
Automated control systems
Process electrical design and installation management
PLC programming
SCADA development
Network implementation
Sanitary piping and welding
Energy and water conservation, and energy recovery systems
Raw, wet, dry and powder bulk ingredient handling, storage, and distribution
Blend manifolds
Transfer piping with flow panels
Finished product storage and transfer to filling
Complex valve manifolds
Mixproof valve assemblies
Bioreactors & fermenters
Thermal process & pasteurization systems
Hydration systems
Clean‑in‑Place & Clean‑out‑of‑place systems
Sanitization/foam/rinse systems
Hot water support systems
Sanitary air & steam/condensate distribution systems
Compressed air systems
N₂, Co₂, Glycol and chemical systems
Water treatment systems
Facility and process layout, coordination with Architects/GC/other MEPs
Custom skids & custom fabrication
CAD, 3D Modeling & BIM
Every system we engineer is drawn before it's built. Our in-house drafting department carries a project from line diagram to as-built record, giving your team a model to check, coordinate, and maintain.
CAD
BMI's in-house computer drafting department delivers efficient process design and development, optimizing customer service and adhering to tight timeframes. Our experienced team simplifies construction and plan checks. With a comprehensive parts and equipment database, our CAD department ensures precise and easily modifiable designs, fostering seamless collaboration between you and BMI.
3D Modeling
3D modeling transforms concepts into manufacture-ready designs, aiding visualization, optimization, and simulations. It streamlines the process and anticipates structural and spatial obstacles by providing realistic layout of the model within your facility.
BIM
BIM design services enhance 3D models with real-world data, including parts details, schedules, and maintenance records. This enables predictive maintenance and planning.
A primary benefit of BIM is it allows the plant architecture, mechanical (HVAC), plumbing, fire protection, and the process equipment to cohabitate a virtual space to check for collisions and space issues.
What Our Engineers Develop
Piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) drawings
Bill of materials (BOMs)
Process flow diagrams
3D models
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Reliable and detailed plant layouts
Electrical wiring diagrams
Final line layouts and drawing packages
As-built drawings
Design Tools
Autodesk Inventor
AutoCAD Plant 3D
Revit
Collaborative tools that keep designs clear, prevent collisions, and improve project communication — whether you need a new system designed or as-built drawings for a legacy line.
Resource Recovery and Reuse
Water and energy are precious resources and a major expense for processors. BMI collaborates with equipment manufacturers to conserve water and energy, utilizing solutions like water treatment, biogas production, and waste heat utilization. These sustainable practices deliver cost savings and environmental benefits for your operation.
See What People Are Saying
“Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has had the privilege of working with Tom Barnum and the talented crew at Barnum Mechanical for over 35 years. They were a valuable partner during several major expansions at our Chico, CA brewery, and have worked on a wide range of other projects over the years. Barnum Mechanical also played a significant role in the design and construction of our North Carolina greenfield brewery, from CAD and engineering help during the design phase to mobilizing a large field crew to assist in equipment installation and process piping.
They bring a high level of knowledge and understanding of food and beverage processing equipment, sanitary process design, and are competent in complex matrix piping and valve technology. Their attention to detail, stellar workmanship and artesian approach to design and installation continues to deliver value long after they have left the jobsite.”
Ken Grossman
Founder of the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Are You Ready to Transform Your Facility?
We will help design, fabricate, test, and install your first of its kind solution. It takes real commitment to turn a new idea into a commercially viable product and it is even more difficult to do it while conserving natural resources. We can help bring your ideas to fruition with our innovative and sustainable solutions.