Industrial Equipment Expert, Equipment Failure Expert

Our technology-based society relies on industrial equipment of all kinds.  Whether these mechanical devices are small medical appliances, high-capacity cranes or anything in between, they are often subject to unforeseen incidents that could stem from design, manufacturing or operating practices. In order to bring such incidents to satisfactory resolution, a complete investigation by highly trained experts must be conducted to determine what happened and why.  Bison Engineering industrial equipment experts bring more than twenty years of experience to the forensic investigation of mechanical equipment and product failure claims.  In their service to corporations, law firms and insurance companies, Bison industrial equipment experts have earned a national reputation for professionalism, accuracy and meticulous attention to detail.

The Bison Advantage

Bison industrial equipment experts have investigated accidents involving mechanical equipment and products of every description, including cars, trucks, gas turbines, go carts, heat exchangers, chairs, scissor lifts, boom lifts, hydraulic pumps, and concrete mixers, to name a few. The Bison team includes staff engineers and respected consultants whose specialized knowledge and experience ensure accuracy and quality of findings.

Oilfield and Petrochemical Expertise

Bison engineers have great depth of experience with incidents involving the oil, gas, petrochemical and chemical industries. Whether incidents involve high pressure downhole or surface equipment, pipelines, pressure vessels, refineries, storage tanks or related machinery and processing facilities, Bison industrial equipment experts are your best resource for discovery and resolution. 

Uncompromising Investigative Practices

Industrial equipment experts at Bison begin each investigation with an unwavering focus on collecting and preserving evidence. The incident site is combed and examined to find broken parts or shards of metal, plastic or other materials that can provide clues to the incident’s cause.  If necessary, witnesses and other individuals who are familiar with equipment or processes at the accident site are interviewed whenever possible, as well as any emergency technicians who were called to the scene. As investigations develop, equipment or products similar to those involved in the incident may be obtained and tested to gain a better understanding of performance or operator issues.

Discovery in Detail

In the normal course of their work, Bison industrial equipment experts may find that equipment damage has resulted from an incident or from operator error, or they may trace the source of problems to small, seemingly insignificant components—discoveries that come about through the constant pursuit of scientific accuracy. Depending on the incident, research may include microstructure measurements and analyses of alloys, loads, stresses, material hardness and tensile strength, plus laboratory re-enactment of events to verify initial findings. While investigating the failure of an industrial rice dryer, Bison industrial equipment experts narrowed down the cause to a small, rotating paddle designed to regulate the flow of grain into a silo. In another case involving problems with an oilfield jet pump, Bison industrial equipment experts took metal samples from the equipment and analyzed them with an electron microscope.  Their findings included design change recommendations that would prevent similar performance problems.

Courtroom Expertise

To promote clarity of findings in the courtroom, Bison Engineering employs high-quality computer graphics and 3-D animation techniques that simplify complex data for juror review.  Bison industrial equipment experts are also available to provide courtroom testimony, and are trained to present facts with authority during initial interviews and cross examination. 

For accuracy, quality and uncompromising professionalism in the pursuit of forensic evidence, Bison Engineering’s industrial equipment experts are ready to bring their nationally-recognized services to your assistance, 24 hours a day.