Silos and bulk material conveying
Sugar, flour, cocoa powder, PVC powder or plastic granules arrive at the plant by tanker, in big-bags or in 25 kg sacks, and have to reach the point of use clean, dry and in the right quantity. Perotec Systems designs and delivers such systems with equipment from Ergomec (Italy), and uses Plastic Systems equipment for granulate preparation at the processing machine.
What a system consists of
- Silos in aluminium or stainless steel, with level measurement and discharge aids for poorly flowing materials
- Emptying and filling stations for big-bags and 25 kg sacks, with dust containment
- Pneumatic conveying, vacuum or pressure, and mechanical conveying by screw and belt conveyors and bucket elevators
- Scales and feeders for recipe preparation and continuous dosing into the process
- Mixers, sifters and lump breakers
- Control: PLC and SCADA supervision with level, recipe and event tracking
Where we have worked so far
- Ice cream production in Serbia: two large sugar silos with conveying to production.
- Plastics extrusion in western Serbia: granule conveying to the extrusion lines.
- Soft drinks production in the United Arab Emirates: supervision of the installation of additional sugar silos.
- Injection moulding and extrusion plants in the region: central granule conveying systems and dryers, from small beside-the-press units to central dryers.
How a project runs
We start with a plant visit and a list of materials with their consumption. From that, together with the manufacturer, we prepare a system layout and a quotation. After the order we manage delivery, mechanical installation and supervision, and commission the system jointly with the factory process engineers. After handover we remain the contact for service and spare parts.
For plastics plants, see also dryers and dosing units and material storage. For a first conversation, send us the material, the consumption and a sketch of the plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data is needed to quote a silo or a conveying system?
The material and its bulk density, consumption per hour and per day, how it is delivered (tanker, big-bag, sacks), distances and heights in the plant, and the number of points of use. With that, silo volume and the type of conveying can be defined.
Vacuum or pressure pneumatic conveying?
Vacuum conveying is the usual choice when material is collected from one or more points to a single destination and dust must stay inside the system. Pressure conveying is chosen for higher capacities and longer distances, typically from a silo to several points of use. The choice also depends on how sensitive the material is to breakage and heat.
When does a silo pay off compared to big-bags?
When consumption is high and steady enough for tanker delivery. The saving comes from raw material price, packaging and forklift handling, and the contamination risk of opening bags disappears. We calculate the break-even for each plant, because it depends on the price difference between bulk and packed material.
Can one system handle both powders and granules?
As a rule, not without adaptation. Powders and granules behave differently in a silo and in a pipeline, so discharge devices, filters, conveying velocities and feeders differ. The system is designed around the specific material.
Who carries out the installation?
Perotec Systems organises mechanical installation and installation supervision, together with the equipment manufacturer. Commissioning is done jointly with the factory process engineers.