Is Buying A Cement Silo A Good Decision For My Business?
Updated June 2021
Adding a bulk cement silo can have a positive impact on a concrete business. One allows operators to store large amounts of cement powder on-site while also increasing accessibility to the material. Read on to learn about common considerations to make while weighing the ways a cement silo can save your business money.
2 Things To Consider Before Buying A Cement Silo
1. Minimum Silo Capacity
The capacity should be at least one full tanker or 25- to 27-tons. A bag, or one cubic foot of powder, weighs 94 pounds per bag with four bags equaling a barrel.
2. Yard Placement
Although the silo itself doesn’t take up an enormous amount of space, give consideration to loading the silo itself and any volumetric mixers. Keep in mind whether you want equipment to turn around or drive-thru and the area needed for either of these.
3 Ways Bulk Cement Storage Helps You Save
1. Cost Savings Through Bulk Purchasing
A silo often pays for itself in one to two years as the savings comes from purchasing cement in bulk instead of bags. Buying in bulk also saves the headaches and hassle from:
- Scheduling multiple pallet shipments;
- Finding storage space; and
- Having employees spend time moving bags.
2. Increased Employee Productivity
Examples of savings include:
- The time spent gathering and disposing of the empty sacks;
- Extra storage space necessary for pallets of bagged cement; and
- Time and effort needed to transport the bags to the mixer.
Employee time and wages instead go toward more productive business activities.
3. Improved Employee Safety
With bagged cement, employees are exposed to harmful airborne dust as the bags break. A silo offers a cleaner, safer work environment as it’s completely enclosed. The transfer auger moves the cement to the point of discharge, significantly reducing exposure to the dust.
Common Cement Silo Configurations
Silos come in two traditional shapes — round upright and rectangular low profile configurations.
High Profile Cement Silos
The upright style ranges from 25- to 35-feet in height with 40-ton to 60-ton capacity. An increased holding capacity and top-mounted baghouse are two distinct advantages over a low profile. The baghouse is a filtering component that allows the powder to be retained inside while allowing air to exit as it fills by the pneumatic filling process.
Low Profile Cement Silos
The low profile silo is frequently used when yard locations have height restrictions or when an operator desires mobility. This type has a holding capacity of 30- to 32-tons.
Quick Maintenance Tips For Cement Silos
Regardless of the silo style, inspect the bags and/or baghouse filtering cartridges annually. Spring is a great time for this maintenance since the winter months bring higher levels of air moisture and reduced usage. It’s recommended to inspect the condition and function of the pressure relief pop-off valve.