Silos are a crucial component of many industries, offering a means of efficient and dependable storage for bulk materials. Yet silos and bins fail at a higher rate than almost any other form of industrial equipment. To help ensure your silo can withstand the daily stresses from stored materials and loading/unloading, it is essential to make sure it is expertly engineered.

 

While some silo contractors rely on standard silo designs, this option takes a 'one size fits all' approach that fails to consider numerous essential aspects, including material characteristics, the seismic probability of your location, necessary silo capacity, and flow properties of your bulk materials.

 

Custom silo engineering provides a tailored solution that utilizes the safest and most suitable design components for your unique industry and specific material storage requirements. Taking these aspects into consideration from the start helps ensure optimal performance and safety of your silo.

 

When designing concrete silos, Marietta Silos follows the silo design codes outlined in the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 313-16: Design for Concrete Silos and Stacking Tubes for Storing Granular Materials. As a member of the ACI Committee, we stay on the cutting edge of the latest industry standards and updates.

 

Our team offers specialized silo engineering services tailored to specific industries, including aggregates, manufacturing, cement, coal, power, and more. We understand the unique requirements of each industry and how the proper silo design can optimize operations and increase efficiency. We also often work with an experienced silo engineer to help ensure the structures are designed to withstand external forces and the static pressures exerted by the type of stored material at rest and during flow.

 

During silo engineering, Marietta Silos considers the material flow characteristics of the bulk storage material as well as the static pressures, silo size, and more. Materials such as aggregates, by-products, cement, coal, fly ash, grain, and lime all flow at different rates and via different flow patterns through a silo. Understanding how a stored material flows through a silo determines whether the silo should be designed with a flat bottom, funnel flow, mass flow, or expanded flow.

 

In addition to considering static pressures of the intended bulk storage material, silo engineers also determine reinforcement arrangements necessary for the silo size and silo construction type, Jumpform, Slipform, or Stave. Loading and unloading needs are also important considerations, as the most critical portions of this design involve the lower part of the silo. This is where large loads from the stored material are channeled. An efficient flow pattern allows for the effective unloading of the silo.

 

Marietta Silos' knowledge and experience mean that our designs will be the best possible designs to fit your needs. Our engineering practices conform with the method that our construction crews utilize for our Jumpform and Slipform systems, so it's important to use Marietta Silos for your silo engineering as well as the silo construction.

 

Marietta Silos is dedicated to supporting the essential role that silos play in various industries. Our team of professionals stands ready to assist with a comprehensive range of silo-related needs, from the initial phases of design and construction to the ongoing maintenance and repair required for optimal operational performance.

 

We offer full spectrum silo services, from the fabrication and erection of new silos to the modification of existing structures.

 

Reach out today to explore our comprehensive silo services and discover how we can assist in fulfilling your requirements.

 

There are numerous considerations at the start of any silo construction project. While silos can seem like a relatively straightforward structure, a lot goes into silo engineering and construction. The many factors of silo construction and engineering, in addition to fluctuating material costs, make it impossible to set a standard cost of silo construction.

 

Working with an experienced silo engineering company can take the guesswork out of the project and make sure you start off on the right foot. Once you have determined the most appropriate quantity and size for your silo, it's natural to begin considering the silo construction costs and looking for ways to maximize your spend.

 

Steel and concrete are the most frequently utilized material for silo construction. Both steel and concrete silos are used in various industrial settings for bulk material storage of ash, coal, lime, aggregate and more. When comparing the two construction materials, concrete is the clear winner.

 

Not only are concrete silos far more durable than their steel counterparts, concrete silos are generally less expensive than metal silos, particularly when you consider the total cost of ownership. Steel silos suffer from expensive corrosion issues and are highly susceptible to structural failure from high winds and excessive internal pressure. Compared to steel, concrete has many benefits when it comes to designing and building silos, leading to less upkeep required to maintain their overall functionality and safety.

 

 

A well-maintained silo can and should last decades. When looking at silo construction cost, it's important to look beyond the upfront expense alone. Though concrete silos withstand more than steel silos, all silos require routine maintenance and inspection. A proactive inspection program can safeguard your team members and ensure your structures' safety and continued operation. Regular examinations can identify potential problems and avoid wall collapse, fractures, and deterioration of the structure, which may result in accidents or fatalities in the workplace.

 

 

Stave silos are constructed using staves, precast concrete blocks, that interlock. For added durability, Marietta Silos produces staves that are 5 ¾", versus the standard 2" thickness.

 

Slipform silos are constructed using a custom-built form system and a continuous pour that necessates silo completion before construction can be halted. Slipform silos have a smoother, joint-free, exterior. It is typically used for silos that are larger and 65' in diameter or when several concrete silos need to be constructed at once.

 

Jumpform silo construction is typically the most economical silo construction method thanks to the reusable silo framework that can be set up quickly. Jumpform silo construction is also one of the strongest silo construction types available as the controlled process makes it easy to check the quality of the reinforcement steel placement and equipment before pouring.

 

Ready to move forward with the construction of a new silo? Learn how to choose a silo contractor or schedule an inspection of your existing structure.

 

Our silo services are as expansive as the industries we serve. From the most difficult silo cleaning, silo maintenance, and silo repair challenges to the most basic - Marietta Silos can handle it all.

We have an extensive background in silo engineering, construction, inspection, and restoration of concrete silos used in a wide variety of industries. We perform services for facilities storing bulk materials such as carbon, black cement, clay, clinker coal, fly ash, foundry sand, grain products, gypsum, lime, bottom ash, salt, soda ash, and more. No matter what type of structure you have or the material stored, consider Marietta Silos to service your silos or bulk storage structures.

 

Marietta Silos has more experience in silo restoration than any other company in the United States. If you have known or suspected problems, contact us for efficient, cost-effective solutions.

Whether you store clay, lime, limestone, sand, gypsum, cement, salt, or any other aggregate, our in-house experts can help walk you through all the design, engineering, and construction options we offer to those in the cement and manufacturing industry. We ensure your concrete silo is built safely, economically and will last for years to come. We also have a vast amount of experience restoring and rehooping concrete stave silos, including former agricultural silos that have been adapted for industrial use.

 

Bulk material used in the agricultural industry and the food and beverage industry typically requires a sealed silo interior to prevent material storage. Like other bulk material storage containers, agricultural silos are also susceptible to material buildup and require regular, professional cleaning and other silo maintenance services.

 

Within the power industry, Marietta Silos is the leading constructor of concrete fly ash silos in the country. We have built more fly ash silos than all our competitors combined. Marietta Silos is experienced in design and construction methods that can help increase equipment longevity and operating efficiency by constructing fly ash roof enclosures that provide protection from the environment.

 

We have earned an unparalleled reputation for excellence through extensive experience with concrete fly ash silos with numerous leading power utilities and contractors throughout the United States. Marietta Silos is also highly experienced in silo building and design for bottom ash and fly ash storage silos.

 

In addition to the construction, repair, and inspection of fly ash silos for the power industry, Marietta Silos is also experienced in maintenance and repair services for bottom ash clarifying tanks. Bottom ash is a by-product of a coal-burning power generation facility. After the coal has been consumed, bottom ash remains and must be removed from the bottom of the boilers which typically consists of various metals, slate, and rock.

 

Looking for silo cleaning and maintenance services for your industry? Our sister company USA Silo Service serves numerous industries with silo cleaning, inspection, and maintenance services. Read the latest USA Silo Service blog to learn more about the industries they serve.

 

Learn more about the Industries Served by Marietta Silos.