Helpful answers about silos, bulk materials and Poggi products
Poggi S.p.A. is a leading company in the design and production of products and solutions for the storage, handling and management of bulk materials. The range includes vertical silos, horizontal silos, telescopic silos, hoppers, belt conveyors, big bag dischargers, clarifiers and accessories that can be configured according to customer requirements.
Bulk materials are materials handled in large quantities without individual packaging. These include powders, granules, aggregates, pellets, cereals, flour, fertilizers, lime, cement, sand, biomass, wood chips, plastic pellets and other products used in industrial processes.
Silos are used to store bulk materials in a safe, orderly and controlled way. They protect the material, optimize space, feed the subsequent phases of the production process and integrate loading, discharge, weighing, dosing and handling systems.
A silo works as a technical container for bulk materials. The material is loaded from the top or through specific systems, stored inside the body of the silo and then discharged from the bottom through valves, screw conveyors, hoppers or other discharge systems. The configuration depends on the material, the required capacity and the production process.
In silos, materials with very different characteristics can be stored: powders, granules, aggregates, dry food products, mineral materials, industrial products and liquids. The most common examples include cement, lime, dry mixes, sand, gravel, carbonates, flour, cereals, fertilizers, pellets, plastic pellets, biomass, ash and technical powders. Depending on the project and the construction configuration, silos can also be used for the storage of liquid or semi-liquid materials.
Vertical and horizontal silos are different products, chosen according to the material to be stored, the required capacity, the type of installation and the production process. Vertical silos are suitable for stable configurations, including high-capacity applications, and for integration into structured industrial systems. Horizontal silos are compact solutions, often used in contexts where quick installation, easy transport, site feeding or mobile configurations are required. The choice therefore depends on the application, the sector and the operational requirements.
A bolted silo is recommended when high storage capacities are required or when transporting a monolithic silo would be complex due to its dimensions and volume. The bolted structure allows the silo to be transported disassembled and assembled directly at the destination site, facilitating logistics, assembly and installation in contexts where large storage volumes are required.
The capacity of a silo depends on its dimensions, shape, diameter, height and the bulk density of the stored material. For this reason, it can be expressed in cubic metres, litres, quintals or tonnes: with the same volume, different materials can correspond to different weights.
The cost of a silo depends on its type, capacity, dimensions, construction material, accessories, loading and discharge systems, transport, assembly and level of customization. For this reason, there is no single price valid for every application. The suitable solution is defined according to the material to be stored and the customer’s operational requirements.
Silos can be filled using pneumatic systems, screw conveyors, belt conveyors, elevators, pipelines or other loading solutions. The method depends on the material, the required flow rate, the position of the silo and the production process. The loading system must ensure safety, continuity and dust containment.
Silos are emptied from the bottom through extraction systems such as valves, screw conveyors, hoppers, belt conveyors or dosing devices. Depending on the material, vibrators, fluidification systems or other accessories can be integrated to promote material flow and reduce build-ups, bridging or interruptions during discharge.
Vertical silos must be designed according to the material to be stored, the required capacity, the installation conditions and the operational requirements. They must ensure structural stability, correct material discharge, accessibility for maintenance, level control, safety systems and compatibility with loading, extraction and handling systems.
Feed hoppers are used to receive, temporarily contain and convey bulk materials to the subsequent phases of the process. They can be configured as primary feed hoppers for the initial reception of the material or as in-line feed hoppers, integrated into the production cycle to feed screw conveyors, belt conveyors, silos, dosing lines or treatment systems, thus supporting continuous and controlled material management.
Belt conveyors are used to transport bulk materials from one point to another within the production process. They can be used to fill silos, feed hoppers, transport aggregates, powders, granules or other materials, ensuring continuity and regularity in material handling.
Clarifiers are used for the treatment and clarification of industrial water and make it possible to separate suspended solids from the liquid phase. Poggi manufactures static clarifiers, based on the natural sedimentation of solids, and dynamic clarifiers, designed to support the separation process through advanced flow management systems. They are used for washing water, sludge and residues from industrial processes.
I decantatori vengono utilizzati per il trattamento e la chiarificazione delle acque industriali e permettono di separare i solidi in sospensione dalla fase liquida. Poggi realizza decantatori statici, basati sulla sedimentazione naturale dei solidi, e decantatori dinamici, progettati per favorire il processo di separazione mediante sistemi avanzati di gestione del flusso. Sono utilizzati per acque di lavaggio, fanghi e residui provenienti da processi industriali.
Poggi products can be integrated with accessories and components configurable according to the material to be stored and the production process. These include filters, safety valves, level indicators, load cells, weighing systems, fluidification systems, vibrators, extraction screw conveyors, ladders, parapets, dust covers and safety devices.
Yes. Poggi supports its customers during the consulting, design, assembly, start-up, training, maintenance, service and spare parts supply phases. Assistance may concern both new products and already installed configurations, with the aim of ensuring operational continuity, reliability and long-term technical support.
For port storage, vertical bolted silos are often used, especially when large quantities of bulk materials such as cement, mineral powders or dry products need to be handled. The bolted structure allows the silo to be transported in separate elements and assembled directly at the terminal, making this solution suitable for large projects and complex logistics contexts.
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