{"id":135247,"date":"2026-06-25T12:22:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T10:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/come-si-svuota-un-silos\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T14:34:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T12:34:15","slug":"how-is-a-silo-emptied","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/","title":{"rendered":"How is a silo emptied?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Silos are structures used for the storage of bulk materials, powders, granules, aggregates and industrial products. When referring to the meaning of silo<\/strong>, it is not simply a container, but a technical system designed to store, protect and make the material available for the following stages of the process.<\/p>\n

A storage silo<\/strong> can be used in many sectors: cement, lime, premixes, flour, cereals, animal feed, pellets, plastic granules, biomass, ash, technical powders and other dry materials. There are also silos for different applications, such as silos for cereals<\/strong>, feed silos<\/strong>, grain silos<\/strong>, flour silos<\/strong>, sugar silos<\/strong>, silos for pellets<\/strong>, coffee silos<\/strong>, water silos<\/strong> or wine silos<\/strong>, but each application requires specific construction materials, geometries and discharge systems.<\/p>\n

The key question is: how is a silo emptied<\/strong> correctly, continuously and in a controlled way?<\/p>\n

Silo emptying<\/strong> generally takes place from the lower part of the structure, through a discharge system designed according to the type of material, its density, particle size, flowability and required flow rate.<\/p>\n

The basic principle: gravity discharge<\/h2>\n

In most vertical silos, material extraction takes place by gravity. The stored product moves down towards the lower part of the silo, where the discharge cone<\/strong> conveys the material towards the outlet point. From there, the flow can be regulated by valves and transferred to the next stages through screw conveyors, belt conveyors, pneumatic systems or dosing devices.<\/p>\n

The lower cone plays a fundamental role. Its inclination must promote material flow and reduce the risk of build-up, residues or interruptions. In vertical silos, correct sizing of the discharge cone is particularly important with powdery, compact or high-density materials.<\/p>\n

For this reason, silo sizing<\/strong> does not only concern capacity and volume, but also shape, height, diameter, extraction system and the physical characteristics of the material.<\/p>\n

Screw conveyor for silos and extraction systems<\/h2>\n

One of the most commonly used discharge systems is the screw conveyor for silos<\/strong>. The screw conveyor allows the material to be extracted from the lower part and transferred to a point of use, a dosing line, a hopper, a belt conveyor or another handling system.<\/p>\n

The screw conveyor can be configured according to the material to be handled. A cement silo<\/strong>, for example, requires different solutions compared to a silo for pellets, a feed silo or a silo for plastic granules. Materials such as cement, lime and fly ash behave differently from cereals, flour, pellets, biomass or fertilizers.<\/p>\n

The choice of the screw conveyor therefore depends on flow rate, inclination, length, diameter, rotation speed and dosing requirements.<\/p>\n

Valves, pneumatic systems and controlled discharge<\/h2>\n

Silo emptying can also be managed through butterfly valves, pneumatic valves, slide gates or other regulation devices. These components are used to control the opening of the discharge outlet and manage the material flow towards the outside.<\/p>\n

In many industrial applications, the material must not simply leave the silo, but must be dosed precisely. In these cases, the discharge system can be connected to volumetric dosing systems or weighing systems.<\/p>\n

Weighing systems for silos<\/strong>, such as load cells, make it possible to measure the quantity of material discharged or present inside the structure. This is useful when consumption control, traceability, recipe management or dosing certification are required.<\/p>\n

Silo vibrator: when it is needed<\/h2>\n

Not all materials flow easily. Some products tend to compact, others form bridges, while others may adhere to the internal walls. In these cases, a silo vibrator<\/strong> can be installed.<\/p>\n

The vibrator helps the material move down towards the extraction point, reducing build-up and blockages. It is particularly useful with difficult products, materials with poor flowability or products subject to compaction.<\/p>\n

In silos for cement, lime, flour, ash, technical powders or some types of animal feed, vibration systems can improve discharge regularity and reduce emptying times.<\/p>\n

Fluidization for powdery materials<\/h2>\n

For light or powdery materials, such as cement, hydrated lime or fly ash, fluidization can be used. In this case, plates or nozzles positioned in the lower part of the silo introduce compressed air to keep the material moving and facilitate its descent.<\/p>\n

Fluidization is different from vibration: it does not act through mechanical movement, but improves the flowability of the product through air. This solution is particularly useful when the material tends to compact or create stagnant areas.<\/p>\n

Safety during loading and emptying<\/h2>\n

A silo must not only be designed to contain material, but also to operate safely. During pneumatic loading, overpressure or vacuum phenomena may occur. For this reason, silos can be equipped with two-way safety systems, pressure\/vacuum relief valves and pressure control devices.<\/p>\n

Another important element is the dust collector filter. During silo loading, the outgoing air can carry dust particles. The filter retains these particles and helps keep the operating area cleaner.<\/p>\n

Maximum and minimum level indicators, sensors, control panels, railings, ladders and protections are also important components for safe silo management.<\/p>\n

Monolithic silos, panel silos and horizontal silos<\/h2>\n

Emptying can also vary according to the type of silo. Vertical monolithic steel silos<\/strong> are made with a single welded body and are often chosen for stable installations and rapid operation. Panel silos<\/strong>, on the other hand, are made of elements assembled on site and are suitable when high capacities are required or when transporting a single-piece body would be complex.<\/p>\n

Horizontal silos<\/strong> meet different requirements and can be used in contexts where compact, mobile or easily transportable configurations are needed. The choice of silo type and construction material always depends on the application, the product contained and the operating conditions.<\/p>\n

How to choose the right emptying system<\/h2>\n

To choose the correct silo discharge system, several factors must be considered: stored material, density, moisture, particle size, required flow rate, silo capacity, loading method, process continuity, weighing requirements, dust risk and the presence of difficult-to-handle materials.<\/p>\n

A silo for cereals<\/strong>, a cement silo, an indoor pellet silo, a horizontal silo for cereals or a feed silo do not necessarily require the same accessories. For this reason, silo production and metal silo construction must start from the analysis of the material and the process.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A silo is emptied through a discharge system designed to promote material flow from the lower part of the structure. Depending on the application, discharge cones, valves, screw conveyors, belt conveyors, vibrators, fluidization systems, dosing systems and load cells can be used.<\/p>\n

The quality of the emptying process depends on the correct combination of silo geometry, stored material, installed accessories and extraction system. For this reason, each silo must be configured according to the product to be handled and the customer\u2019s operating requirements.<\/p>\n

Poggi designs and manufactures vertical monolithic silos, vertical panel silos and solutions for the storage, handling and management of bulk materials, with configurations designed to ensure continuity, safety and long-term reliability. For more information, click here: Vertical silos for storage | Poggi s.p.a.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Silos are structures used for the storage of bulk materials, powders, granules, aggregates and industrial products. When referring to the meaning of silo, it is not simply a container, but a technical system designed to store, protect and make the material available for the following stages of the process. A storage silo can be used […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135259,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guide-to-bulk-material-storage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow is a silo emptied? Systems and operation | Poggi S.p.A.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How is a silo emptied? Discover discharge systems, screw conveyors, vibrators, fluidization, safety and weighing for industrial silos.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How is a silo emptied? Systems and operation | Poggi S.p.A.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How is a silo emptied? Discover discharge systems, screw conveyors, vibrators, fluidization, safety and weighing for industrial silos.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Poggi S.p.a.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-25T10:22:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-25T12:34:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"517\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"336\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"editor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"editor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"editor\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/person\/16e128739cd24ca8ced50760238c26f0\"},\"headline\":\"How is a silo emptied?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-25T10:22:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-25T12:34:15+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/\"},\"wordCount\":1138,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Guide to bulk material storage\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/\",\"name\":\"How is a silo emptied? Systems and operation | Poggi S.p.A.\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-25T10:22:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-25T12:34:15+00:00\",\"description\":\"How is a silo emptied? Discover discharge systems, screw conveyors, vibrators, fluidization, safety and weighing for industrial silos.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp\",\"width\":517,\"height\":336,\"caption\":\"Multiple bolted silos\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How is a silo emptied?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/\",\"name\":\"Poggi S.p.a. - Produttori di Silos dal 1945\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Poggi S.p.a. - Produttori di Silos dal 1945\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Logo-Poggi-S.p.A.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Logo-Poggi-S.p.A.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":105,\"caption\":\"Poggi S.p.a. - Produttori di Silos dal 1945\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/person\/16e128739cd24ca8ced50760238c26f0\",\"name\":\"editor\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How is a silo emptied? Systems and operation | Poggi S.p.A.","description":"How is a silo emptied? Discover discharge systems, screw conveyors, vibrators, fluidization, safety and weighing for industrial silos.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How is a silo emptied? Systems and operation | Poggi S.p.A.","og_description":"How is a silo emptied? Discover discharge systems, screw conveyors, vibrators, fluidization, safety and weighing for industrial silos.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/","og_site_name":"Poggi S.p.a.","article_published_time":"2026-06-25T10:22:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-25T12:34:15+00:00","og_image":[{"width":517,"height":336,"url":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"editor","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"editor","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/"},"author":{"name":"editor","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/person\/16e128739cd24ca8ced50760238c26f0"},"headline":"How is a silo emptied?","datePublished":"2026-06-25T10:22:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-25T12:34:15+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/"},"wordCount":1138,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp","articleSection":["Guide to bulk material storage"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/","url":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/","name":"How is a silo emptied? Systems and operation | Poggi S.p.A.","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp","datePublished":"2026-06-25T10:22:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-25T12:34:15+00:00","description":"How is a silo emptied? Discover discharge systems, screw conveyors, vibrators, fluidization, safety and weighing for industrial silos.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Multiple-bolted-silos.webp","width":517,"height":336,"caption":"Multiple bolted silos"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/how-is-a-silo-emptied\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How is a silo emptied?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/","name":"Poggi S.p.a. - Produttori di Silos dal 1945","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#organization","name":"Poggi S.p.a. - Produttori di Silos dal 1945","url":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Logo-Poggi-S.p.A.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Logo-Poggi-S.p.A.png","width":300,"height":105,"caption":"Poggi S.p.a. - Produttori di Silos dal 1945"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/#\/schema\/person\/16e128739cd24ca8ced50760238c26f0","name":"editor"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135247"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":135265,"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135247\/revisions\/135265"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.poggi-spa.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}