Silo linings installation case study

A silo manufacturer was facing high third-party installation costs for liners in their bio coal cone silos. To ensure the project could move forward and remain in-budget, they needed to identify an easy-to-install solution that didn’t require third-party involvement.

Our solution was a new lining system made from advanced thermoplastics, specifically our TIVAR^® 88 UHMW-PE lining material.

Not only did this high-performance material enable efficient bulk flow, the improved design also protected the steel base and reduced the risk of failure.

Industry: Linings, Chemical Plant Engineering

Solution:A preassembled drop-in interlocking installation method

Products: TIVAR^™ 88-2 ESD

Results: A substantial cost reduction, elimination of a third-party vendor and the ability to self-install with just two operators in about half a day

Easing installation costs for silo liners at large dimensions

Umtec Halle GmbH, manufacturer of custom silos, needed a lining for silo cones that would enable efficient material flow for their customer in the bio coal power industry.

However, their budget for the project precluded engaging a third-party to install the liners. So they contacted MCG for a liner option that they could install themselves.

Typical liners are installed by fastening a series of panels to the silo piece-by-piece. The more fasteners required, the greater the time and complexity of the operation, and the greater the need to hire a third-party for installation. In order to keep costs low, installation for these 12 steel silo liners would need to involve as few fasteners as possible.

One option might have been a drop-in liner – a welded, single-unit liner that is pre-fabricated to the exact dimensions of the silo, eliminating the need for a panel-by-panel installation. However, the dimensions of the silos were too large for the drop-in liner format.

Given these cost and size limitations, could MCG make it possible for the customer to self-install silo liners?

A new method of silo liner installation

We created a pre-assembled drop-in liner made from TIVAR™ 88-2 ESD, an electrostatic dissipative UHMW-PE lining material that prevents the build-up of electrical charges and promotes flow in dusty materials like bio coal.

Via special machining, we developed a new installation method that relies on interlocking segments held in place by fastening elements that are pre-inserted during liner production. This made it possible for the silo manufacturer to assemble the final components directly on the silo winding production line while the cones were being constructed at the factory.

This solution can be installed like a drop-in liner and does not require any fasteners to affix it to the steel cone.

An innovative answer to a unique challenge to help our customer stay competitive

In addition providing the customer with TIVAR™ 88-2 ESD, the optimal lining material for the application, we also worked together to overcome specific installation challenges and design a silo liner that could provide a model for the future.

This interlocking liner solution allowed our customer to save almost €235,000 in installation costs, ensuring both that the project could continue and they could remain competitive.

Are you facing a similar manufacturing challenge for your project? Contact our expert teams today.