2022 Blogs

If you've noticed a change in your production schedules, a clogged silo could be to blame. As material builds up inside your silo, it causes material flow issues that can slow down your daily operations. These blockages can bring your entire operation to a standstill when left unchecked. Blockages and material flow issues can also stress your silo beyond what it was designed to withstand, resulting in delamination, cracking, and even structural wall failure.

 

While it's true that getting your silo professionally cleaned necessitates planned downtime, that's always preferable to unplanned downtime. You can also help make the most of professional silo cleaning by choosing a silo cleaning company that can get the job done quickly without sacrificing quality or safety.

 

Silo cleaning methods generally involve specialized equipment and vacuum truck services. Silo cleaning equipment is typically one of three different types of silo cleaning machines: whip, pneumatic, or enhanced pneumatic. The most powerful system available in the US is used exclusively by USA Silo Service. The enhanced pneumatic system, The Boss™, uses a unique clean-out head and is up to two-thirds more powerful than conventional silo cleaning methods. In addition, the Boss USA accelerates the cleaning process by removing more material faster and more efficiently than any other clean-out method, including the whip system.

 

Our silo-cleaning machine is the boss of silo cleaning because it is the fastest and most efficient approach in the industry. This means less time spent on-site and less downtime, which equals immediate cost savings. USA Silo Service further maximizes your cost savings by evaluating material removed during cleaning to see if it can be salvaged for use. Anything that cannot be used can be removed via our vacuum truck service.

 

Schedule your next silo cleaning today. The Boss silo cleaning machine and USA Silo Service can help you get back on a regular silo cleaning schedule to maximize your efficiency, production, and safety.

 

Get a Quote for Silo Cleaning

Storage silos, bins, and silo buildings fail at a higher rate than almost any other form of industrial equipment. That's because silo failure can include minimal events that do not cause safety concerns and catastrophic events where the silo and stored material are lost, neighboring structures are damaged, and serious injuries or death occur. To help ensure your silo can withstand daily stresses from stored materials and adverse weather, selecting the most durable silo construction material is essential.

 

Both steel and concrete silos are commonly used in industry to store ash, coal, lime, aggregate and more. Yet there is a clear winner when it comes to the durability of steel versus concrete for silo construction. Steel structures are notoriously susceptible to costly corrosion issues, especially with corrosive or moist stored materials. They are also highly susceptible to catastrophic failure from extreme weather conditions, including high winds. Concrete silos are favored over steel silos because they can withstand various harsh weather conditions and pressures that would cause steel silos to buckle. Concrete silo construction also provides better corrosion resistance, including corrosion of internal walls due to the stored bulk solid and external corrosion caused by moisture.

 

Concrete offers numerous advantages over steel in silo design and construction, resulting in minimal maintenance to sustain overall function and safety. However, all silos, regardless of construction material, are still susceptible to deterioration and wear due to environmental conditions and structural stress from normal usage. Periodic inspections can locate areas of concern and prevent issues, such as wall failure, cracking, and structural deterioration, that could lead to workplace injuries or deaths. Silo failure can happen for a number of reasons that are often preventable and easily corrected if caught early. A proactive inspection program can safeguard your team members and ensure your structures' safety and continued operation.

 

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.

All silos eventually need to be cleaned. When the time comes for either routine silo cleaning or material buildup removal, it's best to count on silo cleaning methods that have been proven for safety and efficiency.

 

Manual Silo Cleaning

 

When looking to cut overhead costs, companies often postpone essential silo cleaning or attempt to remove silo blockages or material buildup using in-house labor. However, both of these approaches are not only inefficient, they are extremely dangerous. Failing to follow through with regular silo cleaning can put your silo at risk of catastrophic failure. Material flow issues disrupt the equal distribution of pressure on silo walls. This can lead to stress beyond what the silo was designed to withstand, resulting in delamination, cracking, and even structural wall failure.

 

Unskilled labor used for silo cleaning can lead to structural failure and other costly damages. Falling materials dislodged during manual silo cleaning can damage silo cones, break through walls, or lead to severe injury and even death. When it comes to manual silo cleaning, the bottom line is that it is unsafe. Manual silo cleaning often relies on dangerous confined-space entry. Not only does this put workers at risk of injury from falling materials, but toxic fumes or unsafe oxygen levels are also huge risks.

 

Professional Silo Cleaning Techniques

 

When looking for proven silo cleaning methods, it is essential to employ qualified, trained silo cleaning professionals. A professionally cleaned silo maintains workplace safety and decreases the potential liability for work-related accidents. When looking for a professional silo cleaning company, it is important to review its reputation as well as the cleaning system used. A professional silo cleaning company will use a remote silo cleaning machine that safely removes material buildup, restoring your silo to its original storage capacity.

 

Types of remote, dry silo cleaning systems include:

USA Silo Service has been cleaning all types of silos and storage domes for nearly thirty years. In that time, we've seen time and time again the enhanced pneumatic cleaning method with our proprietary cleanout head is the most powerful silo cleaning method available.

 

Our proven silo cleaning techniques get the job done quickly, effectively, and safely every time. When combined with our vacuum truck services, we can quickly remove or relocate silo debris recovered during cleaning. That's why we're the go-to silo cleaning company for expert silo cleaning.

 

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