Celebrating its 50th anniversary in Zaragoza, Spanish silo specialist SIMEZA has evolved from a local steel pioneer into a global storage partner for millers and grain handlers on five continents. Speaking to Miller Magazine, CEO Alberto Baena explains how “elegant engineering”, tailor-made designs and a focus on long-term reliability are shaping the company’s next chapter in smart grain storage.
Alberto Baena
CEO of SIMEZA
Under the glow of Zaragoza’s evening lights, as SIMEZA welcomed more than 200 guests from 45 countries to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Miller Magazine was there to witness the milestone first-hand and sit down with the man now steering the company into its next chapter: CEO Alberto Baena.
From its beginnings in 1975 as Silos Metálicos Zaragoza to its current role within the Tornum Group, SIMEZA has grown from a local Spanish pioneer into a global silo specialist, delivering modular steel storage solutions from Europe and the Middle East to Africa, Latin America and South Asia.
In this exclusive on-site interview in Zaragoza, Baena reflects on the “elegant solutions” philosophy that has shaped SIMEZA’s engineering culture, explains how listening to plant operators rather than chasing one-size-fits-all designs has defined the brand, and outlines how the company plans to tackle the next decade with taller hoppers, smarter fumigation systems and data-driven “smart storage” – while keeping the same core promise it made in 1975: to build silo plants, and relationships, that last a lifetime.
In the following conversation, Alberto Baena shares his reflections on the company’s journey so far and its roadmap for the future.
Mr. Baena, congratulations on SIMEZA’s 50th anniversary. Looking back over these five decades, how would you summarise the core values that have guided the company?
Thank you. If I had to summarize our journey, it comes down to listening and engineering integrity. Since our foundation, SIMEZA has prided itself on stepping away from the “standard solutions” that dominate the market. Our core value has always been to deliver products that are custom-made and address real, everyday operational needs.
We believe in “elegant solutions”—this means we don’t cut corners on the accessories that impact daily operations, like sturdy doors, resistant catwalks, and customized stairs. We listen to plant operators to manufacture equipment that serves a real purpose, rather than just working from a drawing table perspective. A silo plant lasts a lifetime, and our guiding value is ensuring our clients remain satisfied with our products for that entire journey.
Looking back to 1975 when the company was founded in Zaragoza, what were the founding ambitions, and how have they evolved by 2025?
SIMEZA was founded in 1975 by two friends, Mr. Lopez and Mr. Perez Campos, in the outskirts of Zaragoza. Their ambition was clear and adamant from day one: to manufacture high-quality corrugated silos. We were not a generalist company that stumbled into this sector; we were purpose-built for it.
In those early days, the ambition was to be pioneers in Spain and Europe, focusing largely on local markets before we began exporting in the 80s. By 2025, that ambition has evolved into a truly global vision. Through our integration into the Tornum Group, we have moved from a strong local player to a global force with a strengthened position in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, while maintaining our manufacturing heart in Utebo.
NEW PRIORITIES IN STORAGE
In a market with increasing demands for efficiency, sustainability and automation, what new product or technology trends is SIMEZA focusing on?
We are currently seeing two major trends demanded by customers worldwide: wider, taller hoppers and strict fumigation systems.
Our engineering department is focusing on solutions that go a step beyond standard capabilities. For example, we have recently focused on designing high-capacity storage that meets the strictest fumigation requisites, specifically aligned with Australian regulations. Furthermore, we are embracing the necessity of automation and AI—not just in the product, but in how we manufacture—to stay ahead and offer meaningful solutions in an increasingly demanding market.
Are there any special projects, innovations or launches tied to this anniversary that our readers should watch out for?
To mark this era of our history, we have recently completed a project that reaffirms our position as a creative and resourceful company: the world’s largest hopper silo installation.
We delivered four of these massive units, each with a 3,000 tM capacity and 13.8-meter diameter, totaling 12,000 tM. Additionally, we have successfully engineered several installations built under those strict fumigation requisites I mentioned. These projects demonstrate that at 50 years old, SIMEZA is still operating on the cutting edge of advanced engineering solutions.
LOCAL CHALLENGES, CUSTOMISED STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Grain storage remains a critical link in the global value chain. What unique challenges have you observed when working in different regions? How do you tailor your storage-solutions and services to regional differences (climate, commodity type, infrastructure)?
The main challenge is that you cannot rely on a “one-size-fits-all” approach. This is where our integration with Tornum has been a tremendous benefit. Tornum’s spirit is about being close to the users, which allows us to have local teams that understand specific grain conditions, harvest cycles, and climate challenges on the ground.
By gathering these specific local needs, our engineering backbone in Spain can calculate tailor-made solutions. Whether it is designing for heavy snow loads in Scandinavia or complex air recirculation systems for fumigation, we tailor the solution to the environment. We manufacture detailed-oriented products because we know that in different regions, a silo isn’t just storage—it’s a vital operational asset that must withstand specific local stresses.
SIMEZA operates in a wide geographies including Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Which regions are you seeing the strongest growth currently? Which regional markets do you see as the most promising for storage solutions over the next 5–10 years?
Traditionally, the EMEA region is where SIMEZA has shined. However, our recent integration into the Tornum Group has significantly strengthened our growth in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
Looking at promising emerging markets, Bangladesh has been growing strong and steady for the last decade; it is a country changing by the day with plenty of business opportunities. Additionally, we see continued strategic importance in the Middle East, demonstrated by our recent delivery of a massive 215,000 tM storage capacity installation in Saudi Arabia. These regions represent high-volume demands where our capacity for large-scale projects is vital.
A STRATEGIC BUFFER FOR FOOD SECURITY
Given the growing global demand for grain and the pressures on the food-supply chain, how would you summarise the strategic importance of modern grain storage systems for the industry? What role do storage technologies play in improving food security and reducing post-harvest loss globally?
The geopolitical and economic upheavals of the last five years—specifically the “before and after” of Covid—have changed the conversation around storage. We witnessed the fragility of international supply chains and the disruption of logistics.
As a result, many countries that previously relied safely on international trade realized they needed to invest in grain facilities for safety stock. Modern grain storage is no longer just about logistics; it is about food security. Governments and corporations are realizing that robust, high-capacity storage is the only buffer against the volatility that impregnates the current economic system.
One key trend is the integration of IoT sensors, AI-driven analytics and real-time monitoring in storage systems. How is your company responding to this “smart storage” wave?
We view the embrace of automation and AI as essential to staying ahead. In the silo business, moving forward requires more than just steel; it requires “smart” integration.
Our approach is driven by our engineering department. Just as we rely on factory automation to absorb harvest peaks and deliver large projects, we are integrating these technologies into our design philosophy. By working with the broader grain processing ecosystem through our partners, we are positioning SIMEZA to offer solutions that are not just physically sturdy, but operationally intelligent.
We largely benefit from Tornum Group strategy, which is strongly positioning themselves as one of the key players on smart plant management thanks to their advanced software solutions in grain drying.
THE ROAD TO 60
As you celebrate the 50th anniversary, what target or milestone does SIMEZA set for its 60th anniversary? Could you share a long-term vision or mission statement for the next decade?
The world is moving fast towards protectionism and entry barriers, which challenges the global approach necessary for economy-of-scale manufacturing. Our vision for the next decade is to navigate this by remaining the most resourceful and creative engineering partner in the market.
For our 60th anniversary, we aim to continue surpassing what other silo companies can design—delivering projects that are wider, taller, and more technically complex. We will continue to invest in automation and lean manufacturing at our Utebo site to ensure that, regardless of global barriers, we remain competitive and profitable while reducing our carbon footprint.
Finally, to mark the 50-year celebration, what message would you like to share with SIMEZA’s customers, partners and the global grain storage community?
A silo plant is built to last a lifetime, and so are our relationships. To our customers and partners: Thank you for trusting us with the most important business in the world.
SIMEZA has thriven because we do not cut corners. We believe in elegant, sturdy solutions that work for the people operating them every day. As we look to the future, our promise remains the same as it was in 1975: to listen to your needs and deliver engineering that stands the test of time.