Carl Strijbol
Head of Sales
SCE

As global food demand continues to rise, the need for efficient, reliable grain storage solutions becomes increasingly important. SCE’s square silos offer unique advantages over traditional round silos, particularly in terms of airtightness and temperature control—two crucial factors for maintaining the safety and quality of stored grains.

In a world facing growing food insecurity due to population growth, climate change, and supply chain disruptions, strategic grain storage is essential to ensuring the availability of staple foods such as wheat, rice and pulses. Poor storage practices can result in spoilage, pest infestations, and significant losses in both grain quality and quantity. That’s why grain storage isn’t just about preserving crops. It’s about safeguarding the future. At SCE, we’ve made it our mission to help the world store goods responsibly and innovatively. Our square silo blocks offer an innovative alternative to the traditional round silos commonly used for strategic grain storage today.

Airtight silos according AS2628: The foundation of effective pest control

Successfully storing grain for extended periods depends on two critical factors. The first is effectively reducing or eliminating pests. Insects and rodents can severely damage stored grains, causing contamination and substantial losses. Traditional pest control methods, such as fumigation with chemicals like phosphine, carry potential health and environmental risks. These methods, while effective, may leave residues that are undesirable when storing food products.

An alternative method is low-oxygen treatment, where oxygen inside the silo is replaced with an inert gas, such as nitrogen which is completely food safe. This creates a low-oxygen environment in which pests cannot survive. Since square silos can be designed to be airtight, the inertization process is more efficient, environmental and effective. This AS2628 airtight design reduces the time required to create a low-oxygen environment, cutting overall costs and time spent in pest management.

Airtight silos also significantly improve the efficiency of inertization by maintaining lower oxygen levels for longer periods, reducing the need for frequent interventions. This ensures that grain remains protected for extended storage periods, minimizing the risk of pest damage and spoilage.

Superior Temperature Control

Maintaining an ideal temperature is another critical challenge in grain storage. Grain stored at high temperatures is more susceptible to mold growth and insect infestations, while excessive temperature fluctuations can lead to moisture buildup inside the silo, compromising the grain’s integrity.

SCE’s square silos are designed with superior temperature control features, making them an excellent choice for long-term storage. The square shape allows for better insulation compared to traditional round silos. One bin can contain up to 1000 To of grains, these bins can be placed modular into a compact block of up to 50.000 To while safeguarding different batches. The silos are customized to protect your process.

One key advantage is the ability to place square silos adjacent to each other, meaning only the outer walls are exposed to external temperature fluctuations. This reduces the overall surface area exposed to outside heat, minimizing the amount of heat that penetrates the silo. In contrast, round silos have a larger surface area in contact with external temperatures, leading to higher energy consumption to maintain optimal conditions.

The square shape also makes it easier to insulate using standard prefabricated components like insulated sandwich panels, providing cost-effective insulation for the storage unit. 

This results in lower energy requirements. For example, round silo buildings require 288% more air to be conditioned compared to an SCE square silo building. This lower energy demand makes square silos not only more efficient in maintaining ideal temperatures but also more environmentally friendly and cost-effective over time.

Conclusion

As global food demand continues to rise, the need for efficient, reliable grain storage solutions becomes increasingly important. SCE’s square silos offer unique advantages over traditional round silos, particularly in terms of airtightness and temperature control—two crucial factors for maintaining the safety and quality of stored grains.

The airtight design of SCE’s square silos makes them an ideal choice for inertization processes, reducing the risk of pest infestation while cutting down on time, cost, and labor. Furthermore, the superior temperature control offered by the square design ensures grain remains in a stable environment, shielded from external heat and temperature fluctuations. This combination not only enhances the efficiency of storage operations but also contributes to long-term sustainability.