Whitepaper Futureproof Sugar Storage for Producers

ESI Eurosilo is a solution provider in storage facilities for non-free flowing bulk solids and large quantities. Our highly automated silos offer maximum control in material handling, up to 100.000 m3, while saving operational costs and valuable space. Experts in storage challenges We are a leading Dutch engineering and contracting company in storage solutions for non-free flowing bulk solids and large quantities. Our team of engineers and project managers are passionate about every touch point between bulk materials and storage solutions. What started with an innovative storage silo for a Dutch potato starch manufacturer in the late 1960s, has now evolved into a range of powerful Eurosilo Solutions for customers in major industries around the globe. Our expertise has been recognized by operators, engineering contractors, consultancy agencies and material handling engineers throughout the power industry, chemistry and agriculture. Our scope The scope of ESI Eurosilo is design, engineering, production, installation, inspection and maintenance of handling and storage systems (Eurosilo system) for bulk solids such as mammoth silos and related systems. At ESI Eurosilo we are eager to work in close cooperation with customers and technology partners so that we can assure a perfect fit for all requirements.

ESI is the partner for Weibull owners to keep their sugar silos up and running, since Weibull directed its activities to other markets in the mid-1990s With a similar working principle as the Eurosilo system, ESI is the partner for more and more Weibull owners to keep their silos up and running, since Weibull directed its activities to other markets in the mid-1990s. Originally, the Weibull silos were developed for the Swedish beet sugar industry. The first silo, built in 1933, was designed by Nils Weibull, a civil engineer. Since then, the silo system was modified for other applications such as starch, lime, and fly ash. The main application however still is white sugar. Wide Adoption The Weibull silos offered an effective alternative to ground-level warehouses in terms of space requirements, handling costs, and control of temperature and humidity. This is why the use of Weibull silos quickly spread across sugar producing regions in Europe and the USA. With infeed from the top, a distribution frame to create layers inside the silo, and a mechanical outfeed system, the silos are also suitable for other materials.

ESI introduces the Eurosilo system that future proof sugar production, with conditioned storage and easy maintenance. Producing white sugar from sugar beets is one of the primary industries in Europe. Consolidation and optimisation of the production facilities are the main strategies for sugar producers. This focus on production has led to less attention for storage. Many outdated and inefficient sugar silos are still in operation. Maintenance issues have become a major concern, while production volumes increased without significant change in storage capacity. ESI introduces the Eurosilo System to provide operational and strategic advantages. Many sugar storage facilities date back to the 1980s or even the 1960s. Meanwhile, technology has advanced a lot, offering automation and improved efficiency, while original silo manufacturers such as Weibull, ABR, and Spaans, have left the market. This leaves it up to the resourcefulness of technical departments to keep these silos up and running. Additionally, the regulations for the production environment have become stricter, particularly

The Eurosilo concept, a highly automated, space-saving vertical storage system, is currently being researched for the storage of ores and soybeans. Now that the Eurosilo concept has become a renowned solution in number of industries, the concept of highly automated space saving vertical storage is drawing attention from different parties in other industries. This is why last year was decisive in kicking off our long term strategy with ground breaking R&D projects, headed by Sjaak van Hurck, Technical Director at ESI. Change and transformation The impact of global developments such as growing population, climate change and increasingly scarce natural resources is driving change and transformation in major industries. This is impacting regional regulations as well as supply chains, business models and technological developments. At ESI, Sjaak van Hurck is leading R&D projects that arise from a faster changing world: “The increased demand of steel has now led to a race for manganese ore in the mining industry. So we are asked to study the possibility of the Eurosilo for large scale storage of ore.” Testing