CHUTE FOR FRAGILE GOODS – Flexible silo storage
Ensure the integrity of your friable materials and optimise your production flow with the SYVRAC slow-release solution. Conventional vertical storage poses a major challenge for sensitive products such as salt pellets, friable granules or certain foodstuffs. Free-falling in a silo causes destructive impacts, resulting in breakage and (fine) dust that compromise the quality of the finished product.
The principle of slow descent
The SYVRAC chute silo is based on precision engineering that eliminates destructive kinetic energy during filling. SYVRAC’s innovation incorporates a bespoke stainless steel helical chute inside its flexible silos. This system guides the material by gravity along a gentle stainless steel slope, eliminating the kinetic energy associated with free-fall. This allows you to move from just-in-time management to a secure buffer stock, without altering the physical characteristics of your products. The equipment is quickly operational, helping to resolve production losses caused by non-compliant products.
Key features
- Gravity-fed operation: The product is conveyed to the top of the silo (ideally via a belt conveyor) and deposited onto an inclined chute.
- Spiral guidance: The bespoke, curved chute guides the material down a gentle slope. The products slide down a smooth stainless steel wall, maintaining a constant, low speed right up to the filling point.
- Hybrid design: The equipment combines the flexibility of a technical textile liner with the rigidity of an internal 304L stainless steel structure.
- Ingenious assembly: To allow this rigid structure to be inserted, the silo fabric is fitted with a technical Velcro fastening, ensuring a perfect seal after installation.
Key benefits
- Material preservation: Elimination of attrition and mechanical fragmentation. Your products retain their original shape and surface finish, without the formation of dust.
- Operational flexibility: Creating a buffer tank breaks the reliance on just-in-time production. Your production continues to run even in the event of a temporary stoppage on the packaging line.
- Optimisation of OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness): Reduction in material losses and downtime associated with the handling of non-conforming products.
- Simplified hygiene and maintenance: Corrosion-resistant 304L stainless steel structure, external support system preventing any mechanical contact with the floor inside the storage area, and easy access via the technical access hatch.
- Flexible installation: The flexible silo can be easily installed in existing buildings without the need for heavy foundations.
Technical specifications
- Slide material: High-quality 304L stainless steel (suitable for corrosive environments such as those containing salt).
- Chute dimensions: 30 cm wide with guide flanges.
- Height capacity: From 3.50 m (standard) up to 5.50 m of usable height.
- Casing: Flexible, high-strength textile silo with a Velcro fastening system for installation and maintenance.
- Support structure: Free-standing metal framework with suspended chute for optimum hygiene.
- Bespoke configuration: Adjustment of the screw pitch according to the friability and particle size of the product.
- Options: Integration of level sensors, weighing on load cells, additional dust extraction system.
Let's Build Your Storage Solution Together
Dominique M.
Powder Process Solution Expert
Frequently asked questions about the chute for fragile goods
How can fragile goods be stored in a silo without breaking them?
It is essential to prevent free-fall. The internal chute guides the product down a gentle slope, limiting its descent speed and preventing a sudden impact at the bottom of the silo or on the existing pile.
How do you install a rigid chute in a flexible silo?
Using an exclusive technical Velcro fastening system on the silo fabric. This allows the support structure and the chute to be fitted inside the fabric shell whilst ensuring airtightness and protection against moisture.
What are the advantages of a flexible silo over a rigid silo for these products?
The flexible silo offers great flexibility in terms of installation and lower costs. Combined with the stainless steel chute, it provides superior mechanical protection compared to traditional flat storage, whilst optimising floor space.
Which transfer system should be chosen to feed the chute?
For highly friable products, we recommend combining the chute with a belt conveyor. This ‘passive’ system preserves the structure of the material, unlike pneumatic transfer, which can be too aggressive.
Our achievements for CHUTE FOR FRAGILE GOODS – Flexible silo storage
Since 2014, we have acquired solid expertise and experience in installing solutions for the storage, transfer and dosing of powdered raw materials for our customers. Discover our achievements.
