Silos and Industrial Construction
Since 1968, we have used the splitform system to build more than 350 silos to store all kinds of materials — cement, clinker, sugar, flour, cereals, slag, etc.— in a variety of sizes and typologies — cylindrical, multi-chamber, cell batteries (multicellular), etc. — sometimes reaching diameters of more than 50 meters and heights in excess of 100 meters.
Industrial construction refers to large projects related with industry and productive capacity.
One the most common elements are silos and spaces to store material in optimum conditions. Nevertheless, it also includes everything from solar farms to warehouse construction with prefabricated items.
To construct the sugar silo in Olmedo (dimensions: 50 m in diameter and 50 m tall), we set up the slipform system to raise the roof while, at the same time, the concrete of the structure was sliding.
Silo Construction
When it comes to planning and executing this type of construction project, interior liner engineering is key. Sugar silos need a special degree of care, and not only because the end product is for human consumption (sugar is just one example of silo material for human consumption).
Sugar, flour, wheat and other powders suspended in the air can easily explode. When we designed the expansion of the Olmedo sugar silo (in Valladolid, to a 70,000-tonne capacity), we had to consider these and other construction factors that would affect construction work, maintenance and operations.
Due to their elongated shape, silos are the perfect candidates for constructing with slipform. This is a high-altitude concrete pouring technique that facilitates the inclusion of post-tensioned elements, reduces walls to a certain height, and executes holes as the silo grows in height.
Industrial Construction: Towers
Within industrial construction sector we also build (in addition to silos) preheating towers (cyclone towers) for cement plants. One that stands out is in Tudela Veguín, as it was constructed with a type of concrete that is highly resistant to extreme temperatures and temperature changes. Prilling towers are extremely tall, vertical constructions used to produce fertilizers in the shape of spherical particles or prills. These towers are a specific and infrequent use of preheating towers (using direct contact method). Melted fertilizer pulverizes and condenses in seconds.
