A silo specification is a lot more than a capacity number — construction material, bottom geometry, level sensing, and discharge configuration all need to be matched to your material and process for the silo to actually perform. Here's the full spec breakdown.
Capacity and Dimensions
- Capacity range: 5 tonnes to 10,000+ tonnes, design-specific
- Diameter: 1m to 10m+, application-dependent
Capacity should be sized against your actual buffer requirement — production rate, delivery frequency, and how much downtime you need to be able to absorb without running out — not rounded up to the nearest standard-sounding number.
Construction Materials
- Mild steel (epoxy lined): cost-effective standard for many non-corrosive, non-hygienic materials
- Stainless steel 304 (SS304): general corrosion resistance, common for food and general processing
- Stainless steel 316 (SS316): higher corrosion resistance, for aggressive chemicals or higher hygiene requirements
- Hot-dip galvanised: cost-effective corrosion protection for outdoor or exposed installations
Choosing between these comes down to your material's corrosivity, your hygiene classification, and whether the silo is indoor or exposed to weather — not simply picking stainless as a default "safe" option when mild steel would perform just as well at lower cost.
Bottom Configuration
- Cone bottom (60° half-angle): mass flow discharge, FIFO-capable, suited to cohesive materials
- Flat bottom: lower cost, needs aeration or vibration assistance for cohesive materials, suited to free-flowing granules
Level Sensing Options
- Ultrasonic
- Radar
- Vibrating paddle (point level, high/low alarm)
- Capacitance probe
The right sensing technology depends on dust levels inside the silo, the material's dielectric properties, and whether you need continuous level readout or simple high/low alarms.
Discharge Valve Options
- Rotary valve
- Slide gate
- Butterfly valve
- Screw conveyor
Discharge valve selection should match downstream equipment and the material's flow characteristics — a butterfly valve suited to free-flowing granules isn't necessarily the right choice for a cohesive powder that needs a rotary valve's more positive metering action.
Other Features
Aeration (sintered HDPE or stainless pads) assists flow on flat-bottom designs or cohesive materials in cone-bottom designs. Access points (manway, inspection port, sample port) and roof venting (bag filter vent, pressure relief valve) round out a complete specification — venting in particular is a safety-relevant spec, not optional.
Standards Compliance
ENZAC's silos are designed to be DOSH compliant with structural design to BS/EN or applicable local standards — relevant for both regulatory approval and structural safety at the tonnages involved.
What to Send With Your Enquiry
Material data sheet (bulk density, moisture content, cohesiveness/flow properties), required capacity, indoor or outdoor installation, and hygiene classification. Review the full Silo / Bulk Storage range before finalising your specification.
Ready to talk about your silo / bulk storage?
ENZAC designs and supplies bulk storage silos in Malaysia sized to your material and capacity requirements. Send us your material data and required capacity and we'll return a tailored specification.