The future of the cement industry depends on the storage of bulk materials – from the quarry and raw materials, blended raw meal, clinker, through to finished cement. Like other parts of the cement plant, such as conveyors and crushers, storage structures need to be maintained to deliver optimum performance. By Gerard Lynskey, SSI Consulting, USA.
The Florida roof collapse in 2012 at a cement facility raised awareness of the need for regular silo maintenance. Facility owners are facing increased scrutiny, with Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and state inspectors, who wield significant power, taking a more intrusive stance. As a result, some owners have undertaken a silo inspection programme, taking back control of their facilities. They lead the industry in showing that they see value in providing a reliable and safe workplace. Moreover, regular inspections can help to identify possible issues, saving money by taking action before the issues become real problems as well as giving owners valuable information in planning the future of the facilities.
