A cooling perspective on composite silos during hot summer days
A cold iced tea in hand. View over the water. The sun high in the sky. Nothing for a moment. Or perhaps... something. A thought about silos.
Why? Because even on such a scorching hot day, it's striking how cool a good design can stay. And that's when we think of composite silos from Polem.
The heatwave in the yard
While you enjoy the shade, your storage stands right in the sun. Temperatures rise above 30°C. The asphalt is too hot to walk on. And you wonder: how does my silo actually hold up in this heat?
With many traditional storage systems, summer is a problem. Metal silos turn into ovens. The contents clump together. Condensation causes mold. Products lose their quality. And the cooling system? It runs overtime.
Composite: the natural air conditioning
Where steel expands in heat, puts connections under stress and creates vapor, composite simply remains... cool. No condensation. No clumping. No extra cooling needed.
The secret? Thermal insulation.
- Composite: λ = 0.17 W/m·K
- Steel: λ = ±50 W/m·K
That's 300 times less heat conduction. In other words: the heat stays outside, your product stays at temperature inside – without energy consumption.
Case study: July in Brabant
A compound feed producer in the south of the Netherlands told us about a hot week with temperatures above 30°C.
Two silos next to each other: one steel, one Polem composite. Both filled with the same compound feed. After a week:
- Steel silo: condensation on the inner wall, clumping at the bottom, increased moisture content
- Polem silo: dry product, perfect discharge, no quality loss
The investment in composite had almost paid for itself that week, according to the owner.
Why composite makes the difference on hot days
Temperature stability
Heat stays outside, coolness inside. Ideal for temperature-sensitive products.
No condensation
Insulation prevents temperature differences – and thus condensation. And with it, moisture problems or mold.
Energy-efficient
Less or no cooling needed = lower operational costs and a smaller ecological footprint.
Product quality is maintained
Whether it's flour, salt, feed or chemicals – your product remains in top condition.
Less maintenance
No expansion, no stresses in connections. Less wear, longer lifespan.
More than just coolness
A Polem silo excels in more than just temperature control:
- Seamless and hygienic design
- Mirror-smooth inner wall
- Perfect discharge, even in summer
- Resistant to UV and thermal stress
- Flexible to adapt or expand
The summer test: do you recognize this?
Do you experience problems in summer with:
- Condensation on the inner wall
- Clumping of stored product
- High energy costs due to cooling
- Quality loss or mold formation
Then it's time to switch to composite.
Cool advice for hot days
Should storage also be refreshing? Then choose Polem. Seamless, strong, mirror-smooth – and summer cool.
Our specialists are happy to think along with you. Whether it's a compact silo or an industrial installation, we deliver the right solution for your situation.
Or design your silo directly via our configurator.
Every grain. Every drop.
Quality in, quality out.
It's not a silo or tank. It's a Polem.
