The challenge: why storage is essential
In today's agricultural sector, we at Polem understand that efficient storage is not a luxury but a necessity. Conversations with our agricultural customers reveal that the quality of storage systems directly impacts their business results. Moisture, product flow, and durability are challenges that many agricultural entrepreneurs face daily.
What agricultural customers tell us
In our fifty years of experience developing storage solutions for the agricultural sector, we've learned a great deal from our customers. The problems they experienced with traditional steel silos – such as product clumping due to moisture and material remaining in corners and seams – have helped us better understand what's needed in the field.
Experiences from poultry farmers: "Always perfect feed and no separation"
Udo Baumeister and Stephan Werthmann, owners of Landwirt Baumeister in Breckerfeld, Germany, share their experience with our flat-bottom silos: "The flat-bottom silos are ideal; no separation and the feed always flows consistently."
"We initially wondered if a flat-bottom silo would really make such a difference, but now we wouldn't want to be without it," says Baumeister. "When we heard about this silo from a colleague ten years ago, we already had several funnel silos from Polem. But I wasn't familiar with the flat-bottom. After positive reports from other poultry farmers and our feed supplier, we decided to take the plunge."
The results proved convincing: "In the barn with the flat-bottom silo, we see higher laying percentages and better feed conversion compared to the two other barns with funnel silos. Our laying percentages are stable, the hens remain productive longer, and feed conversion has improved. We saw such a clear difference that we decided to replace our funnel silos with flat-bottom silos."
"Very satisfied! No problems and easy to clean"
Another experience comes from Rune Thomsen, manager of the Williamsborg estate in Denmark, a business with 110,000 broilers and more than 1,000 hectares of agricultural land where wheat, barley, rapeseed, and peas are grown.
"When we took over an outdated pig farm in 2015, we faced an enormous challenge," says Thomsen. "The old barns needed replacement, and we wanted to build a modern poultry farm with the best facilities. We chose Polem feed silos, and now – years later – we can say that we're still very satisfied with them."
The Williamsborg estate uses six Polem silos: four 60 m³ and two 13 m³ for buffer storage. Thomsen particularly appreciates the hygienic aspects: "A major advantage is that the silos are easy to clean. We noticed this, for example, during a salmonella outbreak, when the cleaning process went smoothly."
How different silo solutions address specific challenges
1. Flat-bottom silos and quality preservation
For poultry farmers like Baumeister and Werthmann, the benefits of flat-bottom silos are concretely measurable:
- Continuous feed flow without interruptions
- Prevention of separation of feed components
- First-in, first-out principle ensures that the oldest feed is used first
The Air-Control system also ensures optimal temperature in the silo, preventing mold formation and feed quality loss. "This means less waste and stable nutritional value, regardless of weather conditions," says Baumeister.
2. Hygiene and cleanability
In poultry farming, hygiene is a critical factor. Thomsen emphasizes: "The seamless construction prevents weak spots and keeps the feed in perfect condition. The silos are easy to clean, which proved crucial during a salmonella outbreak."
This experience illustrates an important advantage of composite silos: due to the smooth surface and seamless construction, they are easy to clean and disinfect, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
3. Durability and ease of maintenance
Thomsen appreciates the long-term benefits: "They are designed to last for years and remain in top condition, making our investment profitable in the long run. The combination of high-quality materials and thoughtful design ensures that we have experienced no problems with the storage or flow of the feed."
Other customers also appreciate our composite construction primarily for:
- Absence of corrosion problems, even with aggressive fertilizers
- Long lifespan without visible degradation from UV radiation
- Consistent performance regardless of seasonal changes
Baumeister confirms this: "The silos require minimal maintenance and ensure a constant feed quality, which is essential for the health and performance of our chickens."
Automation and efficiency
Modern agriculture demands efficient systems. Thomsen appreciates the advanced features: "The silos are equipped with automatic filling systems and sensors, allowing optimal management of our own grain buffer storage."
Baumeister and Werthmann add: "Thanks to the right-angle transfer, the feed goes directly into the barn, without extra transfer points or sensors that could malfunction."
These technical solutions directly contribute to operational efficiency:
- Fewer moving parts means fewer malfunctions
- Direct transfer to the barn increases reliability
- Simple but effective systems reduce maintenance requirements
Applications for liquid product storage
With the brothers Hein and Lenus Waalkens, we've seen how the transition to composite tanks has led to what they describe as "reliable and solid storage of fertilizers." Their concrete experience aligns with what we hear from many agricultural customers.
For liquid products, the choice of the right agitator proves essential. Our customers often start with standard 3 kW systems but sometimes switch to 4 kW HD agitators with increased service factor for more intensive use.
The importance of maintenance and inspection
What we learn from our customers is the importance of regular maintenance. That's why we offer the Expert Check, where we work with customers to examine:
- The general condition of silos via an periodic inspection
- Early detection of potential problems to prevent costly damage
- Advice on optimal use for specific applications
Why investing in quality storage pays off
Based on customer feedback, we see that investments in high-quality storage systems pay off through:
- Reduced product losses
- Improved product quality
- Lower maintenance costs in the long term
- Fewer operational disruptions
As Baumeister summarizes: "The flat-bottom silos from Polem have proven to be of tremendous value to our business. Our hens perform better, the feed is optimally utilized, and maintenance is minimal. It's an investment that more than pays for itself."
Thomsen agrees: "The Polem silos offer our business not only convenience and reliability but also peace of mind. They contribute to efficient feed storage and an optimal living environment for our broilers."
For each agricultural business, the specific benefits differ depending on what is stored and under what conditions. But the feedback we receive consistently confirms: the quality of storage directly influences the quality of the end product.
For more information please check our website or contact us.
