Belgische bakkerij optimaliseert meelverwerking

Smart storage, smooth dosing: how a Belgian bakery radically improved its flour processing thanks to Siloba and Polem

In the Belgian town of Bree stands an innovative bakery firm that daily delivers thousands of products to a growing customer base. Production increased, but the existing storage and dosing system for flour could not keep up with the growth. Inefficiency, waste, and quality differences threatened to endanger the continuity of delivery.

Challenges and analysis

The bakery faced multiple challenges:

Storage capacity no longer met demand
Switching between different flour types required time and led to error-prone processes The manual dosing process was labor-intensive and not consistent
The core of the problem lay in the combination of outdated infrastructure, lack of automation, and an inefficient transport process of flour to the kneaders. This resulted in unnecessary production downtime and quality variations in the dough.

Solution and implementation

Together with silo expert Polem and process automation specialist Siloba, a future-proof solution was designed:

One silo of 37 tons for white flour
Five silos of 7 tons each for different flour types
Fully equipped with filters, explosion panels, vibrating bottoms, and silo weighing

Additionally, an innovative mini-dosing room was set up with 12 stainless steel mini-silos for flour mixes. Through pneumatic transport, ingredients are precisely weighed in an automated weighing bunker. All systems are connected to the Siloba plc software, based on Siemens technology.

In a separate room of the warehouse, a mini-dosing station has been placed with 12 small stainless steel silos. Here, the different flour mixes are dosed into a weighing bunker via pneumatic transport, says Christophe from Siloba.

Results

The implementation had an immediate effect on the process:

Switches between flour types proceed faster and without contamination
Automatic dosing guarantees constant dough quality
Less manual labor thanks to full automation via recipe computer
Smooth connection between storage, dosing, and kneading

From both weighing bunkers, we then dump the flour together into the mobile kneading bowl. During the dumping of the flour, we then simultaneously dose, via the recipe computer, automatically the water, liquid yeast, and salt directly into the same kneading bowl.

Lessons learned

The collaboration between Siloba and Polem emphasized the importance of coordination between technology and practice. What worked well:

The robustness and hygiene of the composite silos
The flexibility of the mini-dosing system
The intuitive control of the plc software

Conclusion

This case shows how customization in storage and dosing leads to a more efficient and consistent baking process. By combining smart technology with practical insights from the bakery world, a solution was realized that is ready for the future. The collaboration between Siloba and Polem resulted in an optimized, safe, and hygienic approach to flour processing.

FAQ

Why are Polem's composite silos suitable for bakeries? Composite is a hygienic material that is resistant to temperature fluctuations. The silos are also seamless and insulating, which is ideal for storing food ingredients.
What exactly does the Siloba plc software do? This software automates the entire recipe process, including dosing flour, water, yeast, and salt. The system is based on a Siemens structure and ensures consistency in every production process.
Is this system also suitable for smaller bakeries? Yes, it is scalable and modularly constructed. Smaller productions can work perfectly with an adapted version of the system, for example with fewer silos or with manual input supported by software.
How safe are these silos for use with flour?Each silo is equipped with explosion panels, vibrating bottoms, and filters. This makes the whole system safe according to current standards for storing dust-sensitive raw materials.
What is the advantage of pneumatic transport in this process?Pneumatic transport is closed, keeping the product clean and dust-free. Additionally, it is fast and energy-efficient, which is ideal for frequent use.