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Sugar storage silos installation for Tate & Lyle
14th August 2008

Tate & Lyle Sugar Conditioning Silo

In March 2008 we were invited to tender for a silo installation at Tate & Lyle’s Sugar Refinery at Silvertown, London.  We were surprised on opening the tender documentation to find that the silo had a capacity of 12,500t of granulated sugar.  All our staff were keen to take the challenge of working with a new client, in a new industrial sector, on such a large and unusual installation.

The silo was delivered from the French manufacturer ACMB in sections (nominally 3t in weight). It was to be our task to install the silo, which was to be over 20m in diameter and over 40m tall when complete, on prepared foundations within a congested refinery complex on the north bank of the River Thames.

Working with the Tate & Lyle management, we undertook to perform the installation on an open book, cost plus basis.  Our Project managers preparing detailed costs for the tasks undertaken as well as the normal health and safety management on site have worked closely with the client to ensure a smooth and efficient installation.

Our site team prepared detailed lift plans and developed installation methods employing mobile tower cranes and various mobile cranes (50t to 500t capacity) to assemble the various sections of the silo.

On completion of the assembly, we then employed a team of welders to complete the welding of the silo sections, externally in mild steel, and internally in stainless steel, before the complete silo was clad in insulation and steel sheet cladding.

To complete the installation, we have been employed to install the conveyor system delivering sugar to the silo, and also the conveyor system that unloads the silo.  We are also contracted to install the silo heating and air-conditioning systems as well as the dust extraction for the silo.

The Silo installation is required to be complete and ready for commissioning at the start of November 2008.  We are currently confident that this date can be achieved.