Never an empty mortar silo again unexpectedly

A mortar silo that turns out to be unexpectedly empty can lead to many delays on a job site. This is why Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix offers the Electronic Silo Management (ESM) silo, in which the current contents can be read remotely. The latest version ESM silo 2.0 can even measure very fine dry mortar used in civil works and foundation techniques. Moreover, a QR code allows you to read the current level directly on your mobile phone. Kandt Aannemings- en Funderingsbedrijf BV has equipped all of its silos with Electronic Silo Management 2.0. "We are very satisfied with this," says main contractor Jeroen de Bruin.

"We have been working with Weber Beamix mortar silos for a long time," De Bruin said. "We used to often stand and tap the silo with a plastic hammer to hear how much was left in it. That remains wet finger work and can lead to unpleasant surprises." Kandt Aannemings- en Funderingsbedrijf BV performs various activities in the Benelux countries, such as installing and removing steel, wooden or concrete sheet pile walls and installing various types of foundation piles. One of Kandt BV's specialties is installing LeKa piles. This involves a soil displacement screw pile with permanent steel tube, which is screwed - with or without grout injection - to depth. The structure consists of a steel tube fitted with a conical screw tip with grout casing. After installing the pile, a reinforcement cage is suspended in the tube pile and the tube is filled with concrete. Pile diameters range from 219 to 711 mm. De Bruin: "These piles are especially suitable for inner-city projects and projects along railroads and highways. Due to the very low center of gravity of the machines, you can work with a limited safety zone. Another big advantage of these piles is that they can be loaded immediately. For the piles, we use the fine dry mortar webertec GM 42, but it was difficult to measure in the first ESM silos. Since 2024, Weber Beamix has been supplying the ESM silo 2.0 that can also measure fine mortar."

The filling rate of the silo can be read remotely.

Control from two sides

The traditional ESM silo has a guided radar sensor, which continuously measures and calculates the current content of the silo. This data goes directly to Weber Beamix's office and the customer. "When the silo is almost empty, a signal goes from green to yellow. If the customer himself takes no action, we call whether the work is almost complete or if refilling is needed," says Edwin de Blois, key account manager for civil projects at Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix. "If the signal goes red, then the silo is almost empty and real action needs to be taken." With the ESM silo 2.0, the contractor can monitor the filling level via an app on his smartphone. Again, an alert is issued when the silo needs refilling. "So there is control of the filling level of the silo from two sides. Then the chances of suddenly having an empty silo are very small."

Always sufficient mortar

The ESM silo 2.0 can be filled with webertec GM 42 dry mortar, for example. It is an 18 m3 silo that can be filled with a maximum of 25 to 26 tons of dry mortar. "At a lower limit of 10 and 5 tons, an alert goes out to us and the customer," says De Blois. "A bulk truck can carry 21 to 24 tons, so with this the silo can be filled completely again. Anyone who calls before noon will have our bulk truck at the silo the next day to refill." Consumption rate is also important: "We can see how much mortar is used per day. Sometimes a customer will call in a panic that the silo is almost empty, but then it turns out that the consumption per day is so low that he can get ahead for at least two more days. There can also be large variations in consumption. Then it is safer to check at the lower limit of 6 tons to see if the silo needs to be refilled."

Practical experiences

Kandt currently has four ESM silos 2.0 in use. De Bruin receives an SMS as soon as about 10 tons of mortar remains. At 5 tons, a phone call follows. "The guys outside can additionally scan the QR code with their mobile to see the current contents. Then you can't really have any more surprises. Otherwise they may start hauling bags of mortar." 

De Bruin can't help but be pleased with the new silos: "You can control the process better. You no longer encounter surprises regarding the stock of mortar. I am therefore very satisfied with these silos, but also with the cooperation with Weber Beamix. You have to be able to switch quickly and flexibly sometimes." De Blois: "Adding Electronic Silo Management to a silo only costs €2.50 per day. That's almost for nothing if you look at the benefits. Eventually, then, the ESM silo 2.0 should replace the old ESM silo." And if any dry mortar remains in the silo? "We take that back and often it is credited. Usually we can reinsert a common mortar elsewhere or it goes back into production and is recycled."