Solutions · Bioplastics Storage
Bioplastics are processed much like conventional plastics – but many grades are sensitive to moisture and must stay strictly separate. PW Silo Systems designs aluminum and stainless steel silos for bioplastic pellets and their raw materials.
Bioplastics Storage at a Glance
A bioplastic silo stores pellets such as PLA, PHA, PBAT, or starch-based compounds – or raw materials such as starch and wood flour – between delivery, compounding, and processing. It protects the material from contamination and feeds it reliably to the next step.
Many bioplastics take up moisture and are dried before processing, and they must not be mixed with conventional plastics. PW Silo Systems plans storage, drying, and product separation around your product.
Why Bioplastics Are Demanding
Moisture, separation, and raw materials decide how a bioplastic silo system is built.
Many bioplastics such as PLA take up moisture and are dried before processing.
Bioplastics must not be mixed with conventional plastics or with each other.
Raw materials such as starch and wood flour are fine powders. Their dust is combustible.
Production lots differ, and a silo filled in batches forms layers of different quality.
In coated carbon steel silos, flaking paint and rust particles can end up in the bioplastic.
Polymer production and compounding need large storage capacities – often more than a road-transportable silo can hold.
Silo Materials
We build silos exclusively in aluminum and stainless steel. Both materials offer high corrosion resistance and a long service life – without a coating as the only protection against corrosion.
Which of our two materials fits your bioplastic silo depends on your product, your process, and your site. We review it with you.
Your Bioplastic Silo System
Storage silos, panel silos, blending silos, process silos, filtration, and safety equipment are engineered as one system. That means fewer interfaces for your team.
Storage
Concentric mass-flow discharge without asymmetric flow zones – as standard, site-assembled, indoor, or multi-compartment silos.
Learn moreLarge Volumes
Seal-welded panel silos up to 53,000 ft³ for petrochemicals, plastics, and recycling.
Learn moreBlending
Blending and homogenizing of polymer pellets with PW PipeBlend and PW CentralPipeBlend.
Learn moreProcess
Process silos for deodorizing, degassing, and drying.
Learn moreFiltration
Dust separation during filling and conveying.
Learn moreSafety & Monitoring
Rupture discs or explosion vents for combustible dust, level measurement for reliable monitoring of the silo content.
Learn moreBioplastics & Raw Materials
Bioplastic pellets are not on our tested list yet – we review your product with you. Several raw materials are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab.
Review with us
PLA pellets, polylactic acid
PLA we review with you based on your material data, including drying requirements.
Review with us
PHA pellets, polyhydroxyalkanoates
PHA we review with you based on your material data.
Review with us
PBAT pellets
PBAT we review with you based on your material data.
Review with us
Thermoplastic starch (TPS), starch blends
Starch-based compounds we review with you based on your material data.
Tested in our lab
Blended starch, cornstarch, tapioca starch
Blended starch, cornstarch, and tapioca starch are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab.
Tested in our lab
Wood flour, wood dust
Wood flour and wood dust are on our tested list.
Tested in our lab
WPC compound, wood-plastic composite
WPC compound is on our tested list.
Also tested in our lab:
Send us your material data and we will review the right solution with you:
Material Check
Type in your material or any other bulk material to see whether it has already been tested in our lab. The list covers 287 bulk materials.
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Service in the U.S.
With more than 40 years of experience in silo engineering, we support your bioplastic silo project from the first design discussion to commissioning. We deliver to every U.S. state and install with our own qualified personnel.
FAQ
Answers to the questions plant managers, engineers, and buyers ask most often about storing bioplastics in silos.
Yes. Bioplastic pellets such as PLA, PHA, and PBAT are not on our tested list yet – we review your product with you based on your material data. These related materials are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab:
PW ProcessLine process silos are designed for deodorizing, degassing, and drying. Which solution fits depends on your product and your process. We review your requirements with you.
We recommend a dedicated silo per product – or PW StoreLine multi-compartment silos that keep several products separate in one silo.
Fine starch and wood dust are combustible. For combustible bulk solids we supply explosion-protected silos designed in accordance with applicable codes and regulations. Venting devices – rupture discs or explosion vents – are selected for your silo, your product, and your application.
Both are possible. Which material fits your bioplastic silo depends on your product, your process, and your site. We review the options with you.
Yes. We deliver to every U.S. state and support your project with silo transport, field assembly, silo installation and supervision, and site relocation of existing systems.
Tell us about your bioplastic grades, required storage capacity, how the silo is filled and discharged, and your site conditions. Based on this, we work out the material, silo type, and configuration with you and send you a detailed quote.
Your Project
Whether you need a single bioplastic silo, a large panel silo, or a complete system with blending and process silos, tell us about your requirements. We'll develop a solution that fits your product, your process, and your site.
Send a Request NowWhat Happens Next
Tell us about your bulk material, your process, and your site conditions.
We work with you on material, silo type, and configuration – based on a bulk material analysis if needed.
You receive a custom-engineered solution with a detailed quote.
