Solutions · Seed Storage
Seeds range from tiny poppy and chia to large pumpkin and sunflower kernels – many of them oil-rich and valuable. PW Silo Systems designs aluminum and stainless steel silos with mass-flow discharge and clear product separation for bakeries, snack, and food producers.
Seed Storage at a Glance
A seed silo stores food seeds and kernels – such as sunflower kernels, flaxseed, sesame, or chia – close to production for bread, snacks, muesli, or toppings. It protects them from moisture, pests, and contamination and feeds them in a controlled way to dosing and mixing.
Very small seeds flow almost like a liquid, while oil-rich kernels can stick and cake. PW Silo Systems designs silo outlets, seals, and discharge equipment around your specific seeds.
Why Seeds Are Demanding
Seeds are high-value ingredients with very different sizes and oil contents. Every challenge below affects quality and uptime.
Poppy, chia, or sesame seeds are tiny and flow very easily through every gap.
Oil-rich seeds and kernels can stick together and are sensitive to long storage times.
In coated carbon steel silos, flaking paint and steel particles can end up in the seed.
Fine seed dust is combustible. Filling and conveying release dust into the silo and its surroundings.
In funnel flow, seeds can stay in the silo for a long time while fresh product passes through the center.
Sesame and mustard are allergens. They must be kept apart from other products.
Silo Materials
Aluminum and stainless steel silos are widely used for flour, sugar, starch, and other food ingredients. Both materials offer high corrosion resistance, good hygiene, and a long service life.
Carbon steel is not an option for us: its coating is the only protection against corrosion. Once it wears, paint particles and steel can get into the product. Which of our two materials fits your seed silo depends on your product, your process, your cleaning requirements, and your site – we review it with you.
Your Seed Silo System
Silo, discharge, blending, filtration, and safety equipment are engineered as one system. That means fewer interfaces for your team and components that are designed to work together.
Storage
Concentric mass-flow discharge without asymmetric flow zones – as standard, site-assembled, indoor, or multi-compartment silos.
Learn moreBlending
Gravity blending and homogenizing with four technologies, including PW ConeBlend with a hopper that is quick to clean.
Learn moreDischarge
Air fluidization for uniform discharge of poorly flowing products – prevents bridging and can be retrofitted to existing silos.
Learn moreDischarge
Vibration from unbalanced motors breaks up cohesive forces, resolves caking, and keeps the outlet clear.
Learn moreFiltration
Dust separation during filling and conveying, in a hygienic design for the food industry.
Learn moreSafety & Monitoring
Rupture discs or explosion vents for combustible dust, level measurement for reliable monitoring of the silo content.
Learn moreSeeds & Kernels
All seed and kernel types below are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab. For other products, we review your material data with you before designing the silo.
Tested in our lab
Peppercorns, black pepper, whole pepper
Whole peppercorns are on our list of materials tested in our lab. Silo and discharge are designed for the round, hard kernels.
Tested in our lab
Sunflower kernels, sunflower seeds
Hulled sunflower kernels are used in bread, snacks, and muesli. Their oil content makes first-in, first-out storage important.
Tested in our lab
Pumpkin seeds, pepitas
Pumpkin seeds are large, flat kernels for bakery and snacks. Storage is designed for their size and shape.
Tested in our lab
Flaxseed, linseed
Whole flaxseed is small, smooth, and oil-rich. A closed silo protects its quality. Whole and ground flaxseed are on our tested list.
Tested in our lab
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are tiny and very free-flowing. Outlets and seals are matched to the small seed size.
Tested in our lab
Psyllium seeds, psyllium husk
Psyllium is used as a fiber ingredient. Light husk tends to bridge – discharge aids are planned accordingly.
Tested in our lab
Hemp seeds, hulled hemp hearts
Hemp seeds are a protein-rich ingredient for food and snacks. Storage protects their oil-rich kernels.
Tested in our lab
Sesame seeds
Sesame is a major allergen. A dedicated silo keeps it apart from other products.
Tested in our lab
Poppy seeds
Poppy seeds are among the smallest food seeds. Silo outlet and discharge are designed for very fine, free-flowing material.
Tested in our lab
Nigella seeds, black cumin seeds
Nigella seeds are a specialty topping for bread and baked goods. Separate storage avoids mixing.
Tested in our lab
Canola seed, rapeseed
Canola seed (rapeseed) is small and round. Both the seed and canola meal are on our tested list.
Tested in our lab
Mustard seeds
Mustard is an allergen. Dedicated storage keeps mustard seed separate from other products.
Tested in our lab
Amaranth
Amaranth is a gluten-free pseudo-cereal with very small grains. Storage is designed for its particle size.
Tested in our lab
Quinoa
Quinoa is a gluten-free pseudo-cereal. A dedicated silo keeps it apart from gluten-containing grains.
Also tested in our lab:
Send us your material data and we will review the right solution with you:
Seed Check
Type in your seeds or any other bulk material to see whether they have 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 seed 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 seeds and kernels in silos.
Nearly all dry, free-flowing seeds and kernels can be stored in a properly designed silo. These seeds are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab:
Caraway, fennel, coriander, and other seeds we review with you based on your material data.
Both. Aluminum and stainless steel silos are widely used for seed and other food ingredients because they offer high corrosion resistance, good hygiene, and a long service life. Which material fits your project depends on your product, your process, your cleaning requirements, and your site. We review the options with you.
In a carbon steel silo, the coating is the only protection against corrosion. If it wears or flakes off, paint particles and steel can end up in your seed. That is why we build silos exclusively in aluminum and stainless steel.
We recommend a dedicated silo per allergenic product – or PW StoreLine multi-compartment silos that keep different products separate in one silo.
In mass flow, the entire silo content moves downward when material is discharged – not just a channel in the center. Your seed leaves the silo in the order it came in (first in, first out), and no product is left behind in dead zones where it could age or cake. Our PW StoreLine silos are designed for concentric mass-flow discharge without asymmetric flow zones.
Fine seed dust is combustible, and many bulk solids carry an explosion risk. 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. Integrated filters and dust collectors reduce dust during filling and conveying.
Hygiene starts with the materials: aluminum and stainless steel offer good hygiene and corrosion resistance. In addition, our flat-roof designs support high cleanliness standards, PW SpeedBlow uses high air flow for cleaning, and the PW ConeBlend blending silo has a hopper that is quick and easy to clean – well suited to frequent product changes.
The right size depends on your daily consumption, delivery intervals, the number of products, and the space available at your site. PW StoreLine silos are available in a wide range of sizes and diameters, and silos too large for road transport are assembled on site. We size the system with you – without oversized investment.
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.
Very likely. Our silo systems are designed for nearly all free-flowing, granular, and powdered bulk solids. Send us your material details – kernel size, moisture, and how the product is filled and discharged – and we will review the right storage solution with you.
Tell us about your products, 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 seed silo, several silos for different products, or a complete system with blending and discharge, 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.
