Cover Your Bulk! — Geometrica

We’ve used concrete for millennia. The basic ingredients - stone, a burnt mineral binder, and water - have been mixed since antiquity. The Romans used it to create such wonders as the Pantheon in Rome, with its 43m diameter concrete dome.

Today, concrete is one of the most widely used materials on the planet - some say second only to water. The amount of concrete used worldwide, ton for ton, is twice that of steel, wood, plastic, and aluminum combined.

As a result, the cement industry has an enormous impact on the environment.

By burning limestone and clay, a modern plant makes over 1000 tons of Portland cement per day. To ensure continuous production, most plants store about 30 days worth of raw and processed material. That is quite a lot of material, and the most common way to store it is in open air stockpiles.

But, this is changing. Quality requirements and environmental consciousness now demand that raw and processed materials are stored under cover.

For a new site or existing cement plant - Geometrica moves the task of covering stockpiles into the twenty-first century. Our structures fight off wind and rain, and contain dust comprehensively.

Our trademark domes allow for versatile and flexible design options for piles with spans up to 300m. This cutting edge, patented, all-terrain building system offers safe, economical, efficient storage with low maintenance.

Geometrica’s covers are custom designed to fit any type of stockpile or plant. For instance, our solutions for cement production can cover ring stockpiles for limestone and clay; conical piles for potash or clinker; or free form and longitudinal piles for other materials, such as coal or additives. For 25 years, we have delivered storage domes in over 35 countries.

A few project examples for cement operations in the northern, central and southern regions of Africa include the following;

Coexisting near a nature preserve, olive orchards, and Tunisia’s most important wine region created a lot of environmental concerns for Carthage Cement. Three bulk storage structures for additives, coal and limestone help meet the plant’s environmental goals.

In Tunisia, three domes help the environment

As part of an expansion plan to increase production in Senegal, a second dome was added. Two ring stockpile domes at Ciments du Sahel house and blend raw materials with stringent quality and environmental standards.

A second 94m diameter dome added in Senegal

Twin structures, each spanning 113m, help preserve raw material integrity, contain dust and prevent moisture at Lafarge's plant in Lichtenburg, South Africa. The stockpiles remained in operation during construction and the domes were each clad with 15,000m2 of standard IBR (Inverted Box Rib) sheeting.

Two "live" limestone stockpiles are covered in South Africa

For Edo Cement in Nigeria, internal and external cladding was applied to stop the clinker from aggregating (and applying large loads) on the structure. Uncovered stockpiles (especially in this region) are subject to heavy heat, humidity, and severe storms.

Edo Cement's dual clad dome for clinker storage

As the world continues to develop, the market for concrete products continues to outpace population growth. Cement manufacture is vital for such development. At Geometrica, we believe that industry and nature can coexist on some of the largest scales imaginable.

Regardless of geography or climate, Geometrica designs domes that deliver both business- and eco-friendly solutions.

With 25 years experience providing bulk storage solutions around the globe, our mission is to provide customized storage solutions for industries around the world. The question is: “What can Geometrica do for you?” To learn more, please complete our inquiry form and let’s get started.