At a glance:
- Unlined silos experience premature wear, hang-ups, residue buildup and inconsistent discharge, which slow operations and increase maintenance needs.
- A silo liner creates a low-friction, non-stick surface that improves flow behaviour and protects the parent steel from continuous abrasion.
- It supports cleaner changeovers, reduces blockages and helps maintain steady discharge across industrial bulk material handling.
- OKUSLIDE® UHMWPE liners offer strong wear protection and smooth material flow for silos in heavy industry.
Silos are critical assets in bulk material handling operations. They store product, regulate flow, protect material from the environment and support downstream equipment. Because of this, their internal condition directly influences discharge consistency, product quality and overall operational uptime.
Unlined silos often experience premature wear, residue buildup, hang-ups, contamination and irregular discharge, which increase maintenance demands and disrupt operation. These issues typically develop gradually through repeated filling and discharge cycles rather than as sudden failures. Installing a silo liner is a practical way to improve internal flow, protect the parent steel and reduce operational interruptions.
This article explains the role of silo liners, the problems they address and why UHMWPE is widely used in silo lining applications.
What Is a Silo Liner?
A silo liner is an internal protective surface installed on the walls, cone and discharge zone of a silo to improve material flow and reduce wear. It creates a consistent, low-friction surface that helps bulk materials flow smoothly toward the outlet.
Silo liners are used in agriculture, feed mills, fertiliser handling, quarry operations, manufacturing plants and any facility that stores or transfers bulk solids. In these environments, liners act as a protective interface between the bulk material and the silo structure, shielding the parent steel from abrasion, impact wear and residue build-up.
These benefits become increasingly important in silos handling abrasive, cohesive or moisture-affected materials.
Why Lining Your Silo Is Important
Liners play a key role in managing how bulk materials move and interact with the internal surface of a silo. They address several operational issues that affect performance, which are outlined in the sections below.
Protecting the Silo’s Internal Surface from Wear
Abrasive bulk materials gradually erode steel surfaces through continuous contact, especially in high-pressure areas such as the cone and discharge zone. During filling and discharge, materials slide and grind against the walls, creating friction that removes microscopic layers of steel over time.
A silo liner serves as a sacrificial wear surface, protecting the parent steel from scouring and slowing the rate of internal deterioration. This helps maintain the integrity of the silo shell and reduces the frequency of wear-related repairs.
Improving Material Flow and Reducing Hang-Up
Bulk materials can bridge, rathole, cake or stick to the silo walls. Instead of flowing freely, material remains stagnant within the silo. This limits usable capacity, disrupts filling and discharge cycles and increases the risk of blockages and internal wear.
A low-friction silo liner reduces these flow irregularities by encouraging material to move smoothly toward the outlet, supporting predictable flow behaviour and reducing reliance on manual intervention to restore discharge.
Minimising Contamination Between Loads
Unlined steel surfaces often retain small amounts of residue from the previous load, which can carry over into the next material stored in the silo. This residue is common in many bulk solids, such as grain, fertiliser and feed, which may leave fine particles behind after each discharge cycle.
A non-stick silo liner creates a smooth internal surface that supports cleaner changeovers, limits residual carryover and helps maintain product quality during repeated filling and discharge cycles.
Reducing Blockages and Unplanned Shutdowns
Restricted flow prevents product from reaching conveyors, augers or batching equipment, leading to stoppages and slowing downstream processes. Clearing these interruptions requires additional labour and results in unplanned downtime.
By reducing surface friction and material adhesion, a silo liner lowers the likelihood of bridging and ratholing. This helps maintain steady discharge and improve flow continuity across agricultural, mining and industrial bulk material handling systems.
Extending the Service Life of the Silo
A liner protects the internal steel from abrasion, impact and residue build-up, which slows wear and helps maintain the structural integrity of the silo.
This protective function supports both new silos through preventive protection and in-service silos through refurbishment, provided the silo shell and supporting framework remain structurally sound. In cases of severe corrosion or structural deterioration, repairs may be required before lining.
Once installed, the liner becomes the sacrificial surface, reducing the frequency of major wear-related maintenance over time and extending the usable life of the silo.
What Materials Are Suitable for Silo Liners?
Several materials are used to line silos across agriculture, quarrying and industrial bulk handling. Each option offers different levels of wear protection and flow performance. Common liner materials include mild steel plate, abrasion-resistant steel, rubber linings and UHMWPE sheets.
Mild steel plates and abrasion-resistant steel provide durability but add weight to the structure and do little to improve material flow. Rubber liners offer impact cushioning but can increase friction and are less effective with cohesive or fine materials.
UHMWPE provides a low-friction, non-stick surface with strong abrasion resistance, making it well-suited to applications where both flow performance and wear protection are required.
Why UHMWPE Liners Are the Best Choice for Silos
UHMWPE is widely used in silos because it provides reliable wear protection and supports more consistent, predictable discharge across a broad range of bulk materials. Its combination of surface properties and durability directly addresses the most common causes of poor silo performance.
The key advantages of UHMWPE silo liners include:
- Low-friction, non-stick surface: Helps reduce hang-up, bridging and ratholing in cohesive, fine or moisture-affected materials.
- Excellent abrasion resistance: Suitable for grain, fertiliser, aggregates, pellets and high-throughput operations where constant contact wears down steel.
- Impact absorption: Handles impact and sliding forces around the cone and discharge zone, protecting the parent steel during filling and discharge cycles.
- Lightweight and easy to install: Can be fitted to new silos or in-service silos when the structure is sound, without major modifications.
- Corrosion-free and moisture-resistant: Performs well in wet or humid environments common in agriculture and general bulk handling applications.
Silo liners help reduce internal wear, improve material flow and support cleaner changeovers across agriculture, quarrying and industrial bulk handling. These improvements contribute to more stable discharge, reduced downtime and improved day-to-day operational reliability.
OKUSLIDE® silo liners combine low surface friction, high abrasion resistance, and moisture stability for reliable performance in bulk material handling, while also providing consistent wear protection across high-contact areas in industrial applications. This versatility allows operators to apply a consistent wear solution across multiple assets and operating environments.
Contact us today to discuss your silo requirements and find a liner configuration suited to your material characteristics and operating conditions.
FAQs
Can a silo liner be installed in both new and in-service silos?
Yes. A liner protects new silos from premature abrasion and wear and can also be used to refurbish operational silos with worn internal surfaces. In both cases, the liner becomes the sacrificial surface that protects the parent steel.
Can OKUSLIDE® be fitted to different silo designs?
Yes. OKUSLIDE® liners can be installed on a range of silo shapes and materials. Installation methods vary depending on internal access points and parent material and may include mechanical fastening or fusion welding at joints. OKUSLIDE®’s network of expert installers across Australia supports correct fitment and long-term performance.
How long does a UHMWPE silo liner last?
Service life depends on the type of bulk material handled, throughput, particle size and operating conditions. UHMWPE generally outlasts steel and aluminium in abrasive environments, providing long-term protection when specified and installed correctly.
