The project: Design and engineer the largest freestanding sugar-storage facility in the United States for American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSC).

The goal: Provide ACSC with an efficient, cost-effective storage solution that maximizes capacity while minimizing real estate usage. The dome, which can hold up to 60,000 metric tons of refined sugar, allows for streamlined operations under the management of United Sugars Corporation.

Project features: The dome storage facility incorporates advanced material-handling systems designed to optimize storage and retrieval processes. With a fill rate of 200 metric tons per hour and a reclaim rate of 150 metric tons per hour, the system ensures seamless inventory management. The facility also includes a reclaim screw and a single tunnel, offering 65% live reclaim efficiency.

Design approach: IMEG provided multidisciplinary engineering services, including geotechnical analysis, structural engineering, and the design of mechanical, electrical, and material-handling systems. This dome storage solution represents a first for ACSC, which previously relied on concrete silos and steel Weibull bins. Through careful planning and engineering, the project team ensured that the dome offered comparable cost efficiency to traditional silos while reducing the complexity and expense of multiple material-handling systems.

Project outcome: The storage dome successfully meets the company’s long-term storage needs while offering a streamlined and cost-effective solution. By consolidating storage into a single structure with a singular material-handling system, ACSC benefits from improved operational efficiency and reduced infrastructure costs. This innovative facility underscores IMEG’s expertise in delivering cutting-edge engineering solutions for the sugar industry and beyond.