CEREAL STORAGE: HOW TO MONITOR IT CORRECTLY AND RELIABLY

Cereal storage is a fundamental phase of the cereal production process.
This process allows the product to be stored in suitable places and with appropriate methodologies, in order to keep the organoleptic characteristics unaltered and prevent the proliferation of insects, mold and bacteria.
Cereal is a precious and expensive resource. Monitoring storage helps prevent losses and ensures constant control of the quality of stored grains, in order to guarantee the standards required for national and international trade.

Grain storage facilities

There are different types of cereal storage, specifically:

• Storage in warehouses or sheds: the cereal is stored in piles or bags inside covered structures protected from atmospheric agents.
• Silo bag storage: consists of placing the cereal in airtight plastic bags which are then positioned on the ground or on special platforms.
• Silo storage: it is the most efficient solution. The cereal is stored in special structures, metal or concrete, equipped with ventilation, cooling and monitoring systems.
  This method guarantees maximum product safety and quality, as it allows constant control of environmental conditions and minimization of losses.

Safety regulations

The sector has specific regulations for the safety of silos and warehouses regarding construction, maintenance, ventilation, equipment and worker protection.
It’s necessary to periodically evaluate the risks present in the structure, taking into account the various variables that can influence the level of danger.
The regulations touch on aspects such as storage instructions, optimal conditions (such as temperature indications), hygiene and cleaning guidelines, labeling and traceability, food safety prevention (for example contamination) and structural (design and maintenance).
Regulations can vary over time and from one geographical area to another, which is why constant monitoring and updating on the matter is of fundamental importance.

Cereal storage: the importance of monitoring

Cereal storage, as we have seen, is a relevant issue for food security and sustainable development. For these reasons it requires continuous innovation and research.
Isoelectric is committed daily to the development of products for silos, cereal drying and storage systems, in order to offer cutting-edge products with high technological content.

Isoelectric products

Isoelectric has developed a wide range of electronic equipment for measuring temperatures in silos and warehouses: Termograin, Termosilos, Sentinel and Thermometric Cords. These devices allow manual or automatic control of the temperature at different measurement points, with high precision.

Isoelectric’s offer also includes ultrasonic level meters for silos and warehouses with non-contact technology: our Control Level sensors are capable of guaranteeing measurement up to 15 metres, making it possible to determine the residual product (in metres) and the residual quantity (in tons), without contact with the material.
These meters can be connected to the “Sentinel” equipment control unit, which allows you to view and manage the data remotely.