IPA – Architecture and more designed and oversaw the construction of a silo complex for “Parvi May” AD - a leading company in the processing of oilseed crops in Bulgaria and a market leader in the trade of grains and oil-bearing seeds. The company has long-standing traditions in grain and seed processing and is the successor of one of the oldest mills in the region.
The large-scale project is located in the village of Aydemir, near Silistra, directly on the bank of the Danube River. It includes an intermodal terminal with 20 storage silos for wheat and sunflower seeds, grouped into 6 silo banks with a total volume of up to 50,000 cubic meters, four truck unloading stations, a drying section, two truck weighbridges, a processing center and an administrative support building. The project also incorporates a complex internal traffic organization with several controlled access points.
The grain terminal is equipped with advanced mechanical and technological systems required for the intake, processing and storage of grain, as well as in-house laboratories for measuring grain parameters in accordance with internationally recognized standards.
A key aspect of the design process was integrating all technological operations with the existing infrastructure in the area and with facilities located on adjacent plots owned by the investor. Another major challenge was the project’s immediate proximity to the Danube River, which results in difficult terrain conditions with high groundwater levels. This required the silos to be built on a pile foundation system designed to neutralize soil instability and ensure adequate structural protection.
The silos are of the “Frame” type, each with a capacity of 12,500 cubic meters. Their foundations are monolithic reinforced concrete structures with a diameter of 27 meters. The substructure consists of drilled cast-in-place reinforced concrete piles supporting an elevated pile cap (rostwerk) with a diameter of 0.85 m. Each foundation contains 52 piles, and the slab beneath them is ribbed to resist the horizontal seismic forces transmitted by the silos at ground level.
Each silo is equipped with a complex system for active aeration, thermal monitoring and top-level grain indication. Filling is provided through an opening at the top of the roof, while discharge is carried out via chain conveyors (redlers) positioned below the silos. Vertical grain transport is ensured by bucket elevators, and horizontal movement is handled by chain conveyors. In several zones, gravity flow is utilized through steel gravity-fed pipes.
