Aggregate Industries pump up the dome
Key construction milestone reached with inflation of ground-breaking dome silo at Tilbury Docks
AGGREGATE Industries have reached an important milestone with the inflation of their dome silo airform in Tilbury. This structure will form an integral part of the new state-of-the-art cement import, manufacturing, and distribution facility at Tilbury docks which is currently under construction. Once operational in 2026, this facility will allow Aggregate Industries to serve their customers 24h a day, seven days a week with conventional, low-carbon, and circular cementitious materials from five loading heads.
The innovative dome structure is one of only a handful of its kind in the UK and offers a compelling alternative to traditional large-scale industrial storage facilities. Due to its large storage capacity, the dome silo provides a viable long-term solution to manage supply and demand fluctuations across the construction sector.
Contractors Dome Technology LLC inflated the airform and will now commence applying nearly 4,500m3 of sprayed and wet-mix concrete to form the 45m tall x 32m diameter dome silo, which will eventually store 30,000 tonnes of cement.
‘This new facility is a strategic investment in both the infrastructure of Tilbury and Aggregate Industries’ mission to lead in supplying low-carbon, sustainable construction solutions,’ said project manager Tim Fry. ‘The dome silo maximizes storage capacity with minimum footprint, and reflects Aggregate Industries’ proactive commitment to embrace new innovative technologies.’
Bradley Bateman, chief executive officer of Dome Technology, said: ‘Dome Technology and Aggregate Industries worked closely together to develop the most efficient and economical solution for this project, relying on the many decades of industry experience and innovation from both teams. When completed, this facility will be state of the art and the result of the teams’ collaborative dynamic ability to innovate and find solutions.’
Tilbury’s strategic location amplifies the facility’s impact by enhancing supply chain resilience across the region. This landmark project marks a significant investment in the local economy, creating job opportunities and providing new business for suppliers and trades involved in its construction and operation.
A time-lapse video of the dome silo airform being inflated, can be seen below.
