Our Company

Laidig Systems, Inc. of Mishawaka, Indiana, USA has had over 40 years experience in dry bulk storage and reclaim systems. Laidig’s primary expertise lies with bottom-reclaim systems. They design, market, construct, and service their bulk storage and reclaim systems. Laidig excels in providing custom-engineered systems to store and reclaim materials with special handling requirements, especially those that require exceptionally rugged, extreme-duty reclaimers. As a result of their pioneering innovations with bottom-reclaim systems over the past decades, Laidig is recognized internationally as the industry leader is this highly-specialized field.

Automated bottom-reclaim systems offer significant advantages over other methods of storage and reclaim. First-in-first-out inventory control is generally at the top of the list, since material freshness and, therefore, quality consistence is maintained at the highest-possible level. Also, the need for automated delivery to reduce labor costs and at the same time gain efficient, continuous, and reliable material flow is typically a large motivating factor. Additionally, bottom reclaimers are integrated with closed storage systems that minimize losses due to pest infestation and inventory contamination, and also enable control of unwanted particle emission. The ability to simultaneously load from the top while unloading from the bottom, all without the need for personnel entering the storage structure, offers the potential to greatly enhance process efficiencies, while also eliminating confined-space concerns and providing a safer, low-risk work environment.

Laidig has developed a wide range of storage and reclaim systems that can be tailored to an entire spectrum of application requirements. Lower-volume applications typically use one of Laidig’s cantilever reclaimers, integrated into either a flat-bottom or cone-bottom silo, usually 40’ or less in diameter. Cantilever systems are ideal for materials with moderate flow characteristics, such as dry meals, chemicals, plastics, and small wood waste. When higher-volume delivery is required, or when handling materials with poor flow characteristics (such as meals, rendered products, sludge, wood chips, fibers, etc.), track-driven silo reclaim systems are generally the best solution. Laidig’s track-driven bottom-reclaim systems offer proven performance and reliability that is second to none. Track-driven silo systems typically use silos of up to 60’ in diameter, providing storage of up to 275,000 CF (cubic feet).

In response to the growing need for even greater storage capacity with automated reclaim, Laidig has now developed two new-generation systems that offer extremely-high-volume storage with high-delivery rates in a package that can be cost-effective on a per-ton-storage basis. Laidig’s DOMinator system integrates state-of-the-art dome fabrication technology with the latest innovations in track-driven bottom-reclaim design. Dome structures can be as large as 108’ dia x 88’ high, offering usable storage of up to 500,000 CF. The reinforced-concrete dome is inherently strong without the need for internal supports. The dome’s roof membrane and insulation envelope prevent air exchange, assure water tightness, and minimize temperature cycling to virtually eliminate condensation. The massive track-driven bottom reclaim system consists of a 32” diameter reclaim auger integrated with austempered ductile-iron cutting blades to provide efficient reclaiming, reduced starting torque, and minimal reclaim advance resistance. The DOMinator system is designed for continuous, automated delivery rates of up to 400 CFM (cubic feet per minute). To put these figures into perspective, one DOMinator system handling soy meal of 40 lb/CF could store approximately 8000 MT (metric ton) and deliver over 430 MT per hour, continuously. Thus, a 25 MT truck can be loaded in under 5 minutes, a 100 MT rail car in just 15 minutes, and a 30,000 MT ship in less than 72 hours.