Big-bag to silo trailer transloading

At a Glance

• Container unloading of big-bags to silo trailers
• Throughput: 200 t/day
• Warehouse capacity: 2000 big-bags
• No pneumatics — granulate integrity preserved
• Clients: LG Chem, HTNS
• Location: Chorula near Opole, Poland — 4 km from motorway A4, 180 km from German border
• ISO 9001:2015

What is big-bag to silo trailer transloading?

Big-bag to silo trailer transloading is the gravity transfer of bulk material from big-bags (500–1250 kg) directly into the tank of a silo trailer, without pneumatic conveying. The SMIALA terminal in Chorula near Opole, Poland, transloads up to 200 tonnes of PE/PP granulate per day, with a buffer warehouse holding 2000 big-bags at a time.

In practice, bulk material — most commonly PE or PP plastic granulate — is transferred from big-bags (FIBC, Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) directly into the cylindrical tank of a silo trailer.

The process is gravity-based: the big-bag is lifted above the trailer’s filling inlet and emptied by gravity. No pneumatic conveying means no fractionation and no contamination from the air system.

The SMIALA terminal operated by PHS Magnum in Chorula is one of the few transloading terminals in Poland equipped for this type of operation to corporate standards demanded by LG Chem and HTNS.

Why does avoiding pneumatics matter?

PE and PP granulate is purchased by plastics manufacturers against strict specifications — melt flow index, ash content and other parameters. Pneumatic conveying can alter these in three ways:

• Fractionation — fine particles separate from granules during pipeline flow
• Electrostatic charging — friction in the pipeline builds up a charge, causing dust adhesion and uneven unloading
• Contamination — compressor oil, moisture or filter particles can enter the product stream

Gravity transloading — unlike pneumatic conveying — does not fractionate the granulate, does not charge it electrostatically and introduces no contamination from a compressed-air system. The PE/PP granulate arrives in the silo trailer in exactly the same condition as in the big-bag, confirmed by an ISO 9001:2015 transloading protocol: gross/net weights, big-bag numbers, trailer data.

Transloading procedure at SMIALA

1. Delivery acceptance — truck or container arrives, driver checks in, documents verified, vehicle weighed on entry scales
2. Unloading from container — forklift unloads big-bags to loading station or warehouse
3. Loading the silo trailer — trailer positions under the station; big-bag raised to filling inlet height, emptied by gravity; 20–27 big-bags per trailer (depending on tank volume and material bulk density)
4. Weighing and documentation — trailer weighed after loading; transloading protocol issued with net/gross weights, big-bag numbers, date and trailer details

Throughput: 200 tonnes per day, 2000 big-bag warehouse

The SMIALA terminal transloads up to 200 tonnes of material per day — the equivalent of loading 6–10 silo trailers per working shift, depending on tank volume and material fraction. The buffer warehouse holds 2000 big-bags at a time, so a container delivery does not need to be synchronised with the trailer’s arrival to the hour.

The terminal operates 6 days a week:

• Monday – Friday: 06:00 – 20:00
• Saturday: 07:00 – 15:00

For recurring orders, time windows can be reserved a week in advance. We also handle scheduled deliveries under long-term contracts.

What is included in the standard transloading price

A SMIALA transloading quote covers the full logistics service — from cargo intake to silo trailer hand-off. No hidden charges for items the customer would expect to be standard:

Items priced separately (quoted at order):

• Silo trailer transport to receiver (depends on direction and distance)
• Warehousing beyond 3 days (rate per pallet-day)
• Returning empty big-bags to producer (if the customer wants to keep them — instead of disposal)
• PERROT hose-adapter left at the receiver (one-off cost for recurring deliveries)
• Trial transloading run (for new materials — see services)
• Washing after materials with atypical characteristics (requiring specialised agents)
• ADR — additional fees for dangerous goods

Specific rates are agreed individually after order analysis — volume, material type, packaging format and transport direction affect the unit price. For long-term deliveries (12+ month contracts) we set framework rates with volume discounts.

You will receive a quote within 2 business hours of contact (+48 664 135 005, biuro@magnumchorula.pl).

Terminal location

Chorula near Opole (Opole Province):

• 4 km from motorway A4 (Gogolin junction) — main east–west corridor
• 180 km from the Polish-German border
• Suitable for 25.25 m long vehicle combinations
• Truck scales at entry/exit
• 24h CCTV

→ Contact us · Tel: +48 664 135 005

FAQ — big-bag transloading

How much does big-bag to silo trailer transloading cost?

We prepare each quote individually within 2 business hours — the rate depends on volume, material type, packaging format and transport direction. The standard price already includes trailer washing, weighing, packaging disposal and the first 3 days of warehousing. Tel. +48 664 135 005.

How many tonnes per day does the terminal handle?

Up to 200 tonnes per day — the equivalent of 6–10 silo trailers per working shift. Multiple trailers can be loaded simultaneously.

Does transloading damage PE/PP granulate?

No. The transfer is gravity-based, with no pneumatics — the granulate is not fractionated, not electrostatically charged and has no contact with a compressed-air system.

How many big-bags does the warehouse hold?

2000 big-bags at a time. The first 3 days of storage are included in the transloading price, so a container can be accepted early and the silo trailer loaded when the receiver requests it.

Where is the transloading terminal located?

In Chorula near Opole, Poland — 4 km from motorway A4 (Gogolin junction), 180 km from the Polish-German border.

Related services

• Repackaging of bulk materials — conversion to 25 kg bags or octabins
• Big-bag warehousing — storage pending dispatch
• Silo trailer service and repairs: magnumchorula.pl