Parkes manufacturer develops new lightweight, fully-sealed silo

Silostore silos are made from a glass reinforced plastic (GRP) composite material.

The silos were developed by the family-owned Chemstore Group which moved from Penrith near Sydney to Parkes in 2003.

Chemstore's main business is manufacturing and supplying fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) storage tanks for a number of industrial uses.

The company is owned and managed by Nelson Pridham and his sons Sam and Jerry, who is the sales and marketing manager.

The business has been family-owned for three generations and has more than a century of experience with designing, manufacturing, and supplying FRP storage tanks.

With more than 6000 square metres for manufacturing, its Parkes facility features some of the most advanced equipment and technology in the industry.

It also contains a facility for product testing.

Jerry Pridham said the family had been developing a state-of-the-art silo and was now confident the product was right.

He said the plastic resin and glass fibres used to manufacture the cone-bottomed silos were mainly imported from India.

Mr Pridham said Silostore silos offered full sealing and kept grain around 20C cooler than steel ones which reduced discoloration in hot weather.

He said his family wanted to establish a market for Silostore silos in Australia and then look at exports, particularly to Europe.

The silos were about five to 10 per cent more than steel options but came with a 25-year warranty, he said.

"Externally, they are 100pc UV-resistant while internally they have a glass-like finish that ensures no internal catch points and excellent outflow properties.

"Zero condensation is also a bonus for grain storage and it also helps keep the inside walls clean and reduces the risk of lump formation."

He said Silostore silos would be ideal for the farm and food manufacturing sectors as well as businesses such as seed and grain merchants, commercial bakeries and flour mills, pet foods and liquid fertilisers.

"The fact that we have been able to design and then manufacture such a revolutionary product right here in NSW is a phenomenal outcome for our industry," Mr Pridham said.

He said the development of Parkes as a major transport hub had made the area an attractive location for manufacturing businesses.

In 2019 a $23 million animal food manufacturing plant to the west of the town had been approved by Parkes Shire Council.

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