Dry Bulk Materials
General mobile handling for dry, free-flowing commodities across terminals, plants and storage yards.
SANTO supplies mobile conveying, stacking and loading equipment engineered for dry bulk materials — from receiving and stockpiling to reclaim and load-out. The notes below cover the properties that matter, the problems that typically appear on site and the machines we recommend.
Why Mobile Conveying Suits Dry Bulk Materials
Dry bulk is the family of free-flowing solids — grains, ores, fertilizers, salts — each with its own density and dust behavior. The tracked radial stacker serves many commodities from one mobile asset, switching grades cleanly between cargoes.
- One mobile fleet serves many commodities and berths
- Clean transfer prevents cross-contamination of grades
- Radial stacking maximizes yard density per cargo
- Dust control tailored to each powder or granular cargo
- Rapid deployment between ships, trains and stockpiles
Physical Properties and Handling Behaviour
The table below summarises the properties that decide belt specification, chute geometry and stacking method for this material. Values are typical ranges — actual figures vary with source and moisture content, so we test your sample before finalising a design.
| Property | Typical Value / Handling Impact |
|---|---|
| Bulk density | 0.5–3.0 t/m³ across the commodity range |
| Particle size | Powders to 200 mm lumps |
| Abrasiveness | Varies widely by commodity |
| Angle of repose | 25–45° depending on particle shape |
| Handling note | Match belt and dust control to each cargo |
Handling Challenges with Dry Bulk Materials — and How SANTO Solves Them
Dry bulk spans powders and lumps with very different density, dust and wear, so one fixed line fits none well and cross-contamination between cargoes spoils grade.
SANTO mobile conveyors and stackers re-task between commodities with clean, enclosed transfer and configurable dust control. Radial slew builds dense piles per cargo, and the fleet relocates between berth, rail and yard as the terminal schedule demands.
- Clean enclosed transfer prevents grade cross-contamination
- Configure dust control per cargo (powder vs lump)
- Radial stacking lifts yard density for each commodity
Recommended SANTO Equipment
For dry bulk materials we most often supply the machines listed below. Each can be configured with the belt width, boom length and drive power your tonnage requires, and each is available on wheeled, tracked or crawler chassis.
- Tracked Radial Stacker — configured for dry bulk materials duty
- Mobile Ship Loader — configured for dry bulk materials duty
- Grasshopper Conveyor — configured for dry bulk materials duty
- Radial Truck Unloader — configured for dry bulk materials duty
Typical Stockpiling and Loading Setups
A well-planned dry bulk materials yard keeps receiving, stacking and reclaiming on separate paths so trucks never queue behind a loader. In the most common layout, a mobile conveyor receives from the tipper or hopper and feeds a radial telescopic stacker that builds a layered stockpile, while a second conveyor reclaims to the loading point.
- Receiving: hopper or direct truck discharge into a mobile conveyor
- Stacking: radial or telescopic stacking to build layered, drainable stockpiles
- Reclaim: front-end loader feeding a mobile conveyor, or direct reclaim conveyor
- Load-out: conveyor to truck, wagon, barge or vessel hold
Frequently Asked Questions
Can one mobile system handle different dry bulks?
Yes. Clean enclosed transfer and configurable dust control let one fleet serve grains, ores and fertilizers without mixing grades.
How is cross-contamination avoided?
Quick, clean belt changeover and sealed transfer points keep successive commodities separate.
What range of materials is covered?
From light grains at 0.5 t/m³ to dense ores above 3 t/m³, powders to 200 mm lumps.
Need the right machine for your site?
Send us your material, required capacity and site layout. SANTO engineers will size the equipment and return a configuration proposal within 12 hours — no obligation.