The new silo 12 in Göllheim

The new cement silo 12 is being built in the Dyckerhoff plant Göllheim. This project represents a key component of the group-wide CO₂ reduction strategy. With this new silo, Dyckerhoff is making a significant investment in the future and preparing to expand its range of CO₂-reduced cements at the Göllheim plant.

Construction has been progressing rapidly since February 2025. Following preparatory earthworks, the erection of the tower crane, and the rerouting of sewer, water, and power lines, the clean concrete layer was poured at the end of February. In March, formwork and rebar installation for the silo foundation took place, utilizing approximately 60 metric tons of steel. A major milestone was reached in early May with the placement of 710 cubic meters of concrete for the main foundation. Due to the mass of the structure, a C30/37 concrete with CEM III/A 42.5 N cement was used. Subsequent formwork removal, backfilling, and construction of the electrical room’s shell were completed successfully. Once this preparatory work was complete, the crucial construction phase began in May: this is the first sliding section of the silo's outer wall. The slipform method requires careful preplanning and preparation, as there is no opportunity to correct design mistakes during the process itself. All necessary materials must be on-site. The slipform rises continuously (about 2.5 cm every 10 minutes) along so-called climbing rods embedded in the concrete. The concrete mix itself must be precisely selected for the sliding speed required over a 7-hour period, accounting for all variables such as temperature, fittings, rebar installation, etc. During a five-day, round-the-clock continuous pour from Monday, 1 a.m. to Friday midday, the first 18.5 meters of the silo were constructed in a single, uninterrupted process. After the initial slipform section was completed in mid-June, precast elements for the silo cone were installed and the topping concrete was placed. This was followed by a second slipform section, executed without interruption for seven days, so that by the end of July the final silo height of 52.11 meters was achieved.

To match the concrete properties exactly to the slipform process requirements, concrete supplier Trapobet Transportbeton GmbH Kaiserlautern KG developed a matrix of formulations with varying rates of reactivity. These were field-tested through several trial pours at the site. During the ongoing slipforming phase, the site could always order the optimal mix for the prevailing weather, time of day, and crew pace. Work began with C30/37 concrete using 360 kg/m³ CEM III/A 42.5 N cement. In order to increase the slip speed, up to 250 kg/m³ CEM II was gradually replaced in three steps with CEM II/A-LL 52.5 N cement.

The first 17 meters of the new shipping silo were completed a full day ahead of schedule thanks to the smooth installation of rebar, concrete pouring, and box-out installation. The second slipform section was finished two days early as the integration of rebar, concrete, blockouts, and embedded items was also well-coordinated and trouble-free.

After completion of the main structure, the next project phase begins: installation of the steelwork and technical equipment inside the silo. The entire plant will then be gradually commissioned. Once completed, the new silo will provide a storage capacity of 5,400 cubic meters.

Project management is handled internally by Rudolf Kröll, CPE Project Manager. The construction is being carried out to professional standards by Karl Gemünden GmbH & Co. KG from Ingelheim am Rhein as main contractor, and Bitschnau Gleit & Schalungstechnik GmbH from Nenzing (Austria) as subcontractor and slipform specialist. Concrete is supplied by Trapobet Transportbeton GmbH, using only Dyckerhoff cement.

Commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

With the construction of this silo, Dyckerhoff underscores its commitment to transforming the cement industry towards greater climate protection.

Photos: Dyckerhoff

For further information please contact
Isabel Derstroff, Phone: +49 611 676-3173
marketing@dyckerhoff.com