Tamko Silo Farm

Tamko Silo Farm Sets New Company Record in Kansas

Phillipsburg, KS

The heart of this project centered on constructing 21 towering storage tanks – fourteen at 11 feet in diameter and seven at 14 feet – each rising 60 feet into the Kansas sky. These aren’t ordinary storage vessels; they’re part of an integrated system that transforms how raw materials move from railcar to production line. The engineering marvel begins underground with 275 auger cast piles driven deep beneath a three-foot concrete mat foundation, creating an unshakeable base for over 3,000 cubic yards of concrete.

What makes this project extraordinary isn’t just its scale, but the surgical precision required to execute it. The team had to install a 300-foot conveyor system that spans directly over Tamko’s operating production facility. This feat demanded the deployment of a 700-ton crane – the largest in company history – creating a spectacle that required its own engineering project just for setup.

The construction process revealed challenges that would test any team’s resolve. Excavation became an exercise in persistence as crews battled poor soil conditions and relentless groundwater intrusion. The solution involved creating a 30x30x30-foot excavation using timber lagging and sheet piling systems while four industrial pumps worked continuously to manage water flow. Every aspect of crane operations required meticulous planning, from constructing a specialized crane pad with flow fill material to timing every lift around Tamko’s production schedule.

The project’s crowning achievement came with the installation of that record-setting 300-foot conveyor. This single operation represented months of planning, coordination, 0and engineering expertise. The crane itself arrived in sections, with each track transported separately, turning the setup process into its own logistical challenge. Once operational, the team executed the lift with precision that placed the conveyor exactly where it needed to be, despite working 300 feet away from the final connection points inside the existing facility.

Weather added another layer of complexity, as Phillipsburg’s notorious winds created additional safety considerations for crane operations. The team developed contingency plans and monitoring protocols that ensured work could proceed safely while maintaining the project’s aggressive timeline.

The completed facility transforms Tamko’s material handling capabilities, creating a weather-tight environment where railcar deliveries can be efficiently sorted, stored, and fed directly into the production process. The enclosed structure atop the silos houses sophisticated conveying systems that eliminate manual handling and reduce material waste while increasing throughput capacity.

This project demonstrates how modern industrial construction can enhance operational efficiency while respecting the constraints of existing facilities. The successful completion within the 16-month timeline, despite significant challenges, showcases the value of thorough planning, precise execution, and seamless coordination with facility operations.

Project Facts

Industry Sector: Industrial, Industrial/Manufacturing
Cost: $10,787,631
Size: 30,000 SF
Delivery Method: Negotiated
Self-Perform: Steel Erection, Concrete
Owner: Tamko, TAMKO Building Products, Inc.