How You Move a 100 Foot Cement Silo 900 Feet
Source: Kreider Farms
On May 27, the tallest grain silo ever moved was transported approximately 300 yards on Kreider Farms in Manheim, Pa. From its new location, the 100-ft.-tall, 480,000-lb. silo will serve as an observation tower overlooking the Lancaster County countryside. The ribbon cutting for the tower is scheduled for fall 2015.
The observation tower will be an addition to our farm’s tour, said Ron Kreider, president and CEO of Kreider Farms. It’s another way we try to educate the public about the importance of agriculture in our society. We’ve been giving tours of our farm for 10 years, and they are very popular with school children and adult groups.
The move was handled by Wolfe House & Building Movers in Bernville, Pa. The company, which moves well over 100 homes per year, had never moved a silo of this size, and it is thought that the Kreider silo was the largest cylindrical silo ever moved in American history.
The silo was transported using a huge hydraulic dolly with more than 60 wheels. Brackets were bolted to the silo and supported by steel beams on top of the dolly. The silo moved at about two feet per minute, and the entire relocation lasted a little more than three hours--about half the expected time.
About Kreider Farms
Founded in 1935 and celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, Kreider Farms is one of Pennsylvanias largest dairy farms, supplying fresh, high-quality eggs, milk, drinks and premium batch-churned ice cream. Headquartered in Manheim, Pa., this third-generation, family-owned and operated company includes more than 2,500 acres for its egg-laying chickens and cows, as well as a milk bottling and ice cream plant. Kreider Farms mission is to achieve excellence in delivering low-cost, high-quality products; to be good neighbors and stewards of the land; and to operate clean, efficient and state-of-the-art facilities. Kreider Farms offers farm tours as part of its effort to educate the public about sustainable farming. For more information, please visit Kreiderfarms.com or Facebook.com/kreiderfarms.
