Intake & Emptying
Whether you want to empty bags, Big Bags, tanker trucks or silos, Dinnissen has a proven solution for every situation. Fully automatic or manual equipment. Safety, hygiene and efficiency are key.
Reliable flow across a wide range of bulk solids
Bulk materials behave differently in storage. Some remain free-flowing, while others can compact under pressure, absorb moisture, form rat-holes or stop flowing altogether. Whatever the flow behaviour, a predictable and controlled discharge is essential for stable downstream production.
Rotoflo™ supports this full range of flow characteristics through rotating arms that continuously guide material towards the outlets. This creates a controlled and predictable flow throughout the silo and provides additional support when products become more difficult to discharge.
An additional benefit is the reduction of dead storage zones. By keeping the entire silo cross-section active, Rotoflo™ helps maximize the usable storage volume while reducing product build-up.
One silo, multiple production lines
A key advantage of Rotoflo™ is its Multi-Flow Outlet design. The system can discharge material from a single silo to up to four independent destinations. This allows multiple mixers, feeders or production lines to be supplied simultaneously from one storage vessel.
For manufacturers working with continuous processes or multiple recipes, this creates greater flexibility while reducing the need for additional silos and infrastructure.
- Up to four discharge outlets
- Simultaneous feeding of multiple processes
- Greater production flexibility
- Reduced infrastructure requirements
Suitable for a wide range of bulk materials
Rotoflo™ has proven itself in demanding applications around the world and is suitable for bulk materials across a wide range of flow characteristics, from free-flowing powders and granules to cohesive, compacted and moisture-sensitive products.
Typical applications include:
- Titanium dioxide
- Activated carbon
- Hydrated lime
- Sugar
- Chocolate crumb
- Starches
- Minerals
- Pet food ingredients
- Water treatment powders
- Chemical powders and granulates
Because every application is different, each Rotoflo™ system is configured according to the product characteristics, storage requirements, and desired discharge capacity.
Key features and configurations
Rotoflo™ can be engineered for a wide range of silo sizes and operating conditions. Systems are available for both new-build projects and retrofit installations in existing steel silos.
Available options include:
- Stainless steel construction
- ATEX-certified execution
- Multiple outlet configurations
- Variable-speed drives
- Hygienic designs for food and dairy applications
- Integration with downstream process equipment
A major advantage is the accessibility of critical components. Maintenance can often be performed without emptying the silo first, helping to reduce downtime and operational disruption.
More than a silo discharge solution
As part of the Dinnissen portfolio, Rotoflo™ can be seamlessly integrated into complete production processes.
In addition to silo discharge, Dinnissen provides:
- Pneumatic conveying systems
- Screw conveyors
- Feeding and weighing systems
- Lump breakers
- Sieving systems
- Process automation and control
By combining Rotoflo™ with downstream process equipment, Dinnissen delivers a complete solution from storage and discharge through to final processing.
Service, support and future development
Existing Rotoflo™ users can continue to rely on professional service, spare parts supply and maintenance support through Dinnissen.
At the same time, Dinnissen is investing in the further development of the Rotoflo™ platform. Using the D-Innocenter test facilities, new applications, configurations and hygienic designs are continuously being explored to meet the evolving demands of the process industry.
More information about the Rotoflo™ Silo Discharge System?
Download our brochure or contact one of our specialists directly. Together we will determine the most suitable silo discharge solution for your product and production process.
Rotoflo™ FAQ
1. What is the Rotoflo™ Silo Discharge System?
The Rotoflo™ Silo Discharge System is a silo discharge solution designed to ensure reliable and controlled flow of powders, granules and bulk solids. Using a unique rotating discharge mechanism, it prevents common flow problems such as bridging and rat-holing.
2. Which materials can be handled with Rotoflo™?
Rotoflo™ is suitable for a wide range of bulk materials, including sugar, starches, pet food ingredients, activated carbon, hydrated lime, titanium dioxide, chocolate crumb and many other powders and granulates.
3. What problems does Rotoflo™ solve?
Rotoflo™ helps solve common silo discharge challenges such as bridging, rat-holing, product compaction, inconsistent flow and dead storage zones.
4. How does Rotoflo™ work?
The system uses a rotating discharge arm that continuously guides material towards the discharge openings. This creates a controlled and consistent flow throughout the silo without the need for vibration.
5. What makes Rotoflo™ different from conventional silo discharge systems?
Unlike many conventional discharge systems, Rotoflo™ actively moves product towards the outlet and can discharge to up to four independent downstream destinations from a single silo.
6. What is the Multi-Flow Outlet system?
The Multi-Flow Outlet system allows one silo to feed up to four independent downstream processes simultaneously, creating greater flexibility and reducing the need for additional storage vessels.
7. Can Rotoflo™ be installed in existing silos?
Yes. Rotoflo™ can often be retrofitted into existing steel silos, allowing manufacturers to improve discharge performance without replacing the entire storage system.
8. Is Rotoflo™ suitable for large-volume silo applications?
Yes. Rotoflo™ is specifically designed for reliable discharge from large storage silos and performs particularly well with difficult-flowing products stored in large volumes.
9. Does Rotoflo™ require vibration or aeration?
No. Rotoflo™ operates without vibration or aeration, reducing mechanical stress on the silo structure and minimizing maintenance requirements.
10. Can Rotoflo™ completely empty a silo?
Rotoflo™ is designed to achieve near-complete silo emptying, minimizing dead storage zones and increasing the effective storage capacity of the silo.
11. Is Rotoflo™ available in an ATEX-certified version?
Yes. Rotoflo™ can be supplied in ATEX-compliant configurations for use in potentially explosive environments.
12. Which industries use Rotoflo™?
Rotoflo™ is used in industries such as food processing, dairy, pet food, feed, chemicals, minerals, paint manufacturing and water treatment.
13. Does Dinnissen provide service and spare parts for Rotoflo™ systems?
Yes. Dinnissen provides service, maintenance, spare parts and technical support for both new and existing Rotoflo™ installations worldwide.
14. Can Rotoflo™ be integrated with other process equipment?
Yes. Rotoflo™ can be integrated with conveying systems, feeders, weighing systems, sifters, lump breakers and complete Dinnissen process lines.
15. How can I determine if Rotoflo™ is suitable for my application?
The best way is to contact a Dinnissen specialist. Based on your product characteristics, silo configuration and process requirements, we can advise whether Rotoflo™ is the most suitable solution for your application.
A suitable DIMA® Bag Emptying System for every unloading process
The DIMA® Manual Bag Emptying System is a suitable solution for manual bag emptying with low capacity and high flexibility. If required, it can be equipped with a glovebox that prevents the operator from coming into contact with the bag and the product inside. The DIMA®-100 is the semi-automatic version, which performs the cutting of the bag. The operator only has to empty and throw away the bag.
For the most critical applications or toxic products, the DIMA®-200X is the perfect solution. It has an emission of less than 0.1 mg per m³. When processing larger quantities of bulk goods, Dinnissen offers the DIMA®-300, DIMA®-600 and DIMA®-1200. In these machines, the bags can be brought in per pallet, allowing one operator to process up to approximately 40 tons of product per hour. All machines in the DIMA® series are available in an ATEX version and can be expanded with integrated extraction, product feed, and an empty bag compactor.
- Maximum flexibility with DIMA®-Manual Bag Emptying Systems
- Safe manual operation with DIMA®-100
- Less than 0.1 mg emission per m³ with the DIMA®-200
- Fully automated solutions for processing up to 40 tons of product per hour
- Available in ATEX version
Video: DIMA® Fully-Automatic Bag Emptying System
Key features, options, and models
The DIMA® series includes various versions. There is a choice between manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic bag emptying machines, with several capacities. The DIMA®-X200 is equipped with a reinforced feed platform, a reinforced pivot point, heavy-duty arms, and solid pressure boosters for an extra firm grip. It also features weighted cylinders, dampers, drives, and bearings, reducing the need for maintenance. Given the increasingly stringent production requirements, DIMA® Bag Emptying Systems are equipped with large hatches so that the cutting blade can be changed quickly and safely. A major plus is the possibility of finishing the inside of the DIMA® with Viwateq® Finishing for optimum smoothness to prevent contamination.
The automatic pneumatic cleaning system can be equipped with double-filtered, powerful suction, and a special dust-free sealing of the air outlet, which emits less than 0.1 mg per cubic meter of discharged product. As a result, the DIMA® Bag Emptying System complies with the most stringent international requirements.
Dinnissen has a Tiltable DIMA® Bag Emptying System as well. The machine is designed with operator ergonomics in mind. The tilting body ensures that the DIMA® Bag Emptying System makes room so the operator can check hard-to-reach areas safely and easily. These areas must be easily accessible for maintenance and cleaning. Tilting can be done by one operator, by simply turning a hand wheel. Air ventilation ensures that no product escapes.
Always customized to your bag emptying process
Every Dima® Bag Emptying Machine Dinnissen builds starts with a question: what does your process actually need? Every material and every production environment places different demands on the emptying process. Product characteristics, required capacity, the level of automation, hygiene requirements and available space all influence the final design. That is why we look at the full picture before we engineer your bag emptying solution. What are you processing? What level of automation do you need? Which hygiene standards apply? How much capacity is required? And how should the bag emptying machine fit into your existing production line? The result is a Dima® Bag Emptying Machine that fits your product, your process and your production environment. No two machines are the same, because no two processes are the same.
Different types of Bag Emptying Systems
The efficient bag emptying machines from Dinnissen are available in different versions: the DIMA®-MAN bag emptying system, the DIMA®-100 and the DIMA®-X 200 (suitable for unloading harmful, toxic products) and sack emptying system suitable for large quantities of bulk material: the DIMA®-300, DIMA® -600 and the DIMA® -1200.
How it works
How a DIMA® Bag Emptying System works, depends on which version you have. In the manual version, the operator cuts open the bag manually and the bag is emptied and discarded. The semi-manual version cuts open the bag automatically, after which the operator empties the bag and discards it. In the fully automatic solution, the bag is supplied, opened, emptied, and disposed of in an enclosed area, so no toxic substances can escape.
More information about the DIMA® Bag Emptying System?
Download our brochure or the datasheet with all options, models and measurements, or freely contact one of our experts.
More Product Intake solutions
Dinnissen has developed various solutions for Product Intake. In addition to the DIMA® series, we have a Modular Big Bag Loading Station, a fully automated Drum and Container Handling System, Big Bag Conditioner and corrosion-resistant silos with storage capacities of up to 1500m³. Together we determine which solution best suits your product and production process.
Easy to integrate into your production line
The Modular Big Bag Unloading Station comes in various versions. For example, an extra vibration can be activated for poorly flowing products, so that as little residue as possible remains in the Big Bags. In addition, the unloading station can be extended as desired with an integrated hoisting system, a bag dump cabin and an automatic weighing and dosing system. Especially for the unloading of toxic products, a negative pressure chamber can be added.
- Implementation can be adapted to wishes and requirements
- Expansions are possible both before and after the unloading process
- Available in ATEX execution
- Low-contamination finishing
- Also suitable for toxic products
Always customized to your unloading process
Every Modular Big Bag Unloading Station Dinnissen builds starts with a question: what does your process actually need? Every material and every production environment places different demands on the unloading process. Flow behavior, dust formation, required safety measures, hygiene requirements, capacity and available space all influence the final design. That is why we look at the full picture before we engineer your unloading station. What are you processing? What level of dust control do you need? Which hygiene and safety standards apply? How much capacity is required? And how should the unloading station fit into your existing production line? The result is a Modular Big Bag Unloading Station that fits your product, your process and your production environment. No two machines are the same, because no two processes are the same.
Key features, options, and models
Since the Big Bag Unloading Station is modular, almost all components can be substituted for other variants. Depending on the requirements, parts can be adjusted and added. In this way, a Dinnissen Big Bag Unloading Station can be integrated into virtually any production line. The unloading station is available with a negative pressure chamber and an ATEX version for toxic products and strict hygiene requirements. In addition, components can be added both before and after the unloading process, such as a bag or Big Bag infeed point, an integrated hoisting system, an extraction system, a chunk crusher, a bag dump cabin and an automatic weighing and dosing system.
How it works
The Big Bag is hung manually (using a forklift) or with an integrated hoist above a filler pipe and connected to this filler pipe. This is done with a cuff that is inflated to minimize the release of dust. The rope at the bottom of the Big Bag is not loosened until the Big Bag is properly attached to the filling pipe. When an employee loosens the rope, the dust enters the filling pipe safely and efficiently, after which it can continue its path in the production process. The empty Big Bag is hoisted down, and a new full Big Bag is again attached to the hoist.
More information about the modular Big Bag Unloading Station?
Download our brochure or the datasheet with all options, models and dimensions, or freely contact one of our experts.
More solutions for Product Intake
For the intake of powders, grains, or granules, Dinnissen has various in-house solutions. We supply both a manual and a semi-automatic and fully automatic DIMA® Bag Emptying System. For easy loosening of clumped product, we have the Big Bag Conditioner. Looking for ways to clean your containers, barrels, or silos quickly, safely, and thoroughly? We have solutions in stock for that too.
How it works
The Big Bag is placed or suspended in the Big Bag Conditioner. Depending on the selected version, beaters, rollers, vibration motors, massage arms, or actuators ensure that the Big Bag containing clumped product is conditioned.
Watch the video to see how the Big Bag unloading station works.
Loosen highly compacted products in a flash
The best way to loosen clumped product from a Big Bag depends on the material. For materials such as hard sugar, a mangle helps with breaking the product loose. For material where clumping is caused by fat, an unloading tower is used to slowly move the product. Dinnissen has several solutions available to condition Big Bags and to get the product out of the Big Bags easily.
An operator ensures that the full Big Bags are attached to a hoist, and does not need to exert a great deal of physical effort to lift and condition the Big Bags. The Big Bags are put through a wide mangle or are massaged, causing the product to loosen from the sides of the Big Bags. This way the Big Bags can be emptied without leaving behind unnecessarily much product. This does not only result in reduced product loss, but also a quicker production process.
- Suitable for highly compacted products
- Minimal product loss
- Faster production process
- Ergonomic design
- Tested with customer products
Key features, options, and models
The main feature of the Big Bag Conditioner is that the conditioning, emptying, and discharge of Big Bags are done in only one station. Each Big Bag Conditioner has a hoist that raises the Big Bag and guides it through the conditioner. The Big Bag can then be secured at the bottom with a cuff so that the product can flow out of the Big Bag dust-free. Depending on the product and the desired production process, different designs are possible. Options are available for processing toxic substances, a product discharge system can be connected to the Big Bag Conditioner, and the system can also be integrated into existing lines.
More information about the Big Bag Conditioner?
Download our brochure or the datasheet with all options, models and measurements, or freely contact one of our experts.
More solutions for Product Intake
When working with powders, grains, and granulates, one often uses Big Bags, drums, or containers to transport the substances. The way these are subsequently emptied is important for a hygienic, safe, and fast production process. In addition to the Big Bag Conditioner, we have DIMA® Bag Emptying Systems, Modular Big Bag Unloading Systems, Drum and Container Handling Systems, and corrosion-resistant silos.
Safe emptying and handling
With Dinnissen's drum, container, and barrel handling system you are assured of a safe and dust-free handling system that ensures the complete emptying of both drums and containers. The drum, container, or barrel is connected dust-free. After hermetic connection, the drum, container, or barrel is turned 180 degrees and opened using a tipper. For toxic or hazardous substances, more may be needed than just a hermetic connection. For this purpose, Dinnissen offers the option of emptying drums, containers, and barrels in a completely sealed enclosure. This way, operator safety can be guaranteed, no matter what substance is being handled.
Empty drums or containers can be cleaned and reused, or the choice can be made to shred or flatten the material. This step can also be implemented in the process after the drums or containers have been delivered and emptied. Again, Dinnissen looks for the most cost-effective and environment-friendly option.
- Designed with an eye on operator ergonomics
- Empty drums and containers without residue
- Emptying and processing in one streamlined process
- Various processing options
- Also suitable for toxic substances
Key features, options, and models
The drum and container handling system can be tailored to what your production process needs. There are many ways to empty a drum or container. For example, an operator can open the drum manually and turn it 180 degrees with a tipper. Alternatively, a glovebox can be used, the drum can be perforated and emptied at the top, or the bottom can be opened for safe discharge of the product. To get the product out of the drum or container, vibration, air pulse or vacuum technology can be used. Whereas containers are then often cleaned for reuse, drums are often shredded or flattened.
For toxic and hazardous substances, a fully enclosed housing can be installed. For explosive products, nitrogen can be injected into this enclosure, to eliminate the risk of explosions. The built-in air dryer including filters and permanent negative pressure prevents fumes from spreading in the installation. The electronic control and monitoring including visualizations are developed and tested in-house. For non-toxic substances, dust-free processing is guaranteed by a hermetic connection for opening the drum or container. The system comes with a tipper, which can be executed hydraulically, electrically, or pneumatically. The tipper tilts and empties the drum or container only once it has been safely and dustproof sealed.
How it works
How drums and containers are emptied and processed differs per customer and production process. If required, the drums or containers are transported manually or fully automatically via roller conveyors towards a tipping system. One can choose between a hermetic connection and completely closed housing. The drum or container can be rotated 180 degrees or perforated and emptied. Emptying can take place by vibration, air pulses, or vacuum, depending on the product and customer requirements.
More information about the drum, container, and barrel emptying system?
Download our brochure or the data sheet with all options, models and measurements, or freely contact one of our experts.
More solutions for Product Intake
Looking for the most efficient way to empty your Big Bags, drums, containers, or silos? Dinnissen gladly offers tailored advice! For emptying Big Bags, we have developed DIMA® Bag Emptying Systems, in manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic versions. The Big Bag Conditioner ensures loosening of clumped product from the Big Bag and our Modular Big Bag Unloading Station ensures contamination-free emptying of all your Big Bags.
We’re proud to be trusted by the best producers in the world
Our challenge?
Optimization of your entire process
At Dinnissen we will be happy to help you automate and innovate your entire process with customized solutions. Dinnissen can add value in every process step. Take a look at our solutions for each step of processing powders, pellets grain and granular materials:
