Tilbury Grain Terminal – A Look at Modern Bulk Handling for Flat & Hopper Bottom Silos
A recent site visit to Tilbury Grain Terminal offered MHA Group leadership the opportunity to walk through one of the UK’s most significant grain handling hubs and see firsthand the scale of the bulk handling systems at work.
Mic Mittasch (Group CEO), Nigel Goode (Group COO), and Brian McCawley (Vice President of North America Operations) were welcomed on-site by Andrew Workman, Head of Business Development at T H WHITE Projects, who took the team around the complex. For both Nigel and Brian, this was their first trip to the UK in their new roles — and the visit to Tilbury served as a first introduction to the type of project and long-term partnerships that are part of the MHA Group’s work in bulk handling systems across ports, processing facilities, and terminals. The equipment supplied by Guttridge covers the Silo 3 complex, the Transfer Reclaim System, and Silo 4 — key components delivered as part of the terminal’s ongoing expansion and upgrade programme.
A Walk Through the Rebuild – Phase 1
Our tour began at the newly constructed flat-bottom silos, Silo 3, arranged in two rows of five. At 30 metres tall and 11 metres in diameter, these corrugated steel silos dominate the skyline, a sign of the huge amount of work completed during a period of investment and improvement to increase efficiency and future proof the facility. Guttridge supplied:
- 8 x GTX Chain Conveyors all rated at a maximum of 700TPH and specified for Cereals, Pulses & Similar products.
- All feature our Telescopic Tail-end design for improved cleaning and reduced product residue.
- Bunker & Bleed Slide Valves installed below the silos to control flow into the conveyors.
The Silo 3 rebuild at Tilbury Grain Terminal brings an additional 20,000 tonnes of grain storage back online, restoring the terminal’s full 135,000 metric tonne capacity for cereals including wheat, barley, and other grains.
At the heart of the new steel silo complex and the first phase of the project are Guttridge GTX Chain Conveyors. These are used for silo intake, enabling reliable, high-throughput bulk handling from the dockside to the silos. The Silo 3 complex features eight GTX conveyors in total: four positioned over the silo tops, two installed in the tunnels, and two inclined transfer conveyors. Each conveyor is nominally 800 mm wide, with lengths ranging from 21 to 65 metres, and are designed to handle up to 700 tonnes per hour — supporting fast ship turnaround and smooth terminal operations.
Grain Terminal Bulk Handling Systems – Phase 2
As part of the second phase of redevelopment, Guttridge delivered high-capacity equipment to link the original concrete silos with the new Silo 3 complex, the Transfer Reclaim System, and Silo 4 — all future-proofed for integration with upcoming systems. This critical link enables stored grain to be efficiently reclaimed and cycled across the site as needed. The installation includes:
- 6 x GTX Chain Conveyors, all nominally 800mm wide, with lengths from 18 to 92 metres
- 1 x HL1070 GTX Belt & Bucket Elevator, standing 48 metres tall
- A selection of 600mm square diverter valves for controlled product routing
Each conveyor was designed to handle a wide variety of crops, including cereals and pulses. A key feature across all conveyors on site is the Guttridge Telescopic Tail-end, a proven design which simplifies cleaning by maintaining consistent clearance between the flighting and conveyor casing. By preventing product build-up in the tail section, the telescopic tail end helps ensure only a minimised amount of product remains within the conveyors between product cycles. The system reduces the risk of cross-contamination when switching between crops, for instance ensuring that most traces of oilseed aren’t left behind when the system moves on to handle grain.
“Tilbury is a standout site in the UK, and T H WHITE has done an exceptional job leading this rebuild. It’s great to see Guttridge equipment integrated into such a critical operation — a real showcase of what collaboration can achieve.“
– Nigel Goode, Group COO, MHA Group
Access & Maintenance Tower – Grain Elevator
Continuing our look at phase 2 we move over to the new 40-metre-tall access and maintenance tower which was designed and installed by T H WHITE. Acting as an intermediate support for the conveyor bridges linking to the other silos, the tower also houses the HL1070 GTX Belt & Bucket Elevator.
The elevator, which rises from a 5-metre-deep pit to the top of the structure, handles all material routes, allowing material to move between the different Silo complexes. Rated for slow-speed operation, the elevator features an ATEX Zone 20 internal rating, plastic buckets, and full monitoring systems including head and boot belt alignment, bearing temperature sensors, rotation, and speed detection.
The tower also contains a network of 600mm-square, wear-resistant lined chutes and diverter valves, directing material flow between conveying routes. Plate magnets are installed within the elevator chutes to remove any ferrous contaminants from the grain, supported by a Fike dust protection system.
Silo 4 Discharge Conveying System – Phase 3
After following the bucket elevator down to its base, attention turned to the conveying systems serving the newly constructed concrete silo complex. This final phase of the project saw Guttridge supply all conveyors both above and below the silos, along with extensions to existing machines to enable seamless product transfer between Silo 4 and the earlier Silo 3 installation.
To support the high-throughput demands of this busy grain terminal Guttridge supplied:
- 16 x GTX Chain Conveyors, 14 of which were Nominally 800mm wide, and 2 at nominally 1250mm wide.
- Slide Valves with rotary encoders for a more precise control of slide position.
- All conveyors were fitted with Nord Industrial bed-mounted drives, the largest being 150kw
These conveyors play a crucial role in managing the discharge from the new concrete silos, forming a highly flexible handling system. Product can be transferred between silos, moved from the Silo 4 complex to the earlier Silo 3 installation, or directed towards the out loading area.
Control over product flow is achieved through a series of Guttridge supplied slide gates and diverters, all integrated into the TH White control system. By adjusting gate positions and redirecting diverters, controllers can determine whether grain is sent for loading into trucks or routed back to the top via the main elevator. From there, material can be returned to Silo 4 complex, or diverted across to Silo 3 for storage. This level of control ensures maximum flexibility, allowing the terminal to change its silo use and react to shifting demands across intake, storage, and out loading.
Thank You to T H WHITE & Tilbury Grain Terminal
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Andrew Workman, Head of Business Development at T H WHITE Projects for taking the time to show us around Tilbury Grain Terminal. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to tour a facility like this and the generous time given and the information shared throughout the tour.
To learn more about T H White Projects please visit thwhite.co.uk
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Guttridge Limited, Wardentree Park, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 3UU, United Kingdom
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