key construction milestone reached with inflation of groundbreaking dome silo at tilbury docks

Commissioned by leading building materials experts Aggregate Industries, an important milestone was achieved yesterday with the inflation of the dome silo airform that sits within this new multi-million-pound cement import, manufacturing and distribution facility. Located at the Port of Tilbury, the dome silo is one of only a handful of its kind in the UK, built using innovative construction methods and materials.

The 45m tall, 32m diameter dome is designed to store up to 30,000 tonnes of cement to support local demand for building materials, to be used across an array of construction projects in the region. Once operational in 2026, this facility will allow Aggregate Industries to serve its customers 24/7 with conventional, low carbon and circular cementitious materials from five loading heads.

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In line with the firm’s commitment to sustainability, the new facility demonstrates Aggregate Industries ongoing commitment to be a leader in supplying low-carbon, sustainable construction solutions.

During construction, over 25,000 tonnes of concrete from the existing site has already been recycled and reused, and over 10,000 tonnes of recycled asphalt planings have been incorporated into new asphalt products. Aggregate Industries is also incorporating lower carbon materials throughout every aspect of construction; including use of the firm’s own green-building solution, ECOPact readymix.

Local stakeholders and businesses are already seeing potential economic benefits, as the project is expected to stimulate demand for trades and materials in the region. More than 100 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase of the scheme, with a further 30 full time permanent positions generated once the site is operational.

Aggregate Industries’ substantial investment in Tilbury underscores the area's growing significance as a centre for innovation and reflects its proactive commitment to embrace new innovative technologies.

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Tim Fry, Project Manager at Aggregate Industries, is responsible for overseeing engineering and construction of the new facility. "With this project, Tilbury joins a small number of pioneering locations in the UK with access to the latest advancements in dome silo technology. Once operational, the facility will support both local and regional demand for conventional, low carbon and circular cementitious construction materials.”

US-based company, Dome Technology worked in partnership with the Aggregate Industries team to inflate the dome. CEO, Bradley Bateman, said: “Dome Technology and Aggregate Industries worked closely together to develop the most efficient and economical solution for this project, relying on the many decades of industry experience and innovation from both teams. When completed this facility will be state of the art and the result of the teams' collaborative dynamic ability to innovate and find solutions."