Radar level measurement in the silo park: How Cementbouw is revolutionising processes with VEGAPULS 6X and PLICSMOBILE T81

Fabian Fischer
8/4/2026

Why conventional level measurement technology is now reaching its limits

Many plants still rely on mechanical or simple electronic level gauges, supplemented by manual calculations in spreadsheets or ERP systems. While this approach is tried and true, it has its weaknesses:

  • No real-time level readings
  • Safety reserves must still be maintained
  • Lots of manual work required
  • Risk of overfilling or material shortages

Cementbouw used such a system for a long time. VEGA high-level switches reliably prevented overfilling, while inventory levels were tracked in Excel files. However, with increasing demands for efficiency and transparency, there was a growing desire to use digital, non-contact level measurement that would provide exact data about filling levels and inventory at all times.

 

VEGAPULS 6X: State-of-the-art radar level measurement for smart processes

Thanks to the VEGAPULS 6X radar transmitters, the levels in the silos are measured contactlessly, precisely, independently of dust or bulk material movements, and in real time, eliminating the need for manual checks – for greater efficiency and process certainty.

VEGAPULS 6X is a universal radar level transmitter for liquids and bulk solids. In Zwijndrecht, it was mounted on a swivel flange, allowing the radar beam to be optimally directed to the silo outlet. Installation and commissioning are remarkably simple. Rob Smulders, Business Development Manager at VEGA, reports:

“Our technician installed all the transmitters on the silos and commissioned them in a single day. All you have to do is align the transmitter with the silo outlet, enter the silo’s linearisation table into the transmitter – and you’re done.”

Key advantages of radar level measurement:

  • Non-contact measurement without wear
  • High measurement accuracy even in dusty conditions
  • Level data update in real time
  • Independent of material properties
  • Maintenance free

For Cementbouw, this means: Exact level data – even during ship loading and unloading.
Arjan van de Rest, Senior Operations Officer, explains:

“Radar level measurement is significantly more precise, delivers level data in real time during unloading, and allows readout at any remote location.”

 
“In the past, we had no real-time insight into the silos and were forced to plan in safety reserves. Now we can tell the supervisor: ‘Go ahead and load in another 50 tonnes, because the radar shows us that we are only 80 per cent full.’ This allows us to make much better use of our actual capacity.”
Rolf Rutten, manager of the silo park, describes the advantages of the new level measurement technology:

Greater security thanks to state-of-the-art level transmitters

Besides efficiency, the CRH Group focuses on one thing above all else: Security for people, equipment and the environment. Overfilling silos can lead to material spillage, dust pollution or even structural damage. Precise level measurement with radar significantly reduces this risk. The transmitters deliver data continuously, enabling early detection of critical situations.

VEGA PLICSMOBILE T81: Level data directly to the cloud

With VEGA Inventory System (VIS), operations people will soon be able to read out the silo level live during unloading.
Since there is no central control system in the silo complex, Cementbouw is using the compact VEGA PLICSMOBILE T81 radio unit. The transmitter data is transmitted to the radio unit via the HART multidrop protocol and from there sent to the cloud via wireless network. VEGA Inventory System (VIS) makes clear and concise data readily available – even on mobile devices. Users can monitor the level in real time during unloading and immediately see how much material has already been transferred.

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