The case
A major Italian drying and storage center, with a total storage capacity of approximately 100,000 tonnes, turned to Mecmar to modernize its drying facility with a high-performance solution designed to handle large product volumes continuously, efficiently, and safely.
The installation, completed in the summer of 2025, was driven by a very specific need: drying approximately 25,000 tonnes of corn and 15,000 tonnes of soybeans per season while reducing energy consumption and operating costs.
For the customer, it was essential to adopt a modern technology capable not only of ensuring continuous operation during peak harvest periods, but also of meeting the requirements needed to access incentives related to energy efficiency and digitalization, such as those provided by the Industry 4.0 program in Italy.
The need
The customer was looking for a dryer capable of:
- Drying large quantities of corn and soybeans continuously;
- Reducing electricity and fuel consumption;
- Optimizing plant operating costs;
- Ensuring uniform drying even with variable incoming moisture levels;
- Operating safely with certified systems compliant with regulations;
- Monitoring and recording process data remotely;
- Reducing environmental impact, including atmospheric emissions, noise, and dust.
The requirement was therefore not limited to production capacity. The customer needed a modern system capable of combining high performance with low energy consumption, while ensuring traceability, safety, and consistent final product quality.
The solution
To meet these needs, Mecmar proposed the MC 5/90+10 RR dryer, a solution designed to combine high throughput, energy efficiency, safety, and digital process control.
The selected model features a heat recovery system, dual burners, next-generation fans, thermal insulation, and certified components for safe operation. The dryer is also designed for zoned drying thanks to the presence of two burners, allowing temperatures to be optimized during different stages of the process.
This configuration makes it possible to manage product treatment more accurately and flexibly by adapting temperatures to the actual conditions of the incoming grain. This is particularly important for corn, which can arrive with highly variable moisture levels.
During operation, the dryer processed corn with an initial moisture content ranging from 24% to 28%, reducing it to a stable final moisture content of 14%. Despite the variability of the incoming product, the system consistently delivered uniform results, achieving a capacity of approximately 900 tonnes per day.
One of the key strengths of the solution is its energy efficiency. The heat recovery system reuses part of the energy already employed in the process, helping reduce fuel consumption. The next-generation fans help lower electricity consumption, further improving the overall efficiency of the plant.
Thermal insulation also plays a crucial role. The sandwich-panel structure minimizes heat loss to the outside environment, maintaining a more stable internal temperature and improving process efficiency. This results in reduced energy waste and more consistent drying performance.
Minimizing environmental impact was another decisive factor in the customer’s choice. The dryer is equipped with systems designed to reduce noise emissions and dust generation, helping make the facility more sustainable and better suited to modern production environments.
The digital component provided additional value. Thanks to remote access capabilities and cloud-based data recording, the customer can monitor process performance, check operating parameters, and maintain complete traceability of plant performance.
This functionality has also proven particularly important for accessing Industry 4.0 incentives, as it enables more effective documentation and management of machine operating data.
From an operational standpoint, the dryer fully met the customer’s expectations. During the drying season, the MC 5/90+10 RR operated continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without interruptions. This is a crucial advantage for a drying center that must process large volumes of product within limited timeframes while minimizing downtime.
The customer’s satisfaction was driven not only by the achieved production capacity but also by process stability, reduced operating costs, and the opportunity to work with a modern, safe, and energy-efficient technology.
With the MC 5/90+10 RR model, Mecmar delivered a solution capable of meeting the needs of a major national drying center: high performance, continuous operation, energy efficiency, digital control, and a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
