Dimetix silo level measurement: integration and reliability notes for mine engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell
First reported on Australian Mining
30 Second Briefing
Silo level measurement using Dimetix D‑Series laser distance sensors is being promoted for bulk materials handling in sectors such as mining, plastics and construction materials, offering non-contact measurement over long ranges with millimetre accuracy. The IP65/67-rated units can be mounted at the silo roof, measure through dust using visible red laser technology, and integrate via standard industrial interfaces (e.g. 4–20 mA, Profibus, Profinet) into existing PLC/SCADA systems. For mine sites, this enables continuous stock level monitoring in ore, cement or lime silos without intrusive radar probes or load cells, reducing maintenance in abrasive, dusty environments.
Technical Brief
- D‑Series sensors offer absolute distance measurement, avoiding drift associated with time‑based level estimates.
- Units can be configured for both continuous level monitoring and discrete high/low alarm setpoints.
- Measurement principle allows targeting of sloping material surfaces without mechanical guides or stilling wells.
- Roof‑mounted installation keeps all electronics outside the material stream, reducing wear from abrasive ores.
- Devices support parameterisation via serial interface, enabling remote re‑range or filtering adjustments from control rooms.
- Fast measurement cycles suit dynamic filling/emptying, limiting lag in mass‑balance calculations for silo networks.
- Non-contact approach simplifies retrofits on existing silos where internal structural obstructions hinder probe installation.
- For multi-silo plants, identical sensor hardware streamlines spares management and standardises PLC function block logic.
Our Take
Within the 1105 Mining stories in our database, Australia-based pieces tagged both ‘Product’ and ‘Projects’ often focus on instrumentation and control upgrades, signalling that AMS’s Dimetix silo level work is likely being framed as a brownfield optimisation rather than a greenfield development.
Across other Australian Mining product features, level and volume measurement systems are increasingly tied to automated inventory management and reconciliation, so similar Dimetix deployments could become a low-cost pathway to tighter stock control without major process redesign.
For Australian operators, precise silo level measurement has also been linked in our coverage to improved safety cases around overfilling and dust control, which can help in meeting site-wide compliance obligations without large capex-heavy structural changes.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
Related Articles
Related Industries & Products
Mining
Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.
Construction
Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.
CMRR-io
Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.
HYDROGEO-io
Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.
GEODB-io
Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.