San Miguel Brewery Silos | Mariveles, Bataan, Philippines

Philippines Silo Construction: EFCO’s Crane-Free Formwork Solutions

Sea Front Lucanin, Mariveles, Bataan

Southeast Asia’s Brewing Giant Expands Operations

San Miguel Brewery Inc. is the Philippines’ largest beer producer and a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation. The company is expanding its capabilities with the SMB Lucanin Malt Terminal and Port Facility Project in Mariveles, Bataan.

This state-of-the-art facility features 20 concrete silos, with a combined capacity of 2,000 metric tons (2,205 tons), that are designed to store bulk malt shipments arriving from international vessels. The facility’s ship unloaders and elevated conveyor system transfer raw materials into storage. This infrastructure project will strengthen the supply chain for one of Southeast Asia’s largest beverage manufacturers.

Lightweight Systems Win Over Heavy Equipment

Fecient Solutions Provider earned the contract for constructing and installing the conveyor system and 20 storage silos, partnering with EFCO to provide shoring and formwork solutions for the main structures.

During the competitive proposal stage, Fecient Solutions Provider evaluated multiple formwork suppliers. They selected EFCO based on a critical performance advantage—while competitors offered heavy panel systems requiring crane operations for column work, EFCO’s HAND-E-FORM® system provided a lightweight, hand-portable alternative.

EFCO supplied HAND-E-FORM® for 200 columns across all 20 silos. The flex filler panels—adjustable components used to form curved walls—were used to match the 14.4-meter-diameter (47′-3“) silo layout and maintain alignment. Working in tandem with the HAND-E-FORM® system, they provided an efficient hand-set solution for the curved walls. E-Z DECK® shoring supported the two-level deck system, which reached a total elevation of about 8 meters (26′-3“).

Eliminating Cranes Accelerates Construction

The HAND-E-FORM® system’s lightweight design transformed the construction approach. Crews could hand-carry panels between locations without crane support. This directly reduced equipment rental expenses.

Each silo required 10 columns at 7.5 meters (24′-8“) in height, totaling 200 columns across the project. The modular HAND-E-FORM® panels made formwork assembly significantly faster. Stripping was possible after just four hours, allowing the same formwork to cycle through multiple pours throughout the construction sequence. This quick-turn capability accelerated the overall project timeline while reducing the total quantity of formwork inventory needed on site.

The smooth concrete finish achieved with HAND-E-FORM® exceeded client expectations. San Miguel representatives specifically praised the results. By eliminating crane dependencies and reducing crew sizes needed for formwork operations, HAND-E-FORM® delivered measurable labor savings that contributed directly to Lowest in-Place Concrete Cost (LIPCC).

Engineered Precision for Massive Circular Structures

Unlike field-fabricated curved wood forms, which require extensive carpentry work and produce inconsistent results, the HAND-E-FORM® filler panels enabled Fecient Solutions Provider to achieve exact diameters without custom fabrication on their 14.4 meter (47′-3“) diameter silos. Each structure met the specified dimensions for proper integration with Chief Industries’ storage equipment components. (Chief Industries Asia Corp., the regional arm of the Nebraska-based USA headquarters)

The E-Z DECK® shoring system was configured with 203mm (8-inch) E-BEAM® spacing supporting plywood. It provided reliable support for the two-level deck configuration while offering flexible layout options that accommodated the complex geometry around the silo bases.

On-Site Partnership Drives First-Time Success

EFCO’s team provided hands-on technical support throughout the project. They recognized that Fecient Solutions Provider was deploying HAND-E-FORM® for the first time on this scale.

Territory Manager Melody Sonsona, District Engineer Jeanna Fernandez, and Senior Field Supervisor Ferdinand Castro collaborated closely with Project Supervisor John Alfren Moldin. Their collaborative approach included on-site training for crew members, real-time problem-solving during installation, and detailed engineering documentation covering every aspect of the work.

EFCO’s engineering drawings provided concrete pressure charts showing allowable placement rates versus temperature. They included specific E-Z DECK® assembly sequences and tower configurations. This gave the contractor the technical foundation for safe and efficient construction.

Why Fecient Solutions Provider Chose EFCO

Fecient Solutions Provider chose EFCO because its engineered systems, paired with responsive technical support, delivered the Lowest in-Place Concrete Cost (LIPCC). The hand-portable design of HAND-E-FORM® eliminated crane rental expenses and helped accelerate the construction schedule.

With the HAND-E-FORM® flex filler panels, the team maintained precise dimensions on all 20 silos, eliminating rework and avoiding delays. EFCO’s comprehensive engineering documents and hands-on technical support provided the assurance the contractor needed to work confidently with new systems.

This project demonstrates how thoughtful system selection, combined with dedicated technical support, enables contractors to efficiently complete demanding industrial structures while maintaining the high-quality results that clients expect from critical infrastructure investments.