Surge Bins

By Greg Washburn and Joshua Belisle · Edited by Dana Gardner
Published August 4, 2024 · Reviewed by Greg Washburn · July 21, 2026

Summary

What is a surge bin in a resin conveying system?

A surge bin is a bulk storage container that adds material storage capacity or is integrated into a material conveying system. Surge bins are typically built of carbon steel, and some sizes come as bolt-together, expandable units that reduce freight cost and can be enlarged after installation. Sizing should be based on usable storage space inside the bin, allowing for the material’s angle of repose.

Surge Bins

These bulk storage containers can be used to provide additional material storage space or integrated into a material conveying system. These bins are typically built of carbon steel. Some sizes are available as Bolt-Together, expandable units which can save on freight and can be enlaarged after installation.

Features to look for:

Sizing should be based on useable storage space within the bin – considering angle of repose
Exterior finish – typically sand-blasted and painted
Sight glasses — for view of contents

Typical Accessories:

High/Low level sensors
Vacuum take-off box
Probes
Discharge gate
Clear epoxy coating of interior
Leg extensions

For More Information on Surge Bins

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I size a surge bin?

Base the size on the usable storage space within the bin, not its nominal volume, and account for the material’s angle of repose when working out how much of that space the resin will actually occupy. High and low level sensors are a typical accessory for tracking how much of that capacity is in use.

What accessories are available for a surge bin?

Typical accessories include high and low level sensors, a vacuum take-off box for feeding the conveying system, probes, a discharge gate, clear epoxy coating on the interior, and leg extensions. Sight glasses for viewing the contents and a sand-blasted, painted exterior finish are standard features to look for.

What is a surge bin made of?

Surge bins are typically built of carbon steel with a sand-blasted and painted exterior; a clear epoxy interior coating is an option. Some sizes are supplied as bolt-together, expandable units, which saves on freight and allows the bin to be enlarged after installation if storage needs grow.

About the Authors

Greg Washburn

Vice President of Operations, Novatec

Greg Washburn is Vice President of Operations at Novatec and has been with the company for more than three decades. He is involved in all phases of engineering design and product manufacturing, giving him a broad perspective on how resin drying and conveying equipment moves from engineering concept through production and into real-world processing environments. Greg holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland. His experience spans engineering, manufacturing and operations across Novatec’s material-handling technologies.

Joshua Belisle

Technology Manager, Novatec

Joshua Belisle is Technology Manager at Novatec, where his work focuses on simulation and technology development for resin drying. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Business from the University of Virginia in 2023 and joined Novatec that same year. Joshua uses simulation tools to investigate previously difficult-to-measure aspects of the drying process, helping Novatec better understand airflow, heat transfer and other variables that influence resin-drying performance.