M-LAS: Millimeter-Level
LiDAR Precision
Digital doubles of your bulk storage assets using advanced LiDAR scanning—giving you the data you need without sending anyone inside.
±2mm
Scan Accuracy
Zero
Confined Space Entry
5–7
Business Days
40+
Years Experience
The ChallengeWhat You Can’t See
What You Can’t See
Costs You
Every day, unseen risks threaten your operations. Traditional inspection means sending workers into dangerous, confined spaces—risking lives for incomplete data.
- Costly unplanned outages that halt production
- Safety incidents from confined space entry
- Blind spots causing structural or material issues
- Inaccurate inventory impacting production and finances
Our Process
Precision Data. Zero Risk.
Our 4-stage LiDAR scanning process delivers full asset insights in just 5–7 business days.
1
On-Site Survey
Identify scan points and minimize disruption to your operations.
2
LiDAR Scanning
Capture millions of points with ±2mm accuracy using non-entry methods.
3
Data Processing
Generate detailed point clouds, 360° imagery, and volumetric reports.
4
Digital Delivery
Receive CAD-ready files, PDF reports, and secure offline viewing tools.
Applications
LiDAR Solutions by Industry
Purpose-built scanning programs for the assets and industries where precision matters most.
Application
Kilns & Calciners
Refractory brick condition assessment — fast, accurate, and comprehensive data to drive every shutdown decision.
See Inside Your Asset.
Know the Condition of Every Brick.
Refractory brick linings in rotary kilns and calciners face extreme thermal, chemical, and mechanical stress. Brick wear is uneven — different zones degrade at different rates. Until recently, assessing lining condition meant sending workers into confined spaces to take manual measurements: slow, hazardous, and producing only a handful of data points across an asset containing thousands of individual bricks.
LiDAR changes this entirely. By emitting millions of laser pulses and measuring their return, our scanners capture the precise three-dimensional geometry of the entire interior surface at ±2mm accuracy.
Key Fact
Traditional manual inspection yields discontinuous spot measurements. Mole•Master M-LAS LiDAR captures millions of data points across the full lining surface — delivering a continuous condition picture no manual method can replicate.
M-LAS Service Coverage
- Full interior surface scan using best-in-class laser scanning technology at ±2mm accuracy
- Detailed 3D point cloud and 360° imagery of the complete lining
- Deviation analysis against original design drawings or baseline scan — highlighting wear, thinning, and damage
- Detection of incrustation build-up, spalling, and structural anomalies across the full lining surface
- CAD-ready files, PDF condition reports, and secure offline viewing tools for your engineering team
Next-Day On-Site Walkthrough
Your Mole•Master technician walks your maintenance, engineering, and operations teams through the scan data on-site — zone by zone — so condition assessments can be made and repair scopes defined before the shutdown window closes.
Impact & Stakeholders
Reduce Shutdown Duration
LiDAR eliminates scaffold setup inside the vessel and can begin once temperatures drop below 120°F — returning condition data far sooner than conventional methods allow.
Eliminate Scope Uncertainty
Avoid costly over-relining and dangerous under-relining. M-LAS data gives a complete picture of every zone so the relining scope reflects actual condition, not conservative assumption.
Avoid Costly Failures
Data-driven maintenance programs built on accurate scanning catch developing problem areas well before they become unplanned production emergencies.
Better-Informed Decisions Across Your Organisation
The value of M-LAS scan data extends beyond the shutdown window. The 3D point clouds, condition reports, and CAD-ready files produced by every scan become a permanent condition record — one that can be interrogated, compared across campaigns, and shared across teams.
Unplanned and poorly scoped shutdowns can run to hundreds of thousands, or millions, of dollars per incident. LiDAR-based assessment directly addresses the root cause: decisions made without accurate data.
How M-LAS Data Informs Better Decisions
Maintenance Teams
Know exactly which zones need intervention and which do not — plan work scope with confidence, not guesswork. Prioritise repair work based on measured lining thickness rather than visual estimate.
Operations & Production
Make go/no-go decisions on campaign extension based on measured remaining lining thickness, not calendar dates. Confirm or revise planned relining scope with hard data in hand.
Engineering
Access CAD-ready point cloud data and deviation reports to validate design assumptions and track wear rates over multiple campaigns. Define where targeted intervention is sufficient versus full reline.
Capital Planning & Finance
Justify refractory expenditure with documented condition evidence. Avoid both over-spending on premature relines and the cost of unplanned failures. Document evidence for insurance or regulatory requirements.
The M-LAS Process for Refractory Brick
Designed to integrate smoothly into your shutdown schedule with minimum disruption to operations. The scan is conducted early in the shutdown window — providing the key data precisely when it makes the difference.
1
Pre-Scan Planning
Our team works with your site contacts ahead of the shutdown to identify optimal scan positions, confirm access requirements, and align the inspection scope with your specific asset geometry and maintenance objectives.
2
On-Site Data Capture
Avoiding entry wherever possible, our technicians capture millions of data points across the full interior surface at ±2mm accuracy — conducted early in the shutdown window when the data matters most.
3
Rapid Data Processing
Point cloud data is processed to generate a full 3D model of the lining. Deviation analysis is run against your design drawings or previous scan baseline to highlight areas of wear, thinning, and anomaly.
4
On-Site Condition Walkthrough
Within 24 hours, your Mole•Master technician walks your teams through the findings — zone by zone, anomaly by anomaly — so repair decisions are confirmed before the shutdown window closes.
Application
Cement Silos
Material buildup and flow-path analysis — fast, accurate, and comprehensive data to support maintenance and operational decisions.
See Every Cubic Foot.
No Confined Space Entry Required.
Cement silos are critical storage assets, and every cubic foot of lost capacity can affect production, planning, and revenue. Material buildup, rat-holing, bridging, and hidden obstructions can reduce usable volume and create recurring flow problems that are difficult to diagnose from the outside.
Mole•Master has spent more than 40 years solving material flow challenges in bulk storage assets. With M-LAS LiDAR, we extend that expertise by capturing the precise three-dimensional geometry of the silo interior—without confined space entry—so teams can see exactly where buildup is occurring and how actual conditions compare to the original design intent.
Key Fact
By emitting millions of laser pulses and measuring their return, our scanners capture the interior surface at millimeter-level detail. The result is a complete digital model of the asset that can be used to identify buildup patterns, analyze material flow paths, evaluate internal structures, and compare actual conditions against drawings or CAD models.
Complete Interior Intelligence
- Full interior asset scans before and after cleaning using best-in-class laser scanning technology at ±2 mm accuracy
- Detailed 3D point cloud and 360° imagery of the complete interior surface
- Material flow analysis mapping with comparison to design drawings or CAD models
- Analysis of internal structural components and areas of concern
- CAD-ready files, PDF condition reports, and secure offline viewing tools for your engineering team
Impact & Stakeholders
Safer Visibility Into Internal Conditions
LiDAR scanning gives your team a clear view of the silo interior without requiring confined space entry. Gain accurate, full-asset data that supports safer inspection and maintenance planning.
Root Cause Identification for Flow Problems
Recurring buildup, rat-holing, and flow restrictions often point to deeper issues. Detailed scan data helps teams see where material is accumulating and what internal conditions may be contributing.
Early Detection of Capacity Loss
Even small changes inside a silo can reduce usable volume over time. By identifying hidden obstructions and buildup patterns early, teams can address issues before they lead to serious downtime or costly corrective work.
Better Maintenance Planning
With precise visual data and measurable asset conditions, maintenance teams can plan shutdowns, cleanouts, and repairs with greater confidence and better resource allocation.
Confident Comparison to Design Intent
LiDAR models make it easier to compare current silo conditions to original drawings or CAD files, confirming whether buildup, wear, or internal changes are affecting asset performance.
Designed for Cement Plant Teams
Plant Managers
Plant managers responsible for throughput, availability, and storage performance need reliable information to make timely operational decisions. LiDAR provides a clear understanding of internal conditions and helps plan maintenance that supports production continuity.
Maintenance & Reliability
For teams investigating recurring buildup, restricted flow, or unexpected performance issues, detailed scan data provides a more complete picture than traditional inspection methods and helps prioritize cleanout and reliability efforts.
Engineering Teams
Engineers assessing silo design, retrofit options, or internal obstructions benefit from accurate geometric data that reflects actual field conditions. Outputs can be compared directly with drawings or CAD models.
Operations Teams
Operations personnel need dependable condition data without adding unnecessary risk or disruption. Non-entry LiDAR scanning provides a practical way to understand internal asset conditions while minimizing interference with site activities.
Simple, Proven Workflow
1
Plan the Scan
The process begins by identifying scan locations and reviewing site access, safety requirements, and operational constraints to ensure the scan can be completed efficiently.
2
Capture the Asset Interior
Using non-entry LiDAR technology, the scanner collects millions of data points from the interior surface of the silo, creating a detailed digital record of the asset's geometry.
3
Process and Analyze the Data
Once the field scan is complete, the captured data is processed into a detailed point cloud, imagery set, and analysis model that helps teams interpret current conditions.
4
Deliver Actionable Outputs
Final deliverables include reports, CAD-ready files, and visual models that support maintenance planning and operational decision-making with confidence.
See the Difference
Real Results. Real ROI.
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Proven in the Field
Case Study A
Next-Day Operational Insights
M-LAS scans provided next-day operational insights on a dormant silo—saving the client from unnecessary confined-space entry costs and eliminating safety risks entirely.
Case Study B
Buried Infrastructure Found in Minutes
LiDAR analysis identified ductwork buried in 5ft of material within 30 minutes—allowing immediate course correction and safe project completion.
More Precision in Every Scan
Why It Matters
The M-LAS Advantage
Safety First
- Zero confined space entry, zero incidents
- No permits, testing, or rescue readiness needed
- Proven to eliminate top industrial safety hazards
Operational Excellence
- Prevent outages before they happen
- Optimize maintenance scheduling
- Plan confidently with exact, verified measurements
Financial Performance
- Accurate inventory = better cash flow
- Prevent over-ordering and loss from shrinkage
- Extend asset lifespan and demonstrate safety compliance
Why Industry Leaders Choose M-LAS
MSHA & OSHA-trained technicians. 40+ years in bulk storage. Highest point density and speed in the industry.
Certified Expertise
MSHA & OSHA-trained technicians with full regulatory compliance.
Sector Specialization
40+ years in silo and bulk storage assets across dozens of industries.
Technology Leadership
Highest point density and scanning speed in the industry.
Proven Across Industries
Cement, grain, petrochemical, mining, and power generation.
What You Receive
Deliverables Tailored to Your Team
Operations Teams
- 360° HDR images for complete visual coverage
- Volume data for accurate material tracking
- Annotated findings delivered via secure web portal
- Accessible reports for rapid decision-making
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LiDAR Scan
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Engineering Teams
- CAD-compatible 3D models (.las, .e57, .rcp)
- Accurate to ±2mm for precise engineering work
- Detailed point cloud data for structural analysis
- Measurement overlays and cross-sections
Asset Management Teams
- Baseline scans for long-term condition tracking
- Archival reports with full audit trails
- CMMS integration for automated tracking
- Trend analysis across multiple scan periods
Get StartedYour Safer, Smarter Silo
Your Safer, Smarter Silo
Management Starts Today
Three ways to connect:
1
Schedule a Free Consultation
Free discovery call with a LiDAR specialist
2
Request Sample Reports
See deliverables quality firsthand
3
Talk With a Technician
Discuss specific assets, pricing, or customization
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