The main issue of the present article is to analyze the efficiency of both solvers, namely PFC and LS-Dyna. Their adaptability and performance in defined contexts applied on various problems will be shown after a short theoretical outline of both programs. LS-Dyna is a Finite Element Code, whereas PFC is based on the distinct element method. Both programs use an explicit algorithm to solve equations of motion. At first the methods themselves and the modeling techniques of both PFC and LS-Dyna are pointed out by the example of a silo being emptied under gravity conditions. Simulating the fluid behavior of iron ore introduced into a reduction shaft will show the high performance of the PFC program for analyzing technical procedures. This reduction shaft is part of the COREX^®-process, which is a special melting method to produce hot iron. PFC simulates the actual segregation of the granulated solids and analyzes their specific parameters on the basis of which an improvement of the process is made possible.