Miller Magazine Issue: 123 March 2020

68 TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM MILLER / MARCH 2020 What reputation does Sukup have in the USA and worldwide? What kind of role and place does Sukup hold in its sector? Sukup is the world’s largest family-owned and opera- ted manufacturer of grain storage, drying and handling equipment, and steel buildings. Three generations of the Sukup family, including my mom, Mary, are active in the business. My daughter Emily Schmitt, who is general counsel, is one of five third-generation family members involved daily in our operations. Being family-owned al- lows us to stay close to our customers and better unders- tand their needs. Our products are known for their high quality; our pe- ople for their commitment to innovative solutions; and our company for excellent customer service and continu- ous improvement. We also emphasize giving back, both in our local community and internationally. In 2010 we designed the Sukup Safe T Home®, and we have now built more than 400 of these hurricane-proof structures in Haiti and around the world. Your company recently underwent a generation chan- ge. You took over the portfolio of President and CEO from your brother. What are your future objectives in your field of operation? Innovation is part of our identity at Sukup, and continued innovation and growth is one of our main objectives. As a family-owned company, my priority as president will be to continually outperform our big corporate competitors by staying close to our customers. Sukup is known for understanding the agriculture industry’s needs and pro- viding innovative solutions to effectively address those needs. You are a part of the expansion of Sukup Manufac- turing. Can you tell us what you experienced along the way? How has your company developed over the years? Throughout the years, Sukup Manufacturing Co. has continually grown and expanded its product offerings in grain handling and drying. In 2001, Sukup took a sig- nificant step and began manufacturing the grain bins themselves. At the time, our dealers and farmers were asking for a “one-stop-shop” for their grain storage and handling needs. Other companies were getting OUT of bin manufacturing, but we listened to our customers and decided to move forward the bin product line. Sukup quickly gained market share and was within the top three grain bin companies by sales volume within a few years. We believe our commitment to the excellent fit, as well as innovative design with multiple patented features, have been the keys to our success in offering grain bins. Another growth area where I have been involved in our commercial sales. Ethanol is an important market opportunity for our farmers, as the ethanol plants have grown we have been there to provide the large scale equipment they need for commercial operations. Our newest product line is the steel building line. Ease of construction is a top priority, as well as providing cus- tom options. We have designed many farm storage buil- dings, but you can also find an airplane hanger, furniture store, and even a giraffe barn at a zoo. Can you give us some information about your produ- ction capacity and facilities? Sukup Manufacturing Co. covers a million square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. Our main production facility is located in Sheffield, Iowa, where Eugene and Mary founded the company in 1963. We also have six distribution centers around the United Sta- tes and a steel building subsidiary in Ambridge, Pennsy-