Miller Magazine Issue: 123 March 2020

69 TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM MILLER / MARCH 2020 lvania. The company currently employs more than 600 people, and uses some of the most advanced design and manufacturing equipment available, including laser and plasma metal-cutting machines, robotic welding machi- nes, plus benders, saws, drills, and routers. We can do a lot of amazing things with metal. What distinguishes your products from others? Many of our employees have farming experience, so they’re constantly on the lookout for ways to make our products better for farmers in terms of safety, ease of on-site construction, ease of operation, and to improve profitability. We’re extremely focused on finding soluti- ons for our customers, and providing excellent customer service. We hold more than 80 patents and have won 26 ag engineering innovation awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), including 20 since 2011. Sukup dryers and control systems, which are the most te- chnologically advanced in the industry, have won nine ag innovation awards from ASABE. Those products include the industry-leading Mixed-Flow Grain Dryer, introduced in 2016. Sukup offers the largest free-span bin available in the world, at 156’ in diameter. Our bins are known for being easy to erect, with innovative sidewall splice plates and double-ended stud bolts to keep out moisture. Where do you export your products to? How many countries are you exporting to right now? Sukup equipment is available worldwide, with products in 85 countries. The company’s network of dealers inc- ludes Denmark-based Sukup Europe. We most recently opened a sales office in Bangkok, Thailand. International sales have grown steadily in recent years and now repre- sent about 12 percent of total sales, with most going to Canada, Mexico and Europe. What can you say about the trends in the grain stora- ge, drying and handling manufacturing? Lately, there has been a tremendous need for grain dr- yers. Overall, the trend in recent years has been for bi- gger bins and larger pieces of material handling equip- ment such as bucket elevators and conveyors. There are several reasons for this, including increased grain produ- ction, growth of the ethanol industry (Sukup equipment is used at about 40 ethanol plants), and grain prices, which have prompted many farms and commercial grain sellers to store more grain so they can take advantage of price fluctuations. Is there anything else you would like to communicate to our readers? We love farmers and farming. We try to make all of our products the best they can be so farmers can be more safe, productive and profitable. Check us out at www. sukup.com.