Solutions for the Agriculture Industry: Wm. Neundorfer & Co.’s Comprehensive Support Across the Great Lakes Region

Agriculture Industry Solutions & Equipment | OH PA WV NY

Agriculture is the foundation of our national food supply and a critical economic driver across the Great Lakes region. Modern agricultural operations—from grain elevators and feed mills to livestock facilities and agronomy cooperatives—depend on complex bulk material handling systems, precise inventory management, and reliable process monitoring to remain competitive and profitable. Whether storing grain, blending feed, managing fertilizer inventory, or processing seed, today’s agricultural facilities face unique challenges that demand engineered solutions and dependable equipment.

Wm. Neundorfer & Co. provides comprehensive solutions and technical expertise to the agriculture industry in our service region of Ohio, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, and Western New York State. In this article we delve into how we along with our manufacturing partners provide comprehensive support to agricultural operations throughout our service region.

Challenges in Agricultural Processing

Agricultural production involves complex material handling challenges across a wide range of commodities including grain, feed, seed, fertilizer, and chemicals. Each stage of the supply chain—from receiving and storage through processing, blending, and load-out—presents unique requirements for equipment that must perform reliably in dusty, humid, and often remote environments. Seasonal demand cycles, strict food safety regulations such as FSMA and USDA requirements, and the need to manage inventory across multiple sites add further complexity to agricultural operations.

Wm. Neundorfer & Co. helps our customers through our partnerships with established equipment manufacturers, providing engineered solutions backed by our regional application expertise. Our technical sales team maintains relationships with engineers and maintenance professionals throughout the Upper Great Lakes region to help ensure continued productivity.

Level Measurement and Inventory Management

Agricultural operations require precise monitoring of stored commodities throughout their facilities. From grain bins and feed silos to fertilizer tanks and chemical storage vessels, knowing what you have and where you have it is essential for operational efficiency, safety, and profitability. Through our partnership with BinMaster, Wm. Neundorfer & Co. provides comprehensive level measurement and inventory management solutions designed for demanding agricultural applications:

Continuous Level Measurement:

Non-Contact Radar Sensors

BinMaster NCR series compact radar level sensors deliver accurate, continuous level measurement without material contact. These dust penetrating sensors are ideal for grain bins, feed silos, and fertilizer storage where heavy dust conditions challenge other measurement technologies. Available in configurations for vessels up to 26, 49, or 98 feet tall, non-contact radar sensors provide reliable measurement of grain, seed, feed, fertilizer, fuels, and chemicals.

3D Level Scanners

3D Level scanners provide advanced scanning technology that produce detailed material distribution mapping in large-diameter grain bins and storage vessels. These scanners measure and map uneven topography including cone-up, cone-down, and sidewall buildup conditions, enabling accurate volume calculations and inventory optimization for grain elevators and large storage facilities.

SmartBob Level Sensors

Advanced cable and weight technology providing continuous level measurement for bins, silos, and storage vessels throughout agricultural facilities. SmartBob sensors work like an automated tape measure, dropping a weighted cable to the material surface at timed intervals with accuracy within 0.25 inches. Multiple sensor configurations enable comprehensive commodity inventory tracking with wireless data integration available.

Non-Contact Radar Sensors

BinMaster NCR series compact radar level sensors deliver accurate, continuous level measurement without material contact. These dust penetrating sensors are ideal for grain bins, feed silos, and fertilizer storage where heavy dust conditions challenge other measurement technologies. Available in configurations for vessels up to 26, 49, or 98 feet tall, non-contact radar sensors provide reliable measurement of grain, seed, feed, fertilizer, fuels, and chemicals.

Laser Level Sensors

Battery-powered laser level sensors provide wireless, maintenance-friendly measurement for livestock operations and remote storage locations without wiring access or power on feed silos. These sensors are particularly well-suited for operations needing to monitor multiple dispersed storage vessels.

Point Level Indication Systems:

Rotary Level Indicators

Robust paddle-type switches providing reliable point level detection in bins, hoppers, and silos containing grain, feed, seed, and other agricultural commodities. Rotary indicators serve as critical high-level and low-level alarm devices to prevent bin overfills and material shortages.

Capacitance Probes

Capacitive level switches for point level indication in various agricultural materials including grain, feed, and processed products.

Vibrating Rod Sensors

Tuning fork technology for reliable point level detection in fine materials including ground feed, flour, powdered additives, and specialty agricultural products.

Diaphragm Switches

Pressure-sensitive level switches for high-level detection in bins and silos, providing reliable alarm indication to prevent overfills during grain receiving and storage operations.

BinCloud® Inventory Management Platform:

BinCloud® is BinMaster’s centralized cloud-based inventory management platform, enabling real-time monitoring of material levels across multiple facility locations from any phone, tablet, or PC. The BinCloud mobile app makes inventory data fully portable, supporting multi-site agricultural operations from the field, office, or anywhere in between. Within the BinCloud platform, BinMaster offers tailored software applications

AgriView

A farm-to-table bulk inventory solution designed specifically for agriculture. AgriView enables monitoring of grain, seed, feed, fertilizer, and chemical inventory with color-coded bin displays that provide instant visual status. Automated alerts prevent overfills and shortages, and truckload calculations help optimize logistics during harvest and delivery operations.

 

FeedView

A dedicated feed management solution using wireless, battery-powered level sensors for livestock operations. FeedView is designed for operations without wiring access or power on feed silos, providing automated inventory monitoring for poultry, swine, and cattle feeding operations.

BinView

Comprehensive plant-wide level monitoring integration for processing operations including feed mills, grain elevators, and seed processing facilities. BinView provides operators with centralized visibility of commodity inventory and storage capacity across multiple vessels and locations.

PitView

A pit and lagoon monitoring system designed for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to save time while complying with state and federal reporting and environmental regulations.

BinMaster level measurement systems address critical agricultural monitoring requirements including grain and seed inventory management in elevator and farm storage, feed inventory tracking at livestock operations, fertilizer and chemical monitoring at agronomy facilities, and process material level control in feed mills and seed plants. These systems provide essential data for production planning, procurement optimization, and regulatory compliance in agricultural operations.

Material Flow Solutions

Agricultural facilities frequently encounter material flow challenges in bins, hoppers, chutes, and truck loading/unloading operations due to material compaction, moisture content variations, and bridging that bring productivity to a halt. Through our partnership with NAVCO, we provide engineered vibration solutions to address these critical material handling issues.

Industrial Vibrators:

Bin Hopper Vibrators (BH Vibrators)

NAVCO BH Vibrators are pneumatic piston vibrators deployed across the agriculture industry to keep bulk material flowing in hoppers, silos, chutes, bins, and totes. The high-energy impulse from high-amplitude, low-frequency vibration reduces the sticking strength of agricultural commodities and eliminates bridge formation and rat holes. Available in repetitive impact, single impact, and air cushioned configurations with multiple sizes, there is a BH Vibrator to address any agricultural material flow challenge.

VacuVibe Vacuum Mount Vibrators:

A portable, all-pneumatic vibrator with a powerful suction pad mounting system that attaches to a wide variety of vessel types without permanent installation. The VacuVibe is ideal for agricultural operations with occasional material flow problems, facilitating flow of grain, feed, chemicals, powders, and dried distillers grain (DDG). Lightweight and easily moved between vessels, a single VacuVibe can service multiple storage locations throughout a facility.

MagneVibe Magnetic Mount Vibrators:

Designed for light-duty agricultural applications, the MagneVibe delivers material-moving force through a magnetic mounting system that attaches quickly to light-gauge storage vessels including bins, hoppers, totes, and IBCs. Weighing less than 5 pounds, the MagneVibe is easily moved between vessels and is well-suited for feed, seed, and chemical operations where multiple vessels require occasional flow assistance.

Pipe and Chute Vibrators:

Specialized solutions for material flow problems in pipes, chutes, and enclosed transfer points. Available with pneumatic or electric drive options suitable for agricultural applications including grain, feed, flour, and bulk chemical handling.

Truck Loading and Unloading:

BH Truck Vibrators:

Industrial pneumatic vibrators designed for hopper-bottom grain trucks and trailers, ensuring complete material discharge during unloading operations. BH Truck Vibrators eliminate material carryback and reduce unloading times at grain elevators, feed mills, and processing facilities.

Truck Dumper Shakers:

Specialized vibratory equipment for truck dumper operations, ensuring complete material discharge from grain trucks during receiving operations at elevators and processing facilities. The shaker is incorporated into the stop/bumper and utilizes multiple pneumatic piston vibrators to loosen packed material and promote flow.

Railcar Loading and Unloading Equipment:

Railside Railcar Shaker:

Heavy-duty vibratory equipment designed for both loading and unloading hopper railcars in demanding agricultural environments. Available with pneumatic and electric drive option. During loading, vibration knocks down the angle of repose and de-aerates material to maximize railcar volume, reducing average transportation costs. During Unloading high-amplitude, low-frequency vibration eliminates rat holes and bridging in commodities such as grain, dried distiller’s grain (DDG), bone meal, sugar, and more to get material flowing and reduce carryback.

HCP Railcar Vibrators:

Portable pneumatic piston vibrators designed for rail yards to improve unloading of covered hopper railcars containing grain, processed agricultural products, and bulk chemicals. The portable design allows movement between railcars for efficient material discharge car after car.

NAVCO vibratory solutions address agricultural challenges where consistent material flow directly impacts operational efficiency and product quality. From grain receiving through feed processing and load-out operations, these vibrators and equipment ensure uninterrupted material movement essential for maintaining production schedules and maximizing facility throughput.

Dynamic Weighing, Conveyor Safety, and Tramp Metal Detection

Accurate material measurement, conveyor safety, and contamination prevention are critical for agricultural production efficiency, quality control, and regulatory compliance. Through our partnership with BulkPro Systems, we provide industry-leading dynamic weighing systems, conveyor speed & safety equipment, and tramp metal detectors designed for demanding agricultural applications:

Belt Scale Systems for Production Monitoring:

Belt scales provide real-time data on flow rates and totalized tonnage of commodities moving through agricultural facilities. High-accuracy weighing systems installed directly on conveyor belts enable production monitoring, load-out verification, inventory tracking, and throughput control without interrupting material flow. Available models include:

Model N-61 Single Idler Belt Scale:

Heavy-duty, all-in-one design for process control applications with ±1% accuracy. Ideal for monitoring production rates and material flow at grain elevators, feed mills, and agricultural processing facilities.

Model N-62 Single and Dual Idler Belt Scale:

High-accuracy weighing for heavy-duty applications with ±0.5% accuracy. Designed for production monitoring and load-out verification while tracking commodity inventory and controlling throughput rates at agricultural facilities.

Model N-64 Multi-Idler Precision Belt Scales:

±0.25% high-accuracy systems for critical agricultural applications requiring precise measurement for quality control, trade-certified weighing, and billing accuracy.

Speed Monitoring and Safety Systems:

Conveyor systems are critical infrastructure in grain elevators, feed mills, and agricultural processing plants. BulkPro Systems’ speed monitoring and safety equipment ensures these systems operate reliably while protecting both personnel and equipment from costly failures. Available products include:

Speed Monitors and Switch Sensors:

Protect valuable machinery from costly downtime, supply current operating conditions, and provide an alarm if there is any variation from user-supplied operating parameters. Essential for monitoring conveyor systems in grain elevators, feed mills, and processing plants.

Conveyor Safety Equipment:

Comprehensive range of safety switches, pull cords, belt misalignment switches, and belt damage detectors ensuring operator safety and equipment protection in agricultural facility conveyor systems.

Tramp Metal Detection:

BulkPro Systems tramp metal detectors protect downstream processing equipment including hammermills, grinders, pellet mills, and mixers by detecting the presence of potentially damaging ferrous and non-ferrous metal objects on conveyor belts. Available models include:

Model 50 Tramp Metal Detector:

The workhorse of the BulkPro line, designed to detect all types of tramp metal. Compatible with fabric, rubber, and steel core conveyor belts, the Model 50 is prefabricated to fit most CEMA conveyors.

Model 100 Tramp Metal Detector:

Features an adjustable aperture accommodating a maximum burden depth of 18 inches. Sensing antennas are encased in high-strength, compression-molded fiberglass for rugged agricultural environments.

Model 5500 High-Sensitivity Tramp Metal Detector:

Capable of detecting metal as small as a 5/32-inch cube, providing superior protection for sensitive processing equipment in feed mills and grain processing operations.

BulkPro Systems’ equipment provides crucial information for successful facility management. Their systems are engineered for the harsh environments and demanding accuracy requirements of agricultural production facilities, where dust, moisture, and continuous operation present ongoing challenges.

Magnetic Separation and Equipment Protection

Agricultural processing facilities require effective removal of ferrous tramp metal contaminants to ensure product purity and protect valuable processing equipment from damage. Wm. Neundorfer & Co. provides a comprehensive range of magnetic separation equipment for agricultural applications:

Grate Magnets

Magnetically engineered to provide ferrous metal separation from free-flowing agricultural products in gravity-fall processing applications. Grate magnets enable products to contact the magnetic surface, capture metal contaminants, and prevent wash-off back into the clean material flow. Commonly installed in grain, feed, seed, and flour processing lines.

Drawer Magnets

Multi-row magnetic separator systems designed for installation in gravity-flow chutes and processing lines. Drawer magnets provide easy cleanout of captured metal contaminants and are available in standard and food-grade configurations for grain, feed, and food processing applications.

Plate Magnets

Suspended plate magnets and magnetic head pulleys for conveyor applications, extracting tramp iron from grain, feed, and bulk agricultural materials transported on belt conveyors. Available in ceramic and rare earth configurations for varying separation requirements.

Liquid Trap Magnets

Remove ferrous contaminants from liquid and slurry lines including liquid feed, liquid fertilizer, and other agricultural liquid processing applications. Engineered for no appreciable pressure drop or reduction in flow rates.

Spout Magnets and Hump Magnets

Designed for pneumatic conveying systems common in feed mills and grain processing facilities, capturing ferrous contaminants from material streams in enclosed conveying systems without restricting material flow.

Magnetic separation equipment ensures product purity required for food safety compliance and protects downstream processing equipment including hammermills, grinders, mixers, pellet mills, and extruders from costly damage caused by tramp metal contamination.

Material Handling Control Systems

Agricultural production requires controlled material metering and environmental isolation between process systems. Through our partnership with Bush & Wilton, we provide engineered rotary airlocks, slide gate valves, and diverter valves designed for reliable operation in demanding agricultural environments:

Rotary Airlocks for Material Metering:

Bush & Wilton rotary airlocks provide controlled material discharge from bins, silos, and dust collection systems while maintaining pressure differentials. Applications include:

Heavy-Duty Drop-Through Airlocks

Engineered for abrasive agricultural materials, available in cast iron, stainless steel, and food-grade configurations designed for continuous operation in grain, feed, and seed processing facilities.

High-Capacity Airlocks

Specialized units for feeding high-volume pneumatic conveying systems and batch plants with minimal leakage and maximum throughput.

Dust Collector Airlocks

Low-maintenance designs for reliable discharge from baghouse and cyclone dust collection systems common in grain elevators and feed mills. Proper dust collection is critical for agricultural facilities to comply with NFPA 61 standards for fire and dust explosion prevention.

Metering Airlocks

Precision control for feeding dry solids, ingredients, and additives to feed mixing and blending systems.

Slide Gate Valves:

Versatile gravity flow control valves featuring one-piece cast housings and heavy-duty components ensuring reliable, low-maintenance operation for material isolation and flow control applications in agricultural processing circuits.

 

Diverter Valves:

Engineered for reliable material routing in gravity flow and pneumatic conveying systems, providing controlled material distribution to multiple storage bins, load-out systems, or processing lines.

Bush & Wilton material handling components provide essential process control and environmental isolation throughout agricultural production operations. From feed mill batching systems to grain elevator dust collection discharge, these engineered solutions ensure accurate material metering while maintaining system integrity and operational safety standards critical for agricultural processing facilities.

Comprehensive Material Handling Systems

Efficient material handling is the backbone of productive agricultural operations. Through our partnership with Conveyors Etc., we leverage extensive engineering experience in bulk material handling to provide complete conveying solutions for agricultural facilities:

Custom Belt Conveyor Systems:

Application-specific conveyor designs engineered for agricultural environments and commodity characteristics. From grain elevator receiving systems to feed mill distribution conveyors, Conveyors Etc. provides solutions tailored to the unique requirements of agricultural material handling.

Multi-Modal Receiving Integration:

Engineered solutions for material handling from truck, rail, or barge delivery with seamless transfer to processing and storage systems. Agricultural facilities receiving commodities from multiple sources benefit from integrated receiving systems designed for efficient material flow.

Batch Holding and Distribution Systems:

Engineered hopper configurations and conveying systems for pre-loading, batching, and on-demand distribution of ingredients, additives, and commodities to processing equipment in feed mills, seed treatment facilities, and blending operations.

Conveyors Etc. material handling systems provide the backbone infrastructure essential for efficient agricultural operations. From commodity receiving through processing and load-out, their solutions ensure reliable material flow while accommodating the demanding operational requirements of modern agricultural facilities.

Skip Hoists and Material Elevation

Agricultural operations require dependable material elevation for charging mixers, loading processing equipment, and moving bulk commodities between processing stages. Through our partnership with DustMASTER, we provide engineered skip hoist systems designed for agricultural facility specifications.

Direct Drive Skip Hoists

Versatile Material Handling

Compact, space-saving skip hoists provide fast, dependable lifting for all material handling operations. Applications include charging feed mixers, lifting grain and bulk ingredients, and elevating materials to processing equipment. Low-profile, roll-over or bottom-dump designs fit into tight work areas common in agricultural processing facilities.

Heavy-Duty Construction

Oversized frame and track construction assures long life and stability. Each skip hoist is built to give maximum production with minimum maintenance. The roller-track design permits the bucket to discharge under the hoisting mechanism, reducing material segregation.

Energy-Efficient Operation

Low-horsepower, energy-efficient motors are all that is needed to raise the bucket. Friction-free nylon bearings in bucket rollers enable significant power savings and lower electrical installation costs compared to competitive designs. Capacities are available from 3 to 100 cubic feet, with custom designs available for higher capacity requirements.

Flexible Configuration

Skip hoists can be modified and designed to accept all types and sizes of containers or loose materials, integrating seamlessly with existing processing equipment and facility layouts.

Agricultural facilities including feed mills, grain processing plants, and seed treatment operations rely on DustMASTER skip hoists for efficient, reliable material elevation that integrates with their existing processing infrastructure.

Corrosion-Resistant Solutions for Agricultural Facilities

Agricultural facilities face aggressive corrosion challenges from exposure to organic acids, ammonia, fertilizer chemicals, cleaning solutions, and biological byproducts. Through our partnership with Sauereisen, we provide engineered corrosion-resistant materials designed for agricultural and food processing applications:

Steel facilities who utilize on-site refractory preparation or manufacturing custom refractory shapes rely on DustMASTER mixing systems. They ensure process consistency and reliability critical for maintaining furnace integrity and production schedules.

Bulk Bag and Container Handling

Agricultural operations require versatile packaging and container handling equipment for filling, weighing, and transporting a wide range of commodities. Wm. Neundorfer & Co. provides a comprehensive range of bulk container loading and unloading solutions engineered for agricultural applications:

Small Bag Filling Equipment:

Single-screw bulk packaging systems ensure accurate and repeatable fill weights with direct-mount load cell designs. Equipment is available for valve bags, open-mouth bags, drums, and boxes with minimal changeover time. Weight capacities range from 2 ounces to 350 pounds, with fully digital weighing systems and programmable controls for precision filling of seed, feed, fertilizer, and specialty agricultural products.

Bulk Bag (Super Sack) Equipment:

Bulk bag filling and unloading systems handle FIBC (flexible intermediate bulk container) operations for high-volume agricultural commodities. Units can be configured with standalone frames for forklift or hoist-and-trolley bag placement, or customized with material transfer equipment for integration into existing processing lines. Options include inflatable seals and dust extraction ports for dusty agricultural environments, with filling capacities up to 3,000 pounds.

Packaging Conveyors:

Chain-driven and gravity roller conveyors for pallet and bulk bag handling, along with slider bed, bag turn, incline, and weigh-check conveyor arrangements. Integrated digital weigh scale conveyors can trigger reject or divert systems for under- or overweight bags, supporting quality control in agricultural packaging operations.

Bulk Storage Containers

Proper storage is fundamental to agricultural operations, from raw material receiving through finished product staging. Wm. Neundorfer & Co. provides engineered bulk storage solutions designed to meet the specific requirements of agricultural facilities:

Silos:

Custom-engineered storage silos available in configurations up to 16 feet in diameter and heights over 100 feet. Each silo is designed to meet the customer’s specific storage requirements with options including fully skirted, leg-supported, or gusset-supported configurations. Available in carbon steel, stainless steel, or aluminum construction, with optional single, multiple, or chisel cones, divided walls, level sensors, access doors, stairs, ladders, walkways, and platforms.

Gravity Tube Blenders:

Vertical mixing chambers that double as storage silos, utilizing staggered tubes to recirculate stored material quickly and efficiently. The result is uniformly blended material with reliable consistency—ideal for feed blending, fertilizer mixing, and seed treatment operations where product homogeneity is critical.

Liquid Storage Tanks and Pressure Vessels:

Custom-fabricated liquid storage tanks and pressure vessels for agricultural liquid handling including liquid fertilizer, liquid feed, and chemical storage applications. All vessels are fabricated and welded in accordance with ASME, AWS, API, and AWWA standards.

All storage containers can be provided as one-piece construction to minimize field assembly and installation time, or as field-welded configurations for larger installations where shipping restrictions apply.

Regional Support and Distribution

Operating throughout Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Western New York State, Wm. Neundorfer & Co. has a comprehensive understanding of regional agricultural industry requirements and operating conditions.

Regional Presence Advantages:

Rapid Technical Response and Product Delivery:

Local support enables quick response to equipment failures, process modifications, and technical consultations, minimizing production disruptions. As a regional distributor for our manufacturing partners, we maintain inventory of critical components and commonly-specified products, ensuring rapid turnaround for emergency replacements and planned maintenance requirements.

Application Expertise:

Understanding of specific challenges in regional agricultural operations, from grain elevator modernization projects to feed mill expansions, environmental compliance requirements, and food safety technology integration.

Proven Performance:

Established relationships with agricultural producers, grain elevators, feed mills, and agronomy cooperatives demonstrate consistent delivery of reliable engineering solutions and responsive product support throughout the agriculture industry.

Advanced Technology Integration:

The agriculture industry continues evolving with new technologies for improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, enhancing food safety, and optimizing inventory management. Wm. Neundorfer & Co. provides solutions that incorporate advanced monitoring, control, and material handling technologies while maintaining compatibility with established agricultural processes.

Whether implementing wireless inventory monitoring systems in existing grain elevators or designing custom material handling solutions for new feed mill installations, we combine proven technology with practical engineering to solve specific operational challenges.

As agricultural production continues adapting to market demands, food safety regulations, environmental requirements, and advancements in technology, Wm. Neundorfer & Co. remains committed to providing practical solutions. Our manufacturer partnerships ensure access to current technology and equipment, while regional expertise guarantees practical, reliable implementations.

From grain receiving through feed processing, from inventory management through product load-out, from equipment protection through facility corrosion control, we provide comprehensive support maintaining the foundation of agricultural production within our region.