SHEFFIELD, IOWA, US — Brock Grain Systems held a groundbreaking ceremony April 5 at its LeMar manufacturing facility in Sheffield, Iowa, US, where it will add nearly 20,000 square feet to meet growing demand for the grain sweeps and transport conveyors produced at the plant.

Brock manufactures 1500 Series On-Farm Grain Bin Power Sweeps as well as 3500 Series Electric Sweeps and MAVERIK 4000 Series Hydraulic Sweeps for the commercial grain market. The plant also produces LeMar Transport Conveyors used to build grain piles at commercial grain facilities.

John Tuttle, vice president of sales and marketing for Brock, said the expansion will help Brock increase grain bin sweep production from approximately 800 sweeps a year to more than 2,000 sweeps per year. 

“Our most recent sweep product, the 1500 Series Power Sweep has been very popular,” Tuttle said. “We need this new space to keep up with demand.”

The expansion and workflow reorganization will provide more room for equipment assembly and allowing drive-thru access for shipping and receiving. Connecting all southside buildings will improve production while alleviating weather-related problems with storage and movement of product. 

“This investment will also enhance flow optimization at the facility to improve employee efficiency and safety,” said John Stambaugh, vice president and general manager for Brock. “It is part of a multi-site improvement plan at Brock manufacturing facilities in Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City, Missouri; and Vincennes, Indiana; to continue to provide reliable inventory for our Brock dealer network and our customers.”

The Brock Sheffield facility currently employs 37 people. The plant expansion represents a $2.6 million investment in the Central Iowa community of Sheffield and is expected to ultimately add up to 10 jobs to the local economy. Dean Snyder Construction of Clear Lake, Iowa, US, is overseeing the construction. The expansion is expected to be completed by October of this year.

The Sheffield facility has been manufacturing grain handling and other agricultural equipment since 1999 when it was operated by Hall Industries. The company merged with LeMar Industries in 2011 and became part of Brock Grain Systems in 2012.

A division of CTB Inc., Brock Grain Systems is a global provider of grain storage, handling, drying and conditioning, and structural systems.