AMES, IOWA, US — Sukup Manufacturing Co. is expanding its presence in Ames, Iowa, US, moving into a larger space at the Iowa State University Research Park.
The location is home to the company’s Synk Hub, a system of products intended to provide on-site automation solutions for grain storage, handling and management. Sukup said the location will serve as a central point for expanding recruitment of engineering and technology talent and the next-generation workplace will enhance collaboration across all Sukup entities.
“Ames provides us with an environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and recruitment opportunities,” said Emily Schmitt, chief administrative officer/general counsel at Sukup. “From innovation and research through the many Iowa State University resources, to supporting product development, assembly, and testing, we believe this growth will strengthen our connection and collaboration between Sheffield, Ames, and Des Moines.”
Sukup, a family-owned and operated manufacturer of grain storage, drying and handling equipment, will share space with Pivot Bio, a crop nutrition technology company based in Berkeley, California, US.
“Our facility is a state-of-the-art hub designed to support customers and foster innovation in agriculture,” said Oscar Gomez-Sacasa, senior director of facilities and operations at Pivot Bio. “With ample office space available, we were thrilled to find another forward-thinking ag company to share our space. Given the complementary nature of our businesses, subleasing to Sukup was a natural fit.”
Ames provides a meeting point for the company’s Sheffield and Des Moines teams to work in a high-tech space with room for additional growth, said Hank Norem, chief innovation officer at Sukup.
“The innovation ecosystem at ISU Research Park connects what we have built at Ramco and Maple Studios in Des Moines,” he said. “That same forward-thinking approach will now carry on in Ames to create an ag tech hub for Synk's development, product assembly and testing."
The company’s additional locations in Manly, Clear Lake, and now West Des Moines, and expanded departments and product lines, have increased the need for new roles in engineering, IT, and HR, the company said.
Sukup’s Ames location started in 2017 with two full-time employees, and now has 17 full-time employees, with additional staff drop-ins.
“We will continue our strong focus on recruiting top engineering and technology talent,” Schmitt said. “It also allows us to leverage our long-standing investments in ISU College of Engineering, including Sukup Hall, and the new Industrial Engineering building, Sukup Endzone, and Sukup Cylo in CyTown.”
