Sweet Material Handling

We had the honor of celebrating 90 years of Behlen Mfg. right here in Springfield! 🎉

Since the very beginning, Behlen’s roots have been deeply planted in agriculture, building solutions that support the hardworking people who keep this industry moving. Ninety years later, that same commitment to agriculture and American manufacturing is still going strong.

At Sweet Material Handling, we’re proud to continue supporting agricultural and industrial operations with equipment and solutions that help businesses move efficiently and safely every day.

Happy 90th Anniversary, Behlen Mfg.! Here’s to a remarkable legacy and many more years ahead. 🚜👏

Another Sweet Material Handling system is going up in the field.

This installation for Simmons Grain in Salem, Ohio, features a Sweet King 1 elevator with a 130’ discharge height handling 5,500 BPH of soybeans. The system is fed by a conveyor with a dump hopper and a 30° curve, helping to support efficient grain handling operations from receiving to storage.

This project was sold through K & S Millwrights, and we’re proud to continue supporting long-time Sweet customers with dependable equipment built to perform.

Thank you to everyone involved in the project. We look forward to seeing the completed installation in operation.

This Memorial Day, Sweet Material Handling honors and remembers the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Their dedication, courage, and selflessness gave us the freedoms we enjoy every day, including the opportunity to work, grow, and support the industries that keep America moving forward.

From the farms and fields that feed our communities to the hardworking people who power American agriculture, we are grateful for those who served and protected this nation.

Today, we pause to remember the heroes who never made it home and to honor the families who carry their legacy with pride.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend.

Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to bucket elevators.

Capacity isn’t just about building the biggest system possible; it comes down to choosing the right combination of:
• Bucket size
• Belt speed
• Pulley diameter

When those components are properly matched, you get better efficiency, smoother material handling, reduced wear, and more reliable long-term performance.

The goal isn’t maximum capacity.
It’s the right capacity for your operation, your material, and your facility needs.

That’s where engineered solutions make the difference.

Sweet Manufacturing Company | Material Handling Equipment Find the right tools to move heavy loads easily. We're a material handling equipment company that specializes in bucket elevators, bin gates, and more!

Built to endure then. Built to perform now.

In 1955, a Behlen-built structure survived an atomic bomb test just 6,800 feet from ground zero in Yucca Flats, Nevada. More than 70 years later, that same commitment to strength, durability, and craftsmanship still drives the products we build today.

At Sweet, we’re proud to work alongside manufacturing processes and materials proven to stand the test of time, because reliability matters when it counts most.

Some things aren’t just made well. They’re made to last.

May 5, 1955, this building survived an atomic bomb test blast 6,800 feet away from ground zero in Yucca Flats, Nevada.

Manufactured by the Behlen plant in Columbus, Nebraska, the metal shed withstood pressure loads of around 600 Ibs/sq foot.

Not all bucket elevators are created equal.

Small design differences, especially in the head and boot, can have a big impact on:
• Discharge efficiency
• Bucket fill
• Overall system performance

If your system feels like a bottleneck during harvest, it might not be capacity; it might be design.

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Part 4 of 4: Reducing Errors & Long-Term Issues

Most costly problems don’t show up on day one—they show up later.

These upgrades are designed to prevent issues before they happen:

✔️ Full floor flashing kits
→ Reduce drilling during install

✔️ Better panel alignment
→ Helps eliminate mis-punched panels

✔️ Roof exhaust improvements
→ Helps prevent potential water leaks

Why it matters:
Fewer install errors = fewer long-term headaches.

That’s a wrap on this series—built to improve performance from install to long-term operation.

Part 3 of 4: Access, Safety & Ease of Use

Small design changes can make a big difference in safety and usability.

Here’s what’s improving:

✔️ Rectangular door design
→ No more “knuckle buster” access

✔️ Portal frame upgrades
→ No field welding or torching required

✔️ Standardized ladder packages
→ Easier ordering and installation

✔️ Improved side draw panels
→ Faster, cleaner installs

Why it matters:
Better access and safer installs reduce risk for both crews and operations.

Coming next: how these updates help prevent costly issues down the road.

Part 2 of 4: Faster, Smarter Installs

If install time is eating into your schedule, the design might be the problem.
New bin designs are focused on reducing time in the field:

✔️ Roof redesign
→ Cuts roughly 38 hours of welding

✔️ Standardized components
→ Less guesswork, fewer errors

✔️ Simplified installs
→ Designed to reduce field modifications

Why it matters:
Less time installing = lower labor costs and faster project turnaround.

Next up in Part 3: how small design changes are improving safety and day-to-day usability.

We’re breaking down key engineering updates designed to improve strength, efficiency, and long-term performance, starting with structural improvements.

Here’s what’s changing behind the scenes:

✔️ New sidewall bolt patterns
→ Fewer bolts, but stronger connections

✔️ Updated lacing sheet design
→ Up to 1.5x bolt strength compared to legacy builds

✔️ Higher load options available
→ Built to handle more demanding applications

Why it matters:
Stronger design + fewer components = less labor, fewer failure points, and better long-term performance.

This is Part 1 of 4. Next, we’ll take a closer look at how these updates impact installation and labor in the field.