Eric Clements | Operations Manager | Topflight Grain Cooperative

“One of the things I’ve seen is an increase in facility automation. Some of the costs have come down to a level of affordability for many companies. They’ve found better ways and easier ways to automate facilities.

“One of the reasons why we look to automate facilities is to become leaner. If we don’t need somebody to turn on a valve, where instead we can just push a button from a control center, then we’ll look for ways to remove that step. But the main thing is having better control of the equipment so we don’t damage it. Automation of facilities is the big technology in this industry, where I think we’re going to see more and more smaller elevators look to automate as it becomes more reasonably priced to do so.

“Of course, we’ll still have employees, but being able to reduce staff by being able to better monitor the equipment from one central location is what I find exciting about it.

“Another thing I’ve seen is that hazardous monitoring systems have improved. The technology and the equipment is better than it used to be, so that’s been a nice improvement. I’m sure it’ll even get better into the future, but that equipment is much better than when it first was introduced.

“Another technology we have employed in the past few years is infrared thermography, where we can check the heat of anything from a bearing to electrical components. That was something that wasn’t even talked about when I first entered the industry.”

800-383-9761 | www.topflightgrain.com

Reprinted from Grain Journal March/April 2020 Issue