Aug 21, 2024
Talk about anything that involves the latest technology and innovation, and Dan Shrock’s eyes light up.
The newly promoted Automation Architect has worked with Sukup Manufacturing Co. for 16 years and for them nearly 8 years of that. Once a Sukup dealer, Dan was quite familiar with the family owned and operated grain storage, dryer, and material handling manufacturer.
And where Dan creates, long-time Sukup Engineer Casey Heilskov designs. He brings an agricultural background to the table and together the duo has been instrumental in the continuous innovation behind the scenes.
“Growing up I heard a lot from friends and relatives about the design issues they were facing on the equipment they worked with. When designing products, I have always tried to pay attention to how my decisions affect the different stakeholders to my design work. I think my background in farming helps me keep a customer focus. You can learn a lot by talking to your customers and listening to what they have to say,” Casey explains.
What keeps both Casey and Dan inspired and engaged is opportunity. And today, that opportunity hits a bit differently as the company moves forward with its next venture.
“The possibilities are endless,” Dan says. “It doesn’t stop at the prototyping. I’ve worked with Matt Koch (Sukup CMO) repeatedly, and we’re constantly coming up with new ideas together and testing out different things.”
Not a surprise, Sukup was founded on innovation-an invention meant to make life a little easier on the farm. To date, there are more than 100 patents associated with the Sheffield-headquartered manufacturer.
“That’s one of the best parts about Sukup. Just because it works, doesn’t mean it’s good enough. And so, they always look for the opportunities and possibilities to better the system such that you’re not limited to what is currently an idea,” Dan emphasizes.
One such opportunity became reality. December 2023, Sukup Manufacturing Co. acquired Ramco Innovations, a West Des Moines-based high-tech automation company. Together, the two trusted names are uniting to bring a solid foundation to an ever-changing and ever-growing ag industry.
“We are creating a full ecosystem of integrated products to help customers SAFELY store, handle, manage, and manipulate grain,” Dan describes a new brand/concept known as SYNK. He’s an original visionary of SYNK (announced in early 2024) and is excited about its capabilities soon.
“I have carefully curated a design taking my history of designing, selling, installing, and servicing customers from small farmers to large cooperatives and looked to address wholistically the needs that vary from site to site. As a Programmer I have written the foundational code for the ecosystem. Developed user facing interfaces (HMIs) to allow the user an easy-to-use experience. I currently lead the Endpoint Software, PLC/HMI, and UI/UX teams. We have the best teams!”
While the innovation may sound complex, it is meant to make life easier. SYNK products will simplify life for operators and producers around the globe. The technology will unify systems; bringing everything needed together in one easy-to-use space and save time, energy,
For example, consider the benefits of better grain bin measurement and monitoring.
Casey explains, “Precision Ag products are now mainstays and commonly accepted for in-field applications such as tillage, planting, and harvest. A similar revolution has yet to take place for conditioning, storage, and material handling markets. In the storage industry we are in a similar place now as to where in-field precision agriculture was 15-20 years ago with large entities and early adopters being the only users. I think if a company can develop a suite of clean, easy to use solutions they will have a real opportunity to provide these solutions to many customers.”
Dan agrees; there’s a need. Think bigger sites, bins, more material handling, more data, and smarter farming.
"Just because there are other solutions on the market doesn’t mean they are good enough. There is almost always room for improvement. This phase one technology is just a tiny part of a much larger ecosystem.”
And while he’s been working on this for several years, he’s quick to point out that this isn’t a race to market.
“We’ve been allowed to build a solid foundation so that the ecosystem will not be shaken, and the customer will win in the end.”
While Casey started at the company working on tower dryer product lines and as team lead for grain dryers, it’s what he’s working on now that is making the SYNK journey even sweeter.
“While I’ve been on the project for a year and a half, in that time we’ve been working on building a team of talented people that will be able to take this product to the next level. With the expanded resources, we will tackle similar projects quicker in the future,” Casey explains.
As the Engineering Manager for the hardware development part of SYNK, Casey’s role is to manage a team of engineers and technicians that develop, design, and improve physical parts of the SYNK products. His team focuses on mechanical design, control panels, harnessing, and circuit board development.
He adds, “I’ve helped to build a cross-discipline team with electrical and mechanical backgrounds, and I’ve worked with the rest of the SYNK team on developing the technology “foundation” we need to develop the products for these markets. These things will give us the tools we need to build on.”
Tools designed with the customer in mind. Creating a safer, more secure site for families and producers, all to accomplish the ultimate challenge: more minutes in the day to spend with those who matter most.
SYNK, Powered by Sukup, is more than just a concept. Stay tuned for the very latest!
