Sweet Manufacturing Company

What Sweet Manufacturing Company does

Sweet Manufacturing Company, founded in 1955 by W. Dean Sweet in Springfield, Ohio, designs and fabricates bulk material handling equipment for industrial and agricultural customers worldwide. Its product lines span bucket elevators (including the Silver-Sweet and Sweetheart sub-brands), belt conveyors (Enclosed Belt, Formed Channel, Quick-Key Spool), chain conveyors (Flite-Veyor Round Bottom and QL 17 Series Flat Bottom), the CalorMatic fluidized-bed heat processor, support structures (Silver Span towers, Intermediate Support Towers, Silver Grip grating, Silver Stairs), bin gates, and full grain systems. All equipment is built from G140 galvanized U.S. prime steel using a bolted-assembly architecture that eliminates field welding, with capacity ranges up to 55,000 BPH for elevators and 88,000 bushels/hour for conveyors.

The business operates a hardware sales model: equipment is engineered to customer specification and sold through a global authorized dealer network, with direct manufacturer support from a bilingual (English/Spanish) sales team and dedicated International Sales Engineers. End markets split between agricultural customers (grain handling, ethanol production, feed and flour mills, on-farm storage) and industrial customers (aggregates, frac sand, fly ash, gypsum, minerals, sugar, fertilizer, cement). Trusted-partner logos include Cargill, ADM, Bunge, Anheuser-Busch, Bachoco, Pillsbury, Braum's, and The Andersons. Distribution is supported by a West Point, NE regional distribution center and Springfield, OH fabrication facility.

In February 2025 Sweet was acquired by Behlen Mfg. Co. (Columbus, Nebraska) and now operates under the Sweet by Behlen brand. The company holds multiple registered trademarks, three Ohio Governor's Excellence in Exporting Awards (1998, 2005, 2009), a 2024 Ohio New Product Award from the Ohio Manufacturing Association, and reports equipment installed in 55+ countries across six continents.

Name

Sweet Manufacturing Company

Legal name

Sweet Mfg. Co.

Website

https://sweetmfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sweet Manufacturing Company, founded in 1955 and now operating as Sweet by Behlen, designs and fabricates G140 galvanized U.S. prime steel bucket elevators, belt conveyors, chain conveyors, heat processors, and support structures for agricultural and industrial customers in 55+ countries via an authorized dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bulk Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing (333922), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bulk Solids Handling & Processing Equipment (Conveying, Silo, Feeders) (IMAHAEAG), Bulk Handling & Conveying for Processing Lines (Augers, Elevators, Conveyors) (AFAAAJAJ)

Keywords

• Bucket elevators
• Belt conveyors
• Chain conveyors
• Bulk material handling
• Grain handling equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bulk Material Handling Equipment Sales: One-time equipment sales model selling bucket elevators, conveyors, bin gates, support structures, and heat processors to industrial and agricultural customers. Equipment is constructed from galvanized U.S. prime steel and sold through an authorized dealer network with direct manufacturer support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sweet Manufacturing Company designs, fabricates, and supplies bulk material handling equipment constructed from G140 galvanized U.S. prime steel for industrial and agricultural customers worldwide. Its product portfolio spans bucket elevators (capacities up to 55,000 BPH), belt conveyors (capacities up to 88,000 bushels per hour), chain conveyors, the CalorMatic fluidized-bed heat processor, support structures (towers, walkways, grating, stairs), bin gates, and complete grain storage systems. Equipment is sold through an Authorized Sweet Dealer network along with direct manufacturer sales support and an international sales department.

Product overview

Sweet Manufacturing Company is a family-owned bulk material handling equipment manufacturer established in 1955, offering a comprehensive portfolio of industrial and agricultural equipment. The product line centers on core equipment categories: Bucket Elevators (including Industrial, Silver-Sweet®, and Sweetheart™ sub-brands), Belt Conveyors (Enclosed Belt Conveyors, Formed Channel Belt Conveyors, and Quick-Key® Spool Belt Conveyors), Chain Conveyors (Flite-Veyor® Round Bottom Drag Conveyors and Flite-Veyor® QL 17 Series), CalorMatic® Heat Processors, Support Structures (Silver Span® Conveyor Support System, Intermediate Support Towers, Silver Grip® Grating, Silver Stairs®), Bin Gates, and Grain Systems. All equipment is constructed using G140 galvanized U.S. prime steel, features bolted assembly for easier installation, and is distributed through an authorized dealer network for industrial and agricultural applications worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Silver-Sweet: Premium line of galvanized U.S. prime steel bucket elevators
• Sweetheart
• Flite-Veyor
• CalorMatic
• Silver Span
• Silver Grip
• Silver Stairs
• Quick-Key
• Goliath
• Sweet by Behlen

Products and services

• Industrial Bucket Elevators Industrial bucket elevators designed for heavy-duty material handling in industrial and agricultural applications, constructed from galvanized U.S. prime steel with models and capacities up to 55,000 BPH (1,397 MTPH).
• Silver-Sweet Bucket Elevators Premium line of galvanized U.S. prime steel bucket elevators known for quality and durability, featuring enhanced capacity and performance specifications.
• Sweetheart Elevator Buckets Elevator buckets designed for material handling, available in mild steel and stainless steel fabrication, part of the comprehensive bucket elevator product line.
• Enclosed Belt Conveyors Dust-tight, fully enclosed belt conveyors designed to minimize dust emissions and reduce maintenance while increasing safety and efficiency in high-capacity industrial and agricultural conveying operations.
• Formed Channel Belt Conveyors Heavy-duty belt conveyors featuring galvanized G140 U.S. prime steel frames, tubular cross braces, and proprietary diaphragm squaring plates, capable of supporting 565 pounds per linear foot.
• Quick-Key Spool Belt Conveyors Belt conveyors featuring a uniquely formed rigid design with spool idler configuration, offering greater span potential combined with low maintenance requirements.
• Flite-Veyor Round Bottom Drag Conveyors Round bottom U-trough chain conveyors designed to minimize material waste and allow easy cleanout for applications requiring thorough hygiene and minimal cross-contamination between batches.
• Flite-Veyor QL 17 Series Flat Bottom Drag Conveyor Flat bottom drag conveyor series designed for horizontal conveying applications with enhanced capacity and throughput capabilities.
• CalorMatic Heat Processor Fluidized bed heat processor that heats air through a fully perforated bed to gently, thoroughly, and evenly heat free-flowing, heat-sensitive materials for consistency and nutrition.
• Silver Span Conveyor Support System Modular conveyor support truss system with standard sections in 20', 15', 10', and 5' lengths featuring all galvanized G140 U.S. prime steel construction for fast, simple field erection.
• Intermediate Support Towers Support towers available in structural angle or tube configurations with modular section lengths of 5', 10', 15', and 20', designed for quick assembly without welding or field alterations.
• Silver Grip Grating Proprietary slip-resistant perforated steel grating with galvanized construction featuring open design for safety and functionality in all weather conditions for work areas, platforms, steps, and walkways.
• Silver Stairs Safety stairs featuring variable pitch or incline from 30 to 60 degrees, constructed from galvanized G140 U.S. prime steel with slip-resistant self-draining design for secure footing in all weather.
• Bin Gates Simplex and Duplex bin gates constructed of heavy gauge steel plate with abrasion-resistant or stainless steel options, available in numerous sizes and adaptable for pneumatic operation.
• Grain Systems Comprehensive grain storage solutions including bins with diameters from 16' to 157' and capacities exceeding 2,000,000 bushels (51,000 cubic meters), commercial hoppers, loadout systems, and temporary storage options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Equipment operates reliably during peak harvest seasons with minimal downtime when routine maintenance is kept up
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Behlen Mfg. Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2025Sweet Manufacturing officially joined the Behlen Mfg. Co. family as of February 28, 2025. This partnership brings together two industry leaders committed to material handling solutions. Behlen is headquartered in Columbus, Nebraska and operates as the parent company. The combined entity operates as Sweet by Behlen.
• Circle H ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCircle H Construction based in Guymon, Oklahoma installed a high-capacity Sweet Material Handling system at Desert Cattle Feeders in Satanta, Kansas, processing 10,000 bushels per hour.
• Authorized Sweet DealerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of authorized dealers who handle local sales, installation coordination, provide quotes, and maintain ongoing customer relationships. Dealers have access to a dealer portal for order management.
• Chief AgriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief Agri was involved in grain storage expansion project with Agrostar in Mexico adding 15,000 tonnes of capacity, completed June 2023. Not directly confirmed as active Sweet partner but appeared in related industry context.
• Bonded Machine CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired in 1985, Bonded Machine Company was an industrial material handling equipment manufacturer located in Columbus, Ohio since 1934. Added 21 years of material handling equipment experience to Sweet product lines including belt conveyors, industrial bucket elevators and bin gates.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GSI (Grain Systems, Inc.): A leading global manufacturer of grain storage, drying, and material handling equipment including bucket elevators, conveyors, and support structures — directly overlapping with Sweet's core product lines and customer base of grain elevators and agribusinesses.
• Brock Grain Systems: Manufactures grain bins, bucket elevators, conveyors, and grain handling accessories for the agricultural industry, headquartered in Indiana. Closely matches Sweet's product portfolio and end-customer profile among commercial grain operations.
• Sukup Manufacturing Co. Iowa-based manufacturer of grain bins, bucket elevators, conveyors, and grain dryers — directly competitive with Sweet in Midwest grain handling and shares a strong Midwest agricultural customer base.
• Honeyville Metal Inc. Manufacturer of bucket elevators, drag conveyors, and support structures for agricultural and industrial bulk material handling, with overlap on Sweet's chain conveyor and elevator product lines.
• Sioux Steel Company: South Dakota-based producer of grain storage bins, bucket elevators, and material handling equipment serving commercial grain operations — a direct competitor with parallel product offerings to Sweet.
• Cimbria (AGI): Division of Ag Growth International (AGI) producing bucket elevators, conveyors, and grain handling systems for agriculture, seed, and processing industries — globally competitive with Sweet in bulk handling equipment.
• Lambton Conveyor Limited: Canadian manufacturer of bucket elevators, chain conveyors, and belt conveyors for grain and industrial bulk material handling — a comparable specialty equipment maker competing for similar agricultural and industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• Bühler Group: Global, diversified industrial group with a substantial grain processing and handling equipment portfolio including chain conveyors and elevators serving the same food/ag/feed customers as Sweet, though at much larger scale and with broader process-system offerings.
• AGCO Corporation: Global agricultural equipment manufacturer and parent of GSI, with grain handling systems and precision ag technology. Competes broadly with Sweet in the agricultural machinery market, though AGCO's portfolio spans tractors and combines beyond bulk handling.

Regional players

• SCC Industries (subsidiary of Sukup): Manufactures material handling equipment for grain and bulk industries with overlap on Sweet's elevator and conveyor lines, primarily serving the North American market with regional manufacturing footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SweetMfg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sweetmanufacturing
• Facebookfacebook.com/sweetmfg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sweet-manufacturing
• Instagraminstagram.com/sweet_manufacturing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sweet Manufacturing Company