RIELA
RIELA is a German family-owned manufacturer of post-harvest grain processing and compound feed equipment — including cleaners, dryers, silos, conveyors, and milling/mixing plants — serving commercial agriculture, cooperatives, and African smallholder farmers across 15+ countries via subsidiaries and partner networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersRiesenbeck, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What RIELA does
RIELA is a German family-owned manufacturer of post-harvest grain processing and compound feed technology, founded in 1972 by Karl-Heinz Knoop and operating as a sole proprietorship (Karl-Heinz Knoop e.K.) from Riesenbeck, Germany. The company designs, manufactures, and services an integrated portfolio of mechanical equipment organized into six product lines: cleaning technology (pre-cleaners, screen cleaners, drum cleaners, air-seed and Prof-Seed systems), drying technology (mobile, stationary, belt, feed-and-turn, and biomass-fueled special dryers with capacities up to 120 t/h for grain), storage technology (galvanized steel round silos from 10 m³ to 45,000 m³ with patented silo roofs, temperature monitoring, ventilation, and SPS control systems), conveying technology (bucket elevators, chain conveyors, screw conveyors, and belt conveyors), milling and mixing (hammer mills, vertical and horizontal mixers, complete compound feed plants), and a dedicated "Technology for Africa" line for smallholder farmers (maize shellers, small mobile dryers, low-voltage hammer mills). The modular baukastensystem (kit system) construction enables flat-pack shipping and local on-site assembly, reportedly reducing transport costs by 50%.
RIELA's business model is project-based industrial equipment sales with multi-year contract cadences, supplemented by installation/commissioning services, training, and aftermarket parts. Go-to-market combines direct sales from the German headquarters, wholly-owned subsidiaries in Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and RIELA Africa GmbH (covering Nigeria, Tanzania, Guinea, Uganda), plus an international partner/reseller network in Bulgaria, Belarus, the Baltic states, and Russia. Approximately 90% of revenue is exported, with primary markets in Eastern Europe and a growing footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa anchored by technology/training centers at Hadum Farm (Nigeria) and KILACHA (Tanzania) and a flagship feed plant at Seneya Agro Industrie (Guinea). The company's primary customer segments are commercial and industrial agriculture (large grain processing facilities, cooperatives) and smallholder/emerging farmers in developing markets; secondary customers include government ministries and agricultural cooperatives focused on food security.
The company operates manufacturing at its German headquarters (over 30,000 m²), two plants in Poland (approximately 250 employees, ~35,000 m² consolidated at Czymanowo since 2018), and assembly/service facilities in Ukraine, Romania, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Guinea. Quality is certified to ISO 9001 at the Polish facility, and drying technology has earned DLG Signum Test certification. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company has no external funding rounds, making it a privately held, founder-led industrial business that has grown organically over more than five decades.
RIELA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RIELA
- Legal name
- RIELA® Karl-Heinz Knoop e. K.
- Website
- https://riela.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- RIELA is a German family-owned manufacturer of post-harvest grain processing and compound feed equipment — including cleaners, dryers, silos, conveyors, and milling/mixing plants — serving commercial agriculture, cooperatives, and African smallholder farmers across 15+ countries via subsidiaries and partner networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RIELA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111), Agricultural Implement Manufacturing (33311), Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)
- SIC
- Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grain Bin & Silo Systems (On-Farm) (AFAOABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bulk Handling & Conveying for Processing Lines (Augers, Elevators, Conveyors) (AFAAAJAJ), Grain Dryer Systems Integration & Installation (AFAOAHAB), Parts, Service & Refurbishment (Drying Equipment) (AFAOAKAM), Dust Collection, Explosion Protection & Fire Safety (NFPA/ATEX) (AFAOAHAK)
Keywords
Where RIELA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Riesenbeck
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
RIELA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Grain Processing Equipment Sales: Sale of complete grain processing systems including cleaners, dryers, conveyors, silos, and milling/mixing equipment. Custom industrial equipment sold as complete plants or individual components.
- Service, Assembly, and Commissioning: Installation, assembly, commissioning, service, and training for grain processing equipment. Provided at all locations including harvest season support.
- Aftermarket Parts and Components: Spare parts, replacement components, and accessories for installed equipment. Supported by fully equipped service vehicles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
RIELA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RIELA designs, manufactures, and services complete post-harvest grain processing and storage systems including cleaning equipment, dryers, steel silos, conveying technology, and milling/mixing plants. The company delivers turnkey industrial solutions to commercial agriculture operations, cooperatives, and government food security initiatives across Europe and Africa. Its modular baukastensystem enables cost-efficient transport and on-site assembly in buyer markets.
Product overview
RIELA is a family-owned company specializing in post-harvest grain processing and compound feed technology since 1972. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of mechanical processing equipment organized into six main product categories: Cleaning Technology (pre-cleaners, screen cleaners, drum cleaners, air-seed and Prof-Seed systems), Drying Technology (mobile, stationary, belt, feed-and-turn, and circulation dryers), Milling and Mixing (hammer mills, vertical and horizontal mixers, complete feed plants), Storage Technology (galvanized steel round silos and square silos from 10 m³ to 45,000 m³ with temperature monitoring, ventilation, and control systems), Conveying Technology (bucket elevators, chain conveyors, screw conveyors, and belt conveyors), and Technology for Africa (maize shellers, cleaners, dryers, and processing equipment adapted for African farming conditions). The products function as an integrated grain processing system—from intake and cleaning through drying, conveying, storage, and feed milling—with supporting systems for temperature measurement, ventilation, and process control. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Germany (headquarters), Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and maintains service operations in Tanzania, Nigeria, Guinea, and Uganda.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RIELA® Africa: African operations focusing on post-harvest technology for food security
- RIELA® Technology for Africa
Products and services
- Cleaning Technology Grain cleaning systems including pre-cleaners, screen cleaners, drum screen cleaners (RTR 2020, RTSM 50), air-seed cleaners, and Prof-Seed cleaning machines for removing dust, impurities, and foreign matter from grain in industrial grain processing plants.
- Drying Technology Grain and crop drying equipment including Special Dryers (biomass-compatible), Mobile Dryers (GTR 350, GTR 750), Stationary Dryers (continuous and recirculating), Belt Dryers, Feed and Turn Dryers, and Warm Air Heaters for moisture reduction in industrial and agricultural applications.
- Milling and Mixing Equipment Feed production systems including grain mills, hammer mills (Mahlfix, RM 2, RM 3, RBM 5), vertical and horizontal mixers, mixed feed silos, and complete milling and mixing plants for compound feed production on farms and in feed mills.
- Steel Round Silos Galvanized steel silo systems ranging from 10 m³ to 45,000 m³ capacity with temperature measurement, ventilation technology, control systems, and adoption technology for grain storage worldwide. Includes patented silo roofs with SOLANO coating for corrosion protection class III.
- Conveying Technology Material handling equipment including bucket elevators (10-500 t/h capacity), trough chain conveyors, mobile and stationary conveyor belts, trough augers, and screw conveyors (5-150 t/h capacity) for horizontal and vertical grain transport.
- Technology for Africa Post-harvest processing solutions adapted for African farmers including maize shellers (hand-operated and electric Model 22), cleaners, mobile dryers, silos, and milling/mixing equipment with training and service support for small-scale and emerging farm operations.
- Maize Sheller Model 22 Electric maize ginning machine for gentle cob de-husking with 2.2 kW motor at 220V, achieving approximately 1.2 t/h capacity at 15% moisture. Designed for African smallholder farmers.
- Circulating Dryer RUT 250 Galvanized circulating dryer with 2.5 m³ volume, 2.0 t capacity, 2.2 kW radial fan, and approximately 3.5 m total height for grain and corn drying in smaller operations.
- Prof-Seed Cleaning Machine Main cleaning machine for cereals, legumes, oilseeds with high performance in small footprint, 360° rotatable outlets, and brush cleaning of sorting sieves for seed and grain processing.
- Service, Assembly, and Commissioning Installation, assembly, commissioning, service, and training for grain processing equipment provided at all locations including harvest season support. Includes aftermarket spare parts and components delivered via fully equipped service vehicles.
Quantifiable outcome
- Egg production doubled within four weeks of using RIELA feed mixing plant
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use RIELA
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RIELA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
RIELA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Humanitas International e.V.minorPrivate aid organization through which Karl-Heinz Knoop channels humanitarian assistance including medical equipment, vehicles, food, and agricultural support to developing regions.
- RIELA UkrainecoreOperating since 2005 in Lviv, close cooperation with RIELA Poland. Large silo facilities for grain and maize processing. Relocated to new building in 2015.
- RIELA PolandcoreSubsidiary company founded in 2000 in Krokowa with production facilities. Coordinates Central and Eastern European activities. Over 150 employees with manufacturing capacity of 10,000 m².
- RIELA RomaniacoreSales and service company covering Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. 18x30m hall on 14,000 m³ property with demonstration silo facility.
- Agritop (Bulgaria)coreInternational partner for Bulgaria covering sales and service of all RIELA products. Located in Sofia.
- OOO Agrostyle (Belarus)minorPartner in Belarus covering sales and service. Located in Minsk.
- J. GUDINO Įmonė (Lithuania)minorPartner in Lithuania covering sales and service. Located in Vilnius.
- SIA SANDIO TEHNIKA (Latvia)minorPartner in Latvia covering sales and service. Located in Ozolnieki.
- A. Tammel AS (Estonia)minorPartner in Estonia covering sales and service. Located in Jõgeva.
- OOO MKI (Russia)minorPartner in Russia covering Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Located in Kstovsky District.
- OOO Sernowije Sistemi Sibirien (Russia)minorPartner in Russia covering Siberia region. Located in Krasnoyarsk.
- Companygroup Stroj West (Russia)minorPartner in Russia covering Kaliningrad region.
- Seneya agro-Industries Sarl (Guinea)corePartner in Guinea with modern milling and mixing plant for poultry and livestock feed. Opened in December 2021 in Conakry.
- Hadum Farm (Nigeria)coreHost of RIELA Technology Center in Keffi, Nasarawa State. Houses complete silo facility and feed mill for demonstration and training. Partnership with Karl-Heinz Knoop.
- RIELA Africa GmbHcoreSubsidiary managing African operations including Nigeria, Tanzania, Guinea, and Uganda. Led by Karl-Heinz Knoop with focus on food security and farmer training.
- KILACHA (Tanzania)minorTraining center for theoretical and practical education in agricultural technology at Moshi, Kilimanjaro. Partnership example for farmer training model.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RIELA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aarsen (Munckhof): Dutch manufacturer of feed production and grain processing equipment — directly comparable in hammer mills, mixers, conveyors, and complete feed plants, serving European and international livestock and grain markets.
- Sukup Manufacturing: US family-owned manufacturer of grain bins, dryers, and material handling equipment — direct competitor in steel silos, grain drying, and conveying with comparable family-business DNA and project-based sales model.
- Sweet Manufacturing Company: US manufacturer of grain handling equipment — bucket elevators, conveyors, and support structures — directly competes with RIELA's conveying technology line for grain elevators and processing facilities.
- Cimbria (AGCO): Danish grain handling, seed processing and drying specialist now under AGCO — competes directly with RIELA in cleaning, drying, conveying, and silo systems globally, including in Eastern Europe and developing markets.
- Bühler Group: Swiss global leader in grain processing, milling, and feed equipment — directly competes with RIELA across cleaning, drying, storage, milling and mixing, with comparable turnkey plant delivery and a much larger global footprint.
- PETKUS Technologie: German manufacturer of seed and grain processing equipment (cleaning, drying, sorting, storage, conveying) — most direct head-to-head competitor to RIELA in core post-harvest technology, with overlapping customer base in Eastern Europe and CIS.
- Chief Industries: US-based manufacturer of grain storage bins, drying, and handling systems — comparable turnkey post-harvest solutions business targeting commercial farms and agribusiness operators.
- GSI (Grain Systems Inc.): Global supplier of grain storage bins, dryers, and conveying equipment serving commercial agribusiness — overlaps with RIELA's full silo + drying + material handling portfolio, with strong US/Latin America presence and expanding international reach.
Emerging players
- Almaco: Finnish supplier of seed and grain processing solutions — overlaps with RIELA in cleaning, conveying, and storage equipment, with a smaller international footprint and growing presence in emerging markets.
Broad incumbents
- AGCO Corporation: Global full-line farm machinery and grain systems giant — competes broadly with RIELA through its Grain & Protein division (GSI, Cimbria, InterSystems) across storage, drying, and material handling.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights14 records
Customer concentration
RIELA social profiles
Digital presenceRIELA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RIELA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
RIELA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
RIELA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RIELA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RIELA
What does RIELA do?
RIELA designs, manufactures, and services complete post-harvest grain processing and storage systems including cleaning equipment, dryers, steel silos, conveying technology, and milling/mixing plants. The company delivers turnkey industrial solutions to commercial agriculture operations, cooperatives, and government food security initiatives across Europe and Africa. Its modular baukastensystem enables cost-efficient transport and on-site assembly in buyer markets.
Is RIELA a public or private company?
RIELA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RIELA founded?
RIELA was founded in 1972. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RIELA based?
RIELA is headquartered in Riesenbeck, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does RIELA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grain Processing Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are service, Assembly, and Commissioning and aftermarket Parts and Components.
Who are RIELA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aarsen (Munckhof), Sukup Manufacturing, Sweet Manufacturing Company, Cimbria (AGCO), Bühler Group, PETKUS Technologie, Chief Industries and GSI (Grain Systems Inc.). Almaco is listed as an emerging player. AGCO Corporation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does RIELA have an API?
No public API is recorded for RIELA.
What industry is RIELA in?
RIELA's product category is Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAOABAA, Grain Bin & Silo Systems (On-Farm), with a secondary code of AFAAAJAJ, Bulk Handling & Conveying for Processing Lines (Augers, Elevators, Conveyors). Its NAICS code is 333111 and its SIC code is 3523.