RIELA

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.

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

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 industry

PRIMARYAFAOABAA

Grain Bin & Silo Systems (On-Farm)

Agriculture & Food Production/Post-Harvest Handling & Storage (Grain Elevators, Silos, Cold Storage)/On-Farm Grain Storage (Bins, Silos, Aeration)

SECONDARYAFAAAJAJ

Bulk Handling & Conveying for Processing Lines (Augers, Elevators, Conveyors)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Equipment & Technology/Post-Harvest & On-Farm Processing Equipment (Cleaning, Drying, Sorting, Packaging)

SECONDARYAFAOAHAB

Grain Dryer Systems Integration & Installation

Agriculture & Food Production/Post-Harvest Handling & Storage (Grain Elevators, Silos, Cold Storage)/Drying, Aeration & Conditioning Systems (Grain/Seed)

SECONDARYAFAOAKAM

Parts, Service & Refurbishment (Drying Equipment)

Agriculture & Food Production/Post-Harvest Handling & Storage (Grain Elevators, Silos, Cold Storage)/Drying Equipment (Grain Dryers & Dehydrators)

SECONDARYAFAOAHAK

Dust Collection, Explosion Protection & Fire Safety (NFPA/ATEX)

Agriculture & Food Production/Post-Harvest Handling & Storage (Grain Elevators, Silos, Cold Storage)/Drying, Aeration & Conditioning Systems (Grain/Seed)

Keywords

• Grain processing equipment
• Post-harvest technology
• Compound feed systems
• Grain storage silos
• Agricultural drying equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Riesenbeck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Service, Assembly, and Commissioning: Installation, assembly, commissioning, service, and training for grain processing equipment. Provided at all locations including harvest season support.
3. Aftermarket Parts and Components: Spare parts, replacement components, and accessories for installed equipment. Supported by fully equipped service vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Humanitas International e.V.minorOthers · 1 January 2018Private aid organization through which Karl-Heinz Knoop channels humanitarian assistance including medical equipment, vehicles, food, and agricultural support to developing regions.
• RIELA UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Operating since 2005 in Lviv, close cooperation with RIELA Poland. Large silo facilities for grain and maize processing. Relocated to new building in 2015.
• RIELA PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary 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 RomaniacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service company covering Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. 18x30m hall on 14,000 m³ property with demonstration silo facility.
• Agritop (Bulgaria)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partner for Bulgaria covering sales and service of all RIELA products. Located in Sofia.
• OOO Agrostyle (Belarus)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Belarus covering sales and service. Located in Minsk.
• J. GUDINO Įmonė (Lithuania)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Lithuania covering sales and service. Located in Vilnius.
• SIA SANDIO TEHNIKA (Latvia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Latvia covering sales and service. Located in Ozolnieki.
• A. Tammel AS (Estonia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Estonia covering sales and service. Located in Jõgeva.
• OOO MKI (Russia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Russia covering Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Located in Kstovsky District.
• OOO Sernowije Sistemi Sibirien (Russia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Russia covering Siberia region. Located in Krasnoyarsk.
• Companygroup Stroj West (Russia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Russia covering Kaliningrad region.
• Seneya agro-Industries Sarl (Guinea)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Guinea with modern milling and mixing plant for poultry and livestock feed. Opened in December 2021 in Conakry.
• Hadum Farm (Nigeria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary managing African operations including Nigeria, Tanzania, Guinea, and Uganda. Led by Karl-Heinz Knoop with focus on food security and farmer training.
• KILACHA (Tanzania)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1JMfrMIZINMNy0kwCOROEA
• Facebookfacebook.com/riela.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/riela.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riela-romania

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 RIELA