Universal Industries

What Universal Industries does

Universal Industries, Inc. is a privately-held specialty manufacturer of bulk material handling equipment, headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and operating continuously since 1906. The company designs and engineers bucket elevators (grain legs), continuous cup elevators, slider belt conveyors, and idler bed conveyors that handle fragile, abrasive, and easily fluidized bulk products. Core proprietary technologies include EASY DUMP® (gravity discharge reducing product damage versus centrifugal systems), DAKOSA® Continuous Cup Elevators (engineered for virtually zero product damage in modular C, Z, Double Z, Flat, or Incline configurations), UniVey® belt conveyors (Slider Bed for gentle handling, Idler Bed for high-capacity long-distance), and UniMAX® high-capacity centrifugal discharge elevators. The product portfolio spans seven bucket elevator series differentiated by end-use—Twin Trunk Alpha, G (peanut handling per American Peanut Sheller's Association / USDA guidelines), P (chain-driven for impact-sensitive materials like edible beans), U (corrosive/abrasive service), Top Take-Up U (fine/dusty materials), SC (sanitary food processing), and UniMAX—plus boot cleanout accessories and hazardous monitoring sensor options (Rub Block/Touch Switch, Bearing Temperature).

The company's go-to-market combines a domestic US dealer network with direct B2B sales via phone (800-553-4446), email, and product-specific quote request forms (bucket elevators, UniVey, DAKOSA). Revenue comes from one-time capital equipment sales with an aftermarket tail in replacement parts and accessories; pricing is quote-based with no public pricing disclosed. Terms of Sale indicate 30-day net payment with 1.5% monthly interest on overdue balances and a $50 minimum billing. The customer base is concentrated in the agricultural seed and food processing verticals, with named enterprise customers including Cargill, Pioneer, DeKalb, Syngenta, Nestlé, Starbucks, Quaker Oats, Frito-Lay, ADM, McCormick, Beck's Hybrids, and Stine Seed, alongside an industrial segment serving aggregate, chemical, and harsh-material handling applications.

The company is independently owned with no disclosed institutional investors, venture capital backing, or parent company, and operates from a single Cedar Falls manufacturing and headquarters facility. There is no app, no public API, no disclosed digital product surface, and no AI/ML capability evident in the source data. Geographic scope is limited to North America, with no evidence of international distribution or expansion initiatives.

Name

Universal Industries

Legal name

Universal Industries, Inc.

Website

https://universalindustries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Universal Industries, founded 1906, manufactures specialty bulk material handling equipment—bucket elevators, continuous cup elevators, and belt conveyors—for agricultural and industrial customers across North America, sold through a US dealer network and direct B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bulk Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

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

• Bulk material handling
• Bucket elevators
• Grain handling equipment
• Belt conveyors
• Continuous cup elevators

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Material Handling Equipment Sales: Universal Industries designs and manufactures bucket elevators, grain legs, belt conveyors, and continuous cup elevators. Products are sold through dealer network and direct sales to agricultural and industrial customers. Revenue generated from one-time equipment sales with potential for replacement parts and accessories.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Universal Industries designs and manufactures bulk material handling equipment including bucket elevators/grain legs, continuous cup elevators, and slider and idler bed belt conveyors. The equipment is engineered for the gentle handling of fragile, abrasive, and easily fluidized products in agricultural seed processing and industrial bulk material applications. Products are sold through a domestic dealer network and direct sales to enterprise customers.

Product overview

Universal Industries manufactures specialty bulk material handling equipment serving the agricultural and industrial markets. The company has been in operation since 1906 and produces a comprehensive lineup including multiple bucket elevator/grain leg series (Twin Trunk Alpha, G, P, U, Top Take-Up U, SC, and UniMAX), DAKOSA Continuous Cup Elevators, and UniVey Belt Conveyors (Slider Bed and Idler Bed types). These products handle materials including seed, grain, edible beans, popcorn, peanuts, aggregates, chemicals, and powders. The product line is supported by accessories such as boot cleanout options and sensor monitoring systems. Uni Tube brand (a subsidiary brand) covers tube conveyors and grain belt conveyors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DAKOSA®: DAKOSA® Continuous Cup Elevators - the most gentle elevator configuration offered, designed for virtually zero product damage. Available in several configurations including C, Z, Double Z, Flat, or Incline.
• UniVey®
• UniMAX®
• Uni Tube®

Products and services

• Twin Trunk Alpha Series Bucket Elevators Twin trunk casing bucket elevators designed for gentle handling of bulk products using EASY DUMP gravity discharge technology to reduce product damage. Available in powder coated carbon, stainless, or galvanized steel configurations for agricultural and industrial buyers.
• G Series Bucket Elevators Twin trunk casing centrifugal discharge elevators optimized for handling peanuts in shell and other lightweight materials, designed to follow American Peanut Sheller's Association and USDA guidelines. Targeted at peanut processors and agricultural buyers.
• P Series Bucket Elevators Chain-driven bucket elevators with weather-tight, dust-tight construction for gentle handling of materials subject to impact damage such as edible beans and food products. Built for agricultural processors requiring controlled handling of sensitive commodities.
• U Series Bucket Elevators Single trunk casing bucket elevators built with thicker steel to handle corrosive, abrasive, and hostile materials, featuring EASY DUMP gravity discharge technology. Engineered for heavy-duty industrial applications.
• Top Take-Up U Series Bucket Elevators Bucket elevators with take-up system in the head casing rather than boot, featuring a curved bottom boot to reduce product build-up and a better seal for fine and dusty materials. Suited for industrial handling of fine or dusty bulk products.
• SC Series Bucket Elevators Sanitary bucket elevators with front side panels that open quickly for inspection and cleaning, designed for food processing plants and applications requiring impeccable sanitation. Targeted at food industry buyers with strict hygiene requirements.
• UniMAX Bucket Elevators High capacity centrifugal discharge elevators engineered to meet strict industry standards with cleanliness-focused design eliminating material build-up areas and provisions for hazardous monitoring equipment. Targeted at high-volume industrial applications.
• DAKOSA Continuous Cup Elevators The most gentle elevator configuration offered, designed for virtually zero product damage. Available in C, Z, Double Z, Flat, or Incline configurations with a modular design for easy installation and expansion. Targeted at seed processors handling highly fragile products.
• UniVey Slider Bed Belt Conveyors Belt conveyors ideal for handling products requiring gentle handling such as seed, food products, or chemicals/powders. Available in multiple configurations including MPC, MPKUT, Hopper Bottom, Round Bottom, and Cleated Trough.
• UniVey Idler Bed Belt Conveyors Belt conveyors designed for handling bulk products across long distances with deep troughs and heavier construction for higher capacities. Includes Pan Idler, Dual Roll, and Tri Roll models for high-capacity industrial applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• DAKOSA® Continuous Cup Elevator offers virtually zero product damage
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Brock Grain Systems (CTB Inc.): Manufacturer of grain storage, drying, and material handling equipment including bucket elevators and conveying systems for the agricultural industry. Directly competes with Universal in grain elevator and bulk material handling.
• Lambton Conveyor: Manufacturer of bucket elevators and belt conveyors for grain, seed, and bulk material handling with similar gentle-handling product positioning. Direct competitor in the bucket elevator and belt conveyor category.
• Sukup Manufacturing Co. Privately held Iowa-based manufacturer of grain bins, bucket elevators, and material handling equipment with significant overlap to Universal's product portfolio. Similar vertical focus on agricultural seed and grain handling makes them a directly comparable peer.
• Sweet Manufacturing Company: Long-standing specialist manufacturer of bucket elevators, conveyors, and material handling equipment serving agricultural, industrial, and food processing markets. Highly comparable product-by-product to Universal Industries' lineup.
• Screw Conveyor Corporation: Established manufacturer of bulk material handling equipment including bucket elevators, screw conveyors, and related components for industrial and agricultural markets. Direct adjacency to Universal's elevator/conveyor portfolio.
• Norstar Industries: Manufacturer of bucket elevators and enclosed belt conveyors for agricultural, industrial, and food applications, with comparable product specifications to Universal's Alpha and DAKOSA series elevators.
• Cimbria (AGCO): AGCO-owned brand specializing in grain handling, seed processing, and bulk material handling equipment including bucket elevators and conveyors serving global agricultural markets. Comparable in scope and customer profile.
• GSI (Grain Systems Inc.): A major manufacturer of grain storage and material handling equipment including bucket elevators, conveyors, and grain legs for agricultural and industrial customers. It is the most comparable direct competitor to Universal Industries in the bulk seed/grain handling equipment space.

Broad incumbents

• Chief Agri/Industries: Manufacturer of grain storage bins, handling equipment, and industrial steel buildings serving agricultural customers. Comparable to Universal in the agricultural handling segment though with a broader product scope.
• Behlen Grain Systems: Diversified industrial manufacturer with a grain systems division producing grain storage, handling, and drying equipment including bucket elevators. Comparable to Universal but with a broader portfolio across multiple equipment categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UniversalIndInc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Universal Industries