Grain Handling Automation & Truck Management

When divisions come together, the work gets done better, faster and at a quality level that exceeds all customer expectations. Our motto remains true – we are one team with four powerful divisions. But the true power comes with cross-divisional work.

Location

Hager City, WI

Customer

ALCIVIA

Industry

Agriculture – Grain Handling

Construction

Grain Receiving & Storage Facility

Labor

100% Self-Performed by KE

Automation Division
Electric Division
Power Services Division

Project Duration

Multi-phase project, completed in 2024

Services Performed

Electrical Infrastructure
Control system integration
Commissioning and testing of power systems

The Situation

ALCIVIA, a leading agricultural cooperative, sought a partner to deliver a new grain-handling facility in Hager City, Wisconsin, designed to reduce downtime and improve the harvest season experience for farmers. With high expectations for capacity, speed, and operational control, the project demanded a contractor capable of providing both expertise and execution. Knobelsdorff was selected to deliver the project from the ground up.

The Solution

Knobelsdorff leveraged the strength of its cross-divisional model to build and power a high-capacity grain handling facility capable of managing nearly 4 million bushels of grain. Each division played a critical role in ensuring the success of the project:

Electric Division

Installed and integrated complex electrical infrastructure to support two 4,700-bushel-per-hour grain dryers and material handling equipment.
Designed and delivered an efficient power distribution system capable of maintaining reliable operations at peak capacity.

Automation Division

Implemented an advanced control system to unify all equipment, including dryers, bins, and dump pits, under one automated platform.
Developed custom interfaces and monitoring tools to increase operational efficiency and reduce manual input.

Power Services Division

Conducted commissioning and testing of the facility’s power systems.
Performed load testing and system integration checks to ensure real-world reliability.
Optimized performance and mitigated risk of failure through detailed fine-tuning before final handover.

Customer Feedback

Mark and Jim Schulz expressed high praise for the Phase 1 commissioning process. Ben Thompson, Project Manager (2023), shared that in every interaction, the team was “smiling ear to ear.” After multiple conversations with the KE team, Mark and Jim described the experience as “impressive,” noting how seamless our teams made it happen for a brand-new startup.

Earning this kind of praise is exactly why we remain committed to delivering excellent results in every project. Thank you to each of you for your hard work, dedication, and for continuing to represent KE at the highest level.

First Truck Management System a Major Milestone for KE

We’re excited to announce the successful launch of our first Truck Management System within TerraKE—a significant milestone that highlights the platform’s strength and flexibility. This new solution allows customers to compare TMS data with live plant process data, enabling real-time operational improvements through advanced automation. It’s a clear demonstration of how we can streamline and digitize critical logistics processes—all within a single, centralized platform. The impact has been immediate, with future projects and demos already lined up—including repeat clients and contractors such as JDH and Miller Milling. This momentum is just the beginning as we continue expanding TerraKE’s capabilities and advancing digital transformation across the industry.

Learn More

The Results

The Hager City facility is now a fully operational, state-of-the-art grain hub. Key highlights of the outcome include:

Performance & Capacity

Eight newly constructed grain bins with 3.9 million bushels of storage.
Three 1,500-bushel dump pits and two dryers operating at a combined 60,000-bushel-per-hour flow rate.
Reduced truck wait times and faster turnaround for farmers during the busy harvest season.

Customer Impact

The facility has drastically improved efficiency and throughput for local growers.
ALCIVIA now operates one of the most streamlined grain-handling sites in the region.
Knobelsdorff’s cohesive delivery model helped reinforce trust and lay the foundation for future partnerships.

Conclusion

The ALCIVIA Hager City project is a clear example of how Knobelsdorff’s internal collaboration leads to real-world results. By bringing together Electric, Automation, and Power Services under one roof, KE delivered a seamless solution, on time and on spec. This cross-divisional approach not only fulfilled the project’s technical demands but also reaffirmed KE’s ability to build long-term value for its clients.

  
						3.9 Million					
				                
						Bushels of Storage					
								
						60,000					
				                
						Bushels Per Hour Combined Flow Rate

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