Liquid Manufacturing and Repack
Enhancing Facility Efficiency with Innovative Automation Solutions
Project: Landus, Boone, Iowa
OVERVIEW
Landus constructed a state-of-the-art three-bay facility in Boone, Iowa, for fertilizer, chemical manufacturing, and repack. Their Kahler Automation system features two access-controlled bays to dispense product simultaneously and be unstaffed 24/7 so customers can fill orders anytime. Every product is weighed during dispensing, increasing reliability while reducing maintenance.
WHAT THEY NEEDED
Landus needed a state-of-the-art fertilizer, chemical manufacturing, and repack facility. To be competitive in the future, the company needed to consolidate numerous local operations into one primary facility. The company wanted the ability to produce products that work on Iowa farms and create value for their growers. Landus needed a streamlined facility to service its customers of tomorrow by offering direct ship distribution options to farmers and suppliers across the Midwest. Accomplishing all of these things would require speed, reliability, and efficiencies.
!["When you look at Constellation, what that allows [our customers] to do is use the facilities that are within the closest proximity to their field; it allows them to really use their logistics in the most efficient way that they possibly can." --Sco](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64259c76d8bb4976bfca42f7/1718830370964-7772IQLYXHNQYTXSE5G5/Landus_BooneIA_4.JPG)
WHAT WE DESIGNED
Landus constructed a new three-bay fertilizer and chemical facility in Boone, Iowa. The system features two access-controlled bays to dispense product simultaneously and be unstaffed 24/7 with a bay to receive product. Localized control design simplifies installation and maintenance, ensuring connectivity throughout. The system is designed to provide operational efficiency to ensure that current and future customers get what they need accurately and quickly. Landus connected all of their locations that use Kahler software with Constellation, giving them complete site visibility for easier overall analysis and business management. Orders are communicated through a single interface, eliminating the need to manage integrations at individual sites. Order interfaces are managed in the cloud, reducing network vulnerability.
SPECS AT A GLANCE
Type of Business: Retail
Products Offered: Liquid fertilizer and crop protection chemicals
Total Square Feet: 66,000
Type of Construction: Steel building
Receive Product Via: Truck
LIQUID FERTILIZER AND CROP PROTECTION
Indoor Liquid Fertilizer Storage: 210,000 gallons in seven tanks
Bulk Chemical Storage: 350,000 gallons in 36 tanks
Type of Fertilizer Stored: Starter, UAN, AMS, ATS
Diked: Yes
Mixing: Yes
Type of Containment System: Concrete
Load-Out Capacity: Up to 450 gpm
Number of Trucks per Hour: 12
Number of Operators Required: 1 staffed, 0 for unstaffed
Control Automation: Kahler Automation
Scott Ahrenholtz
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY
Scott Ahrenholtz, AcreEdge Product Agronomist, Landus
“Kahler has been very strategic for us in order to service the farmer of tomorrow with speed and reliability, create billing efficiencies, and really operate more like a well-run business. We were looking to be able to cross-train, streamline employees; having a group of employees that already know what they’re doing and how to use the software [allow us to] pull human capital from other locations to come in here and operate the facility at different times. Kahler’s committed to continuing to be the leader in automation in the agriculture space.”
Tim Glienke
WHAT WE HAD TO SAY
Tim Glienke, Regional Account Manager, Kahler Automation
“The system we created with Landus not only delivers speed but, since every product is weighed during dispensing, it has better reliability with less maintenance. Products can be received and dispensed 24/7 for optimal customer convenience. Source destination is used to receive product unstaffed to ensure products are routed correctly, along with real-time inventory adjustment based on the product amounts. The system is designed with the operator in mind to maximize efficiency and ease of use.”
