Company Profile
Pneumat Systems, Inc.

Reprinted from Grain Journal March/April 2013 Issue

Since its start in 1982, Pneumat Systems, Inc. in Mankato, MN (800-458-9446) has partnered with clients in a range of industries to custom-engineer products and techniques to solve flow difficulties associated with commodity products. The innovations continue in 2013.

According to President Greg Nelson: “This year looks like a big one for Pneumat Systems. Our cleaning and BinWhip business continues to be strong, while our recently introduced products, the HopperPopper and RailSpreader, are really taking off.”

The company operates from a 20,000-sq.-ft. building on the north side of Mankato. “From our state-of-the-art facility, we fabricate and manufacture almost everything that goes into our products,” says Nelson. Those products range from Pneumat’s flagship BinWhip and BinDrill to AirForce air cannons, Cardox systems, and the new HopperPopper and RailSpreader lines.

Motto: Safer, Faster, Easier

“We continually work with our customers to make their processes safer, faster, and easier,” says Nelson, who has been with the company since 1992. “No two silos or flow problems are the same, but we guarantee that we can help you solve your issues.

“Many of our best product ideas start with customers who bring us their bulk-handling problems. We want to be the company that responds – that’s been our history, and it’s been one of our greatest successes.

“We have the most experience in solving problems in the flow industry. Some of the people who helped build our original BinWhip are still with the company. They still go out and use it in the field, but more importantly, they bring back ideas for making improvements. Innovation not only happens in the Engineering Department but in the field as well. We are a hands-on group of people who pull together as a team to bring new ideas to get the job done.”

Innovative Ideas

One of the newest innovations the 31-year old company has brought to the market is its HopperPopper. “A major customer called us one day to help them eliminate the need for workers to bang and pound on trucks and railcars filled with DDGs in order to empty them,” says Vice President Jim Blomquist.

“Our team’s solution was the HopperPopper. We leverage high-volume compressed air delivered through a probe that’s inserted hydraulically into a railcar or truck to re-fluidize the product with an intense blast of air. We run the system wirelessly allowing operators precise control.

“The system is highly effective, dramatically decreasing unload time, reducing labor costs, and virtually eliminating the damage that other hard car unloaders cause.”

RailSpreader

Another product that was spawned from customer needs is Pneumat’s RailSpreader.

“Basically, the issue was trying to figure out how to fill the empty space on the ends and sides of a railroad hopper car without doing it manually using a shovel,” says Blomquist. “Ultimately, we used hydraulically driven motors attached to a finned disk placed under the spout to throw the product to the ends and outside edges of the railcar.

“The concept isn’t revolutionary – it’s similar to the way a salt or fertilizer spreader works – but the end result has been dramatic increases in plant railcar fill rates of 3% to 8%. The increase allows for a rapid return on investment for the customer in transportation savings alone, while reducing labor costs.”

BinWhip/BinDrill

Pneumat’s 30-plus year business was built on the worldwide sales of its flagship products, the BinWhip and BinDrill, along with its bin and silo cleanout service (Team Pneumat) available throughout the United States.

“Pneumat invented the hydraulic BinWhip and BinDrill after working with air-driven whips back in the 1990s,” says Nelson. “The innovation of powering the Whip with hydraulics gave us the power and control to effectively clean bins of all kinds. It was a huge improvement.”

“The BinWhip and BinDrill work off the top of the bin keeping the operator safe and out of the bin,” adds Blomquist, who has been with the company since 1996. “The feed and grain industries are by far our biggest Whip customers, but our products are used with commodities of any sort – soybean meal, DDGs, cement, plastic, coal, and many others. Anyone who moves or stores commodities is a potential customer.

“The decision on a customer’s part whether to purchase a BinWhip and BinDrill or hire Team Pneumat to provide bin or silo cleanout is always a consideration. At the end of the day, Pneumat focuses on what’s best for the customer. If purchasing a system makes sense, or if a contract crew will better serve the customer’s needs, we give the customer options and solid recommendations.”

Cardox and AirForce Blaster

The BinWhip and BinDrill aren’t the only tools Pneumat uses when attacking brdiging and hangups in bins and silos. Another options is the Cardox carbon dioxide air blaster. This system utilizes tubes that release liquid carbon dioxide at high pressure. These were developed by Long Airdox for use as a non-explosive blasting device in the coal mining industry. Pneumat had used Cardox in its cleaning service, then in 1997, bought the company and began manufacturing the product.

“Cardox is very effective in clearing blockages that are too hard for other options,” says Blomquist. “Because it’s a non-explosive and a natural material, it can be safely used with grain – and it works great! We use it a lot in our cleaning service but also rent out filled tubes that can be returned after use.

Long-Term, Safe Employees

“Our safety record is impeccable: we’ve never had a lost-time accident,” says Blomquist. “We have 20 employees, and most have been with us for a long time, with several over 10 years and others more than 15. Everyone has a primary responsibility, but in reality, nearly everyone goes out into the field as needed to work with customers on installations and service.

“We have regularly scheduled safety training focused on our business and training to meet industry requirements. We also stress the importance of being safe. All of our people know if they don’t feel safe doing something on a job site, they don’t do it, and Pneumat will back up that decision.”

Started as Contract Cleanout Company

Pneumat Systems, Inc. was started in 1982 as a contract cleanout company by Gene Nelson who now serves as CEO.

“My father started his career in automotive repair,” says Greg Nelson. “He bought a towing company that had a vacuum service, which led to sending out mobile trucks to clean up grain spills. He wanted to be able to clean out elevators and bins for the grain industry but realized that vacuums weren’t very effective.

“In 1987, the business shifted its focus to the air-powered BinWhip. The company grew quickly into solving flow solutions for clients in other industries, as well.

“In the early 1990s, we figured out how to get hydraulic power to the head of the BinWhip to provide more power and control than with air. The premise was always to work from outside the bin. We don’t want anyone to go inside unless it is absolutely safe and necessary. By integrating hydraulics into the BinWhip, we created the most efficient and safe silo cleaning solution on the market.”

Staying With The Name

The name Pneumat comes from “pneumatic” and refers to “air” or “gas.” The company’s name was scrutinized about five years ago, in response to the new focus on hydraulically-powered equipment.

“We thought about changing our name, but familiarity with ‘Pneumat Systems’ had been built up since 1982,” says Nelson. “And, we’ve actually gone back to some pneumatic products with the purchase of the AirForce Blaster air cannons and the release of our new HopperPopper that leverages air along with hydraulic power.

“Over a span of 30 years, Pneumat continues to focus on engineering to safely optimize the flow of global commodities, and we look forward to providing innovation for the industry in the future.”