Heritage FS Inc., Bourbonnais, IL | Murray Equipment - Turnkey Automation and Liquid Handling Systems for Fertilizer Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Retailers

Heritage FS Doubles its Throughput at its St. George Location with New Fully-Automated Liquid Fertilizer Retail Facility

What They Needed

As Heritage FS Inc.’s St. George, IL location grew, so did the lines outside their liquid fertilizer plant. Accompanied by grower growth, it became clear that a single loadout bay was no longer sufficient. “We’ve always used Murray Equipment and ICS, so speed wasn’t the challenge. The issue was spotting, moving, and getting ready to load with a single bay,” explained JD Marquis, Heritage FS Agronomy Services Specialist. “We decided we needed to double our capacity.” In expanding their facility, Heritage FS also took the opportunity to tackle other persistent challenges related to weather, temperature, and after-hours service. By constructing two indoor loadout bays, adding indoor water tanks, and implementing a 24/7 access bay, Heritage FS was able to not only double their capacity, but also expand the time windows the added capacity was available, while easing the strain on employees.

What We Designed

Together, Heritage FS and Murray Equipment, Inc. designed and built a liquid retail facility with 2 attended bays, which allow for hand-adds, 1 unattended bay, a repackaging center, and a warehouse/storage facility. The bays connect to a series of indoor, outdoor, and mini-bulk tanks as well as a new remote 1 million gallon UAN tank. For added seasonal flexibility, the facility also features both indoor and outdoor water tanks intelligently connected to the well and each other. The multi-purpose facility is fully automated using MEI’s ICS 360 system and ICS ControlPro, which is able to interface seamlessly with Heritage FS’s agronomy and ERP systems. ICS ControlPro also supports the new ICS 24-7-8 Unattended Loadout Bay, allowing for expanded access and increased efficiency around the clock.

Benefits Achieved

The building was completed just in time for planting season and already Heritage FS is reaping the benefits. “Immediately with the 2 bays, I’ve noticed my load times in the morning are cut in half, easily,” enthused Marquis. “What used to take me an hour or hour and a half to load trucks before the guys got here is now down to 30-35 minutes. The efficiency of just getting trucks in and out is lifesaving!” Thanks to some new safety equipment supplied by Murray Equipment, employees are happier as well. “The new facility is a lot less physically demanding,” Marquis observed. “Between being indoors and the new over the top platforms, which means we aren’t climbing up and down trucks, the facility is a lot safer for employees.”