Visit to the Largest Producer of Grain Silos – BROCK, Milford, USA - Novinky

PAWLICA s.r.o.., the leading general supplier of post-harvest lines in the Czech and Slovak Republics, regularly organizes visits for its business partners to reference farms in the USA. These visits provide an opportunity to observe post-harvest processing in practice and exchange experiences in farm operations and soil management.
In March 2025, we invited leading Czech and Moravian companies to visit the production facility of the world's largest grain silo manufacturer – BROCK. Czech farm representatives had the chance to explore not only BROCK’s manufacturing plant and production processes but also to visit local farmers and see the largest BROCK grain silos in the vicinity of the plant in Indiana. Our journey to explore American agriculture concluded in Chicago, Illinois, where participants enjoyed a guided city tour and visits to its most iconic landmarks.

BROCK – A Tradition of Quality Since 1957

Our visit to the United States began in Milford, Indiana, home to the CTB business group’s Conference Center and BROCK’s main production plant. BROCK representatives guided us through the entire production process of Everest flat-bottom storage silos, showcasing their patented roof panel bending, the forming of perimeter sheets, and laser-cutting of individual components.
In addition to BROCK, the CTB Group represents brands such as ROXELL, CHORE-TIME, and PigTek. As Victor A. Mancinelli, Chairman and CEO of CTB, states: "We acquire good companies with strong management that can continue excelling in their field."

Loading a Rail Car in Just Four Minutes

Our first reference visit took us to Cargill, the largest local commodity trader, where two BROCK silos with a total capacity of 2 × 25,000 tons stand alongside a grain concrete silo. One of the key advantages of this site is its truck and rail intake baskets, which operate at an impressive rate of 600 tons per hour.
The facility operates exceptionally efficiently, loading a single railcar in just four minutes. Our Czech business representatives witnessed this high-speed operation firsthand, as a complete 110-wagon train was loaded within an 8-hour shift. Another standout feature of this facility is its outdoor storage system—a circular open area with perimeter aeration, used for temporary storage expansion during the corn harvest.

A Family Farm Operating Since 1857

Our journey in Indiana continued with a visit to Tom Farms, a family-owned business rooted in American farming traditions since 1857. The farm’s owner, who cultivates 8,800 hectares, personally guided us through the premises, showcasing the post-harvest line, drying facility, and BROCK storage silos—a setup he has been expanding since 2008.
Efficiency is paramount in the harvest season, with silos loading at 450 tons of corn per hour. Every movement of operators and machinery is meticulously planned. Similar to Czech farms, American farms focus on self-sufficiency, as demonstrated by the farm’s custom-built liquid fertilizer mixer, which significantly reduces costs.

Storage & Feed Production at HOOVER-FEED

Another key reference site was HOOVER-FEED, a family business celebrating 50 years in operation. HOOVER combines BROCK silos for storage with an integrated feed mixing plant. Notable features include a receiving basket integrated into the weighbridge and BROCK storage silos mounted on high concrete segments.
HOOVER also stores commodities for local farmers and produces feed mixtures from these commodities, which are then redistributed to the livestock sector.

BrockOne!

The final reference visit took us to Mentone, Indiana, where our customers explored the latest BROCK installation, including a receiving line, VECTOR corn dryer, and BROCK storage silos. The entire post-harvest line is interconnected with BROCK galvanized conveyors and operates at 250 tons per hour.
One of the highlights of this system is the hot-dip galvanized steel support structures, also supplied by CTB Group. The visit provided an in-depth look at the BrockOne concept—a new direction where an entire post-harvest system is manufactured and supplied by a single provider.

Chicago – The Windy City
A Word from Our Participants

Our American journey concluded in Chicago, Illinois, a city famous for its towering skyscrapers and strong winds. To round off the experience, we arranged a comprehensive tour of this third-largest U.S. city, including:

A visit to Willis Tower, home to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor—the tallest steel-profiled building in the world.
A trip to the United Center hockey arena, where we watched an NHL game (Chicago Blackhawks vs. Seattle Kraken) while enjoying American beer and the electric atmosphere of local fans.
Tasting traditional Chicago cuisine.
Taking photos at the official starting point of Route 66.
A boat tour along the Chicago River offers stunning city views.

“I would like to thank the entire PAWLICA team for the opportunity to take part in this trip to the USA. The combination of a diverse professional and leisure program, a great group of tour organizers and participants, and the exceptional logistical support made this an unforgettable experience.”

Ing. Rudolf Tábor – Project Manager, GES Group Finance