| Gustafson opens
new equipment training facility |
Plano, Texas
Gustafson, Inc. has stepped up its efforts in the
final area of the seed treatment process - the
equipment that applies product to seed.
To head up the increased emphasis on equipment, Gustafson has named Craig Lindholm to the
newly created position of general manager of the equipment division. Gustafson has over 60
employees involved with equipment, including engineering, customer support, research and
development, technical support, manufacturing and sales.
The company has also announced the creation of its new Gustafson Equipment Testing and
Training Center, located at the Gustafson Research and Development Center at Frisco,
Texas.
“The center gives us the opportunity to showcase our leading-edge technologies for
seed
treatment application equipment,” Mr. Lindholm said.
“We think the center will be ideal for seed industry personnel who are looking for
new
equipment. All of our most popular models are set up and fully operational, so customers
can come in and readily compare features and benefits of the various treaters,” Mr.
Lindholm said.
The center is also used for training purposes, both for customers and for Gustafson
employees.
“Gustafson customers will be able to get full training on the equipment before it is
even delivered to their facilities,” Mr. Lindholm pointed out. “In the past, the
equipment was delivered and installed, and then the training began. With the training
center, the operators of the equipment will be ready to put the equipment to use as soon
as the installation is complete.”
Gustafson will also use the center for intensive testing of new equipment and prototypes.
“Durability is a key factor with any piece of equipment, and our new facility will
allow us to test
equipment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will also use the facility to conduct
testing for
customers, using various pieces of equipment on different types of seed. This makes it
much easier for customers to be confident that they will select the machine that best
meets their needs,” Mr. Lindholm said.
Gustafson is developing a number of new products for the seed industry. “Our goal is
to increase
accuracy of the equipment and to make to make it more user friendly,” Mr. Lindholm
said. “We are working a number of electronic control systems, as well as new systems
for measuring seed and chemical.”
The company is also working with its Sampler Division to incorporate automatic samplers at
several locations in the conditioning process. Automatic samplers are widely used in other
industries as a quality control measure and are being used by more and more seed
companies. Specialized sizers for foundation seed plants being studied, as well.
“When you treat a seed with systemic products, what you’re doing in fact is
treating a plant. And
for a seed to reach its full potential, particularly with newer seed treatment products,
each seed, each plant must be treated properly,” Mr. Lindholm said.
“Our goal at Gustafson is to offer the industry a true ‘systems approach,’
combining the finest in
seed treatment products with the latest in application equipment,” Mr. Lindholm said.
“Over the
past several years, we have seen major advances in seed treatment technology on the
product end. That’s what’s happening today in the equipment part of the
business.” N1343 |
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