Binmaster Rebuilds After April Hurricane

On April 26, 2024, an F3 tornado decimated BinMaster’s 115,000-square-foot facility in fewer than 20 seconds. Just three weeks later, the company was back to assembling level sensors and wireless devices at a new plant locations. In mid-July, BinMaster, a manufacturer of level indicators and inventory management systems for monitoring the level of bulk solids or liquids in bins, tanks, silos and hoppers, moved into its new offices on Transformation Drive at the Innovation Campus at the University of Lincoln.

The new plant is only a few miles from its previous Lincoln, Nebraska, location. BinMaster set up new production lines, and its supply chain staff replenished inventory of almost 30,000 parts in a new 40,000-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing facility. The new offices are just minutes away from the new plant on the 249-acre public/private research campus that houses businesses, a conference center and the Nebraska Innovation Studio.

“Our swift recovery is a testament to the unity and commitment of our entire team. We couldn't have done it without the unwavering support of our vendor partners and the resilience of our IT infrastructure that preserved our history,” says Scott McLain, president of Garner Industries and BinMaster. “These contributions were instrumental in our rapid progress.”

Collin Humphrey, BinMaster’s new engineering manager, was already slated to join the firm before the tornado struck. Humphrey will oversee the efforts of the long-term team which designs, certifies and enhances BinMaster products. Collin brings a wealth of knowledge, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in engineering management, both from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL).

“Amidst our recovery we certified and introduced a new line of rotary level indicators on schedule,” notes Scott Hudson, executive vice president of BinMaster. “BinMaster is here to stay and we’re here right now to solve customers’ inventory problems.”

New BinMaster rotaries include the BMRX-300 with a large LED status indicator light, the BMRX-200 with PCB and DPDT switch, and the BMRX-100 electromechanical models. All feature a distinctive red aluminum enclosure that rotates 360 degrees to point conduit entries down to protect against moisture ingress. The new rotary line also offers a wide assortment of 1-¼" and 1-½" process connections as well as CSA and ATEX hazardous location approvals.