FAQs

We design, install, and maintain complete automation solutions for all our continuous flow systems. We are also a custom manufacturer and a full-service engineering firm. We are proudly based in the USA for 24/7 technical and customer service needs.

Yes. Custom equipment and retrofit solutions are a core part of what we do. Ruiter Innovations designs and manufactures custom mechanical systems, electrical panels, and automation controls tailored to your facility, materials and production goals. We specialize in fitting new technology into existing plants with minimal disruption.

Yes, Ruiter Innovations specializes in fully customize automation solutions for feed mills, breweries, distilleries and other process-driven operations. Every system is engineered around the customer’s materials, throughput requirements, facility layout, and automation objectives to ensure optimal performance, efficiency, and scalability.

Customization begins with mechanical equipment design, including material handling, batching, weighing, and process flow tailored to your specific ingredients and production volumes. Ruiter Innovations also develops a custom controls architecture, selecting and programming PLCs, HMIs, and industrial networks that align with your operational needs and long-term growth plans.

In addition, custom software development allows for precises recipe control, automated batching, real-time system monitoring, and detailed production reporting. Ruiter Innovations systems can be seamlessly integrated with existing equipment and infrastructure, reducing capital costs while modernizing legacy operations.

Whether building a new facility or upgrading an existing plant, Ruiter Innovations delivers modular, scalable automation solutions designed to evolve as production demands change. This flexible approach ensures customers receive a system that fits their operation today while supporting future expansion without requiring a complete system replacement.

Ruiter Innovations is dedicated to enhancing and modernizing your systems, ensuring they integrate effortlessly with your current equipment, all while minimizing operational disruptions and extending the durability of your legacy infrastructure.

Ruiter Innovations automation systems are engineered to handle a wide variety of bulk materials for a vast range of industries including industrial livestock feed mills, commercial breweries and distilleries, the production of dry fertilizer, pet food, flour/baking and spices, pharmaceuticals and CBD. Common materials include, grains, meals, powders and other free-flowing or semi-free-flowing bulk solids commonly used in production environments.

Each system is custom-designed to account for material characteristics such as density, particle size, flow behavior, moisture content, and abrasiveness. Ruiter Innovations systems can also be engineered to reliably handle challenging or variable-density materials, including ingredients that are prone to bridging, segregation, dusting or inconsistent flow.

Through tailored mechanical design, precise metering and weighing systems, and advanced PLC-based automation controls, Ruiter Innovations ensures accurate, consistent material handling across all production conditions. This flexibility allows customers to process multiple material types within the same system while maintaining accuracy, safety, and repeatable results.

Whether managing standard raw ingredients or complex specialty materials, Ruiter Innovations bulk material handling systems provide a scalable, reliable solution that supports current production requirements and future operational growth.

Automated systems can provide production totals, ingredient usage, run history, alarms, and event logs. This data supports optimization, troubleshooting and regulatory compliance. Ruiter Innovations Process Control System (PCS) is next-gen technology that allows customers to store unlimited recipes, print batch reports, track trends and manage inventory.

Most importantly, we can guarantee increased efficiency and repeatable quality. Our system is customizable and scalable, with data-driven insights and remote monitoring. Because it is modular, our system can adapt and grow with your needs, with no major physical changes to your original layout.

Continuous flow metering systems from Ruiter Innovations are engineered to deliver high levels of accuracy and consistency when handling bulk materials in automated feed mills, industrial livestock grain mills, brewing, distilling and beverage operations. Metering accuracy is influenced by several factors, including material characteristics (such a density, moisture content, and flow behavior), system design and proper calibration and control tuning.

When properly configured, continuous flow metering maintains exceptional accuracy over extended production runs by continuously measuring and adjusting material flow in real time. This makes continuous measuring and adjusting material flow in real time. This makes continuous flow systems particularly effective for variable-flow materials, difficult-to-handle ingredients, and applications where uninterrupted production is required.

Compared to traditional batch systems, Ruiter Innovations continuous flow metering technology often delivers superior performance in operations with fluctuating feed rates or frequent formulation changes. The result is improved ingredient accuracy, reduced material waste, consistent product quality, and higher overall production efficiency.

Routine calibration, preventative maintenance, and integration with PLC-based automation controls further ensure long-term accuracy and reliability, making continuous flow metering an ideal solution for high-throughput, precision-driven material handling applications.

Our continuous flow systems provide real-time, continuous control of material flow instead of relying on start-and-stop batch cycles. This results in higher accuracy over long production runs, reduced ingredient waste, and improved consistency. Continuous flow systems minimize mechanical shock, reduce downtime, and integrate seamlessly with modern PLC-based automation. Ruiter Innovations continuous flow system is especially effective for operations seeking improved scalability, reliability, and long-term performance.

Automated material handling is the use of mechanical conveying systems and PLC-based automation controls to automatically move, weigh, dose and manage bulk materials throughout a production facility. These systems are commonly used in feed mills, breweries, distilleries, and food and beverage processing operations to handle ingredients accurately and efficiently with minimal manual intervention.

Automated material handling systems integrate equipment such as conveyors, augers, elevators, bins, scales, and continuous flow and batching systems with intelligent PLC and HMI control platforms. This allows operators to precisely control material flow, monitor system performance in real time, and ensure accurate ingredient delivery for each recipe or production run.

By reducing material handling, automated material handling improves operator safety, minimizes the risk of errors, and helps maintain a cleaner, more controlled production environment. Automation also increases weighing and batching accuracy, improves production consistency, and delivers repeatable, reliable results across every batch or ration.

For growing operations, automated material handling provides a scalable foundation that supports higher throughput, improved traceability, and long-term operational efficiency while reducing labor costs and product waste.

Automation significantly reduces feed mill and process errors by replacing manual, operator-dependent tasks with PLC-based control systems and automated workflows. By eliminating manual batching and hand-measure ingredient additions, automations removes common sources of variability and human error that can impact product quality and consistency. 

Automated systems enforce recipe control and formulation accuracy, ensuring each batch or continuous production run follows predefined parameters for ingredient selection, sequencing and dosing. This prevents incorrect formulations, missed ingredients, and over- or under-dosing that can lead to waste, rework or non-compliant product.

Real-time system monitoring provides operators with immediate visibility into material flow, weights, process conditions, and equipment performance. Integrated alarms and notifications alert operators to deviations before they escalate into costly issues, while automated data logging and reporting create a complete digital record of production activity. 

Automation delivers consistent, repeatable production results, improved traceability, reduced downtime, and higher overall operational efficiency – making it a critical tool for error reduction and quality control. 

Automation delivers measurable, real-world advantages across production, quality and profitability. By replacing manual processes with intelligent control systems, operators gain greater precision, visibility, and scalability at every stage of production.

• Reduced labor costs – Automation minimizes manual handling, monitoring, and data entry, allowing facilities to operate with leaner terms. Skilled operators can be reallocated to higher-value tasks such as optimization, quality assurance and maintenance rather than repetitive or error-prone work.
• Improved product consistency and quality – Automated batching, weighing, and process control ensure every recipe is executed exactly as designed. This eliminates variability between runs, protects brand integrity, and delivers consistent product quality – batch after batch.
• Increased production efficiency – Automated systems streamline workflows, reduce downtime, and optimize cycle times. With faster changeovers, precise scheduling, and real-time process control, facilities can produce more output with the same – or fewer – resources.
• Reduced batching and formulation errors – Manual input and hand adjustments are common sources of costly mistakes. Automation enforces recipe control, validates ingredient selection, and ensures accurate dosing, significantly reducing waste, rework, and lost product.
• Improved regulatory compliance and traceability – Automation provides complete, digital production records, including ingredient usage, batch data, and process parameters. This simplifies audits, supports regulatory compliance, and enable full traceability from raw materials to finished product.
• Enhanced operator safety – By reducing the need for manual intervention around heavy equipment, moving machinery, and dust-prone environments, automations helps create a safer workplace. Automated alarms, interlocks, and system safeguards further reduce operational risk.
• Longer equipment life through controlled operation – Consistent start-ups, shutdowns, and operating parameters reduce mechanical stress on equipment. This results in less wear and tear, fewer breakdowns, and lower long-term maintenance costs.

Ruiter Innovations systems are installed at customer facilities across the United States. Reference sites may be available upon request. Equipment may also be viewed at select trade shows or through factory visits by appointment. 641-628-3103

Yes. Our equipment can be purchased directly from our factory warehouse in Pella, IA. We also support sales through authorized dealers and system integrators, depending on location and application. Purchasing directly allows closer collaboration with our engineering team for custom designs, retrofits, and automation integration. Contact us today to upgrade your production operations tomorrow!

To find a dealer or distributor, please contact Ruiter Innovations directly. Depending on your region, project scope, and application requirements, we will connect you with an authorized partner or work directly with you. 641-628-3103

Quotes and pricing can be requested through our website or by phone. Pricing is based on system size, level of customization, automation requirements and installation scope. Providing details such as material type, capacity requirements, and existing equipment, helps us develop an accurate and efficient proposal. Budgetary quotes are available early in the project planning.

Ruiter Innovations accepts standard commercial payment methods including ACH and wire transfers. We have also partnered with APPROVE Financing to provide our customers with customized financing options that fit their unique needs.

Yes, Ruiter Innovations has partnered with APPROVE Financing to provide our customers with customized financing that fits their unique needs. A short application will help determine the best offers available.

Lead times vary based on project complexity and customization. Standard systems may be delivered in several weeks, while fully customized systems typically require longer lead times. Expedited options may be available depending on material availability and production schedules.

Installation timeliness varies by project scope. Many retrofits are completed in planned phases to minimize production downtime. Installation schedules are coordinated closely with customers to meet operational needs.

Ruiter Innovations provides a standard manufacturer warranty. Warranty terms may vary by component or system type. Extended support and service options are available and can be discussed during the quoting process.

Ruiter Innovations equipment is designed for long-term reliability and efficient operation with straightforward, predictable maintenance requirement. Routine maintenance typically includes regular system inspections, cleaning of mechanical and material-handling components and lubrication or moving parts to ensure smooth, consistent performance in automated production and material handling environments. 

To maintain accuracy and product quality, periodic calibration of weighing systems, batching components, and sensors in recommended. Ruiter Innovations automation systems also include best practices for software backups, PLC program management, and HMI configuration backups to protect system setting and production data.

Each system is supported by a structured preventative maintenance schedule developed specifically for the equipment configuration and operating conditions. These schedules help minimize unplanned downtime, extend equipment life, and maintain peak system efficiency. 

Customer enrolled in a Ruiter Innovations service and support place receive additional guidance, troubleshooting support, and maintenance optimization recommendations to ensure their automation systems continue to perform reliably over the long term.

Ruiter Innovations offers comprehensive service and support plans designed to protect your investment and ensure long-term performance of your automated feed mill, brewing and distilling system. Each support plan is customized based on the final project scope, system configuration, and operational goals of the customer, ensuring the right level of coverage for every facility. 

Our automation service and support programs may include remote system troubleshooting, PLC and HMI support, and ongoing software updates to keep control systems secure, efficient, and up to date. Customers also receive access to phone and email technical support from experienced automation engineers who understand both the hardware and process side of feed milling and brewing operations.

Preventative care is a core component of Ruiter Innovations’ support philosophy. Service plans can include preventative maintenance guidance, system health checks, and performance optimization recommendations, that help reduce unplanned downtime, extend equipment life, and maintain consistent production quality. 

For customers requiring hands-on assistance, optional on-site service and support is available. On-site visits may include system inspections, control upgrades, operator training, and troubleshooting to quickly restore production and minimize operational disruptions.

Ruiter Innovations service and support plans are highly recommended for operations seeking maximum uptime, regulatory compliance, and long-term system reliability. By partnering with Ruiter Innovations for ongoing automation support, customers gain peace of mind knowing their systems are backed by experts committed to keeping production running safely, efficiently, and at peak performance.

Yes. The majority of Ruiter Innovations customers choose to remain on an ongoing service and support plan after system commissioning. Continued support provides faster issue resolution, proactive automation system monitoring, and direct access to experienced PLC and HMI support specialists who are familiar with each customer’s specific production operation.

Customers value the ability to quickly resolve issues through remote troubleshooting, minimize unplanned downtime, and maintain consistent production through proactive system support. Ongoing service also helps protect the original investment by ensuring control systems remain updated, optimized and aligned with evolving production needs.

By staying on a Ruiter Innovations automation support plan, customers benefit from long-term system reliability, extended equipment life and improved operational efficiency, and peace of mind knowing their automated system is supported by the same experts who designed and integrated it.

Systems can include alarms and remote access capabilities. Service and support plans provide faster response times and troubleshooting options to minimize downtime.