(Radio Iowa) – Sheffield based SukupManufacturing Company is acquiring Ramco Innovations, a West Des Moines company that specializes in factory automation. Sukup is the world’s largest family-owned manufacturer of grain storage, grain handling and grain drying equipment. Emily Schmitt, Sukup’s Chief Administrative Officer, says Ramco has done work at Sukup facilities in Sheffield, Manly and Hampton that are being automated, with robots.

Hank Norem, Ramco’s CEO, will be chief innovation officer for a new division of the Sheffield company called Sukup Innovations. Ramco’s 65 employees will continue to work at Ramco’s facility in West Des Moines. Sukup has over 800 employees.