MURRAY EQUIPMENT

By Murray Equipment|July 1, 2025

HERITAGE FS INC. >BOURBONNAIS, IL

WHAT THEY NEEDED
As Heritage FS Inc.’s St. George, IL, location grew, so did the lines outside their liquid fertilizer plant. Accompanied by grower growth, it became clear that a single load-out bay was no longer sufficient. “We’ve always used Murray Equipment and ICS, so speed wasn’t the challenge. The issue was spotting, moving, and getting ready to load with a single bay,” explained JD Marquis, Heritage FS Agronomy Services Specialist. “We de­cided we needed to double our capacity.”

In expanding their facility, Heritage FS also took the opportunity to tackle other persistent challenges related to weather, temperature, and after-hours service. By constructing two indoor load-out bays, adding indoor water tanks, and implementing a 24/7 access bay, Heritage FS was able to not only double its capacity, but also expand the time windows the added capacity was available, while easing the strain on employees.

WHAT WE DESIGNED
Together, Heritage FS and Murray Equipment, Inc. designed and built a liquid retail facility with two attended bays, which allow for hand-adds, one unattended bay, a repackaging center, and a ware­house/storage facility. The bays connect to a series of indoor, out­door, and mini-bulk tanks as well as a new remote 1 million gallon UAN tank. For added seasonal flexibility, the facility also features both indoor and outdoor water tanks intelligently connected to the well and each other.

The multi-purpose facility is fully automated using MEI’s ICS 360 system and ICS ControlPro, which is able to interface seamlessly with Heritage FS’s agronomy and ERP systems. ICS ControlPro also supports the new ICS 24-7-8 unattended load-out bay, allowing for expanded access and increased efficiency around the clock.

BENEFITS ACHIEVED
The building was completed just in time for planting season and already Heritage FS is reaping the benefits. “Immediately with the two bays, I’ve noticed my load times in the morning are cut in half, easily,” enthused Marquis. “What used to take me an hour or hour and a half to load trucks before the guys got here is now down to 30 to 35 minutes. The efficiency of just getting trucks in and out is lifesaving!” Thanks to some new safety equipment supplied by Murray Equipment, employees are happier as well.

“The new facility is a lot less physically demanding,” Marquis observed. “Between being indoors and the new over the top platforms, which means we aren’t climbing up and down trucks, the facility is a lot safer for employees.”

 

CONTACT US:
MURRAY EQUIPMENT
2515 Charleston Place, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
800 348-4753 | 260 484-0382
Todd Scobie, Director of Sales and Marketing
[email protected]
MurrayEquipment.com

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Murray Equipment, Inc. specializes in the manufacture and distribution of liquid handling equipment. Our product line includes pumps, meters, valves, and more. See all author stories here.

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