Grain handling, drying and storage equipment supplier Sukup Manufacturing Co. designed and manufactured what it calls the “world’s largest” free span grain bin, the company announced Wednesday. The container has a diameter of 165 ft, besting the previous record-holding bin’s diameter of 156 ft. Sukup produced both record-breaking bins.

The new grain bin is located at the Golden Grain Energy (GGE) ethanol production plant currently under construction in Mason City, IA. Sukup representatives and other organizations attended a groundbreaking event for the new ethanol plant on September 14.

“This system will increase GGE’s grain storage from approximately 1.275 million bushels to almost 3.5 million bushels. We currently have about 10 days of storage, and the addition of this bin will increase our storage capacity to approximately 30 days of storage,” Golden Grain CEO Chad Kuhlers said in a release. “In addition, GGE will increase its receiving capacity from 40,000 bu/hr to 65,000 bu/hr.”

Work on the new plant is slated to reach completion in May or June 2021. When the facility becomes operational, the bin will be capable of storing 2.2 million bushels and include 30 rings with a peak height of 144 ft and 7 in.

“We are thrilled to have achieved the milestone of designing and manufacturing the largest freestanding grain bin in the world,” said Steve Sukup, president and CEO of Sukup Manufacturing, in a statement.