On April 26, 2024, an F3 tornado struck Lincoln, Nebraska, completely demolishing BinMaster’s 115,000-square-foot facility in under 20 seconds. Despite the extensive damage, the company demonstrated extraordinary resilience, resuming assembly of level sensors and wireless devices at a new plant location within just three weeks. By mid-July, BinMaster had moved into its new offices on Transformation Drive at the Innovation Campus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).
Swift Recovery and New Facilities
The new manufacturing plant, located just a few miles from the original site, spans 40,000 square feet and includes both warehouse and production facilities. BinMaster quickly established new production lines and replenished an inventory of nearly 30,000 parts. The new offices, part of the 249-acre public/private research campus, place the company in a prime location alongside other innovative businesses and facilities.
Scott McLain, president of Garner Industries and BinMaster, praised the team’s unity and commitment in the recovery process, attributing its rapid progress to the support of vendor partners and a robust IT infrastructure that safeguarded its operational history.
New Leadership and Product Launches
Amid the recovery, BinMaster welcomed Collin Humphrey as the new engineering manager. With a strong background in mechanical engineering and engineering management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Humphrey will lead the engineering team in continuing to innovate and enhance BinMaster’s product offerings.
In a testament to its resilience, BinMaster launched a new line of rotary level indicators on schedule. The new models include:
- BMRX-300: Features a large LED status indicator light.
- BMRX-200: Equipped with a PCB and DPDT switch.
- BMRX-100: An electromechanical model.
These new rotaries boast a distinctive red aluminum enclosure that rotates 360° to protect against moisture ingress and come with a variety of process connections and approvals for hazardous locations (CSA and ATEX).
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, BinMaster has not only recovered but is thriving, with a renewed focus on solving customers' inventory problems. As Scott Hudson, executive vice president of BinMaster, stated, "BinMaster is here to stay, and we’re here right now to solve customers’ inventory problems."
For more information on BinMaster’s latest products and innovations, visit BinMaster.com.
