Finding the best grain bin sweep for your operation

From removable carry-in sweeps to zero-entry commercial systems, the right grain bin sweep
depends on your bins, unloading requirements and how you prefer to manage bin cleanout.

When it comes to sweeps and bin unloading systems, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

A farmer with several smaller bins may value a sweep that can be moved from one bin to another. Another operation may prefer a complete power sweep system that stays in place and remains ready for bin cleanout. For larger bins with deeper grain and higher-capacity unload systems, a heavier-duty sweep designed for more demanding cleanout may be the better fit.

That is why choosing the right sweep involves more than simply looking at bin diameter. Frequency of use, desired unload capacity, floor height, grain depth, and how the sweep will be operated should all be considered.

The following guide breaks down Sudenga’s available grain bin sweeps and unload systems by application, helping you identify which option may best fit your bin sizes, unloading needs, and cleanout preferences.

If you have several smaller bins and want one sweep to use across them

Best fit Carry-In Bin Sweep with a standard Underbin System

A traditional carry-in sweep can be a practical option for farms with multiple smaller bins, allowing one sweep to be used for cleanout across several bins.

Sudenga’s Carry-In Bin Sweeps use a modular design that allows a basic sweep section to be combined with different extensions. This makes it possible to configure the same sweep for several bin diameters. The sweeps are available for 6-, 8-, and 10-inch underbin systems and can be used in bins up to 49 feet 6 inches in diameter.

The sweep is carried into the bin for final cleanout and removed before the bin is filled again.

A carry-in sweep is especially well suited for an operation that:

• Has several smaller bins, including bins of different diameters.
• Unloads each bin only periodically.
• Wants the flexibility to move one sweep between bins.
• Prefers a removable sweep rather than one permanently installed in each bin.

These sweeps can be paired with Sudenga’s standard Underbin Systems, which are available for concrete or dryer-floor bins. Together, they provide a straightforward unloading setup for many smaller and midsized farm bins.

If you need carry-in flexibility for larger bins

Best fit Series 1 Commercial Carry-In Sweep with a Commercial Underbin System

Some operations still want the flexibility of a removable sweep but need something built for larger bins or higher unloading capacities.

Sudenga’s Series 1 Commercial Carry-In Sweeps extend the carry-in concept into more demanding applications. Available for bins up to 80 feet in diameter, the Series 1 line is offered in three sweep diameters, with approximate capacities up to 5,900 bushels per hour, depending on sweep size, RPM, and material characteristics.

This option may fit a large farm or commercial facility that:

• Wants the flexibility to use one sweep in multiple bins.
• Has bins beyond the size range of a standard carry-in sweep.
• Needs greater sweep capacity.
• Prefers a removable sweep rather than one that remains permanently installed.

The Series 1 can be paired with Sudenga’s Commercial Underbin Systems, which are available in 8-, 10-, and 12-inch round-tube configurations for bins up to 80 feet in diameter.

If you want a sweep that stays installed and is ready when you unload

Best fit Round Tube Power Sweep

For an operation that unloads bins regularly, carrying a sweep into the bin for each cleanout may not be the best approach. A permanently installed power sweep eliminates that step by combining the sweep and underbin auger into one unloading system.

Sudenga’s Round Tube Power Sweep is available in 8- and 10-inch configurations. The 8-inch system is available for bins up to 61 feet 10 inches in diameter, while the 10-inch system extends to bins up to 80 feet 5 inches in diameter. Depending on the system and unloading-head configuration, capacities reach up to 5,500 bushels per hour.

Unlike a carry-in sweep, the power sweep remains inside the bin while it is filled. The sweep arm is driven through gearboxes connected to the underbin system, with the drive located outside the bin.

A Round Tube Power Sweep may be the right choice when an operation:

• Wants a complete, permanently installed unload system.
• Unloads its bins frequently.
• Does not want to move a sweep between bins.
• Needs a dependable system for a typical farm-bin application.
• Wants installation options for a dryer floor or a concrete floor with a trench.

If higher unload capacity is a priority

Best fit U-Trough Power Sweep

For operations that want a permanently installed power sweep but need more unloading capacity than a Round Tube Power Sweep can provide, the U-Trough Power Sweep may be the better fit.

Sudenga’s U-Trough Power Sweeps are available in 10- and 12-inch configurations for bins from 18 to 80 feet in diameter. The 10-inch system provides capacities up to 6,000 bushels per hour, while the 12-inch system reaches up to 10,000 bushels per hour. Both configurations can be installed in 13-inch dryer-floor support applications. These capacities apply to the underbin auger and are reduced while the sweep is engaged.

The U-Trough system also includes a heavy-duty double-gearbox sweep drive, internal sweep-engagement controls, and multiple intermediate sumps designed to support reliable sweep startup and bin unloading.

A U-Trough Power Sweep is especially well suited for an operation that:

• Wants a complete, permanently installed power sweep and underbin system.
• Needs more unload capacity than a Round Tube Power Sweep can provide.
• Needs compatibility with a 13-inch dryer-floor support application.
• Prioritizes high capacity, heavy-duty sweep-drive components, and reliable sweep startup.

If you want zero-entry unloading across a wide range of bin sizes

Best fit Double Barrel Power Sweep

The Double Barrel Power Sweep was developed for operations that want the simplicity of a power sweep combined with high-capacity performance, a low-profile installation, and zero-entry operation.

Instead of using a traditional underbin auger, the system uses a chain-and-paddle conveyor beneath the bin. This proven drag-conveyor design helps reduce wear compared with traditional screw conveyors while providing consistent grain flow.

The Double Barrel Power Sweep delivers capacities up to 6,500 bushels per hour and is designed for bins from 15 to 93 feet in diameter, with grain depths up to 100 feet. It can fit beneath floors as low as 13 inches and is available for both new construction and retrofit installations.

When the bin is full, the Double Barrel Power Sweep automatically lowers itself to the floor, distributing the load evenly. Before operation begins, the sweep raises itself off the floor with no manual adjustment required. During sweep operation, the mechanical auto-advance push tractor monitors the sweep’s fill level and controls its advancement, starting and stopping movement as needed. Together, these features eliminate the need for personnel to enter the bin to position the sweep or monitor its progress during normal operation.

The Double Barrel Power Sweep is especially well suited for an operation that:

• Wants zero-entry unloading with external drives and controls.
• Requires capacities up to 6,500 bushels per hour.
• Prefers a low-profile, chain-and-paddle unload system for a new or existing bin.
• Operates a farm or commercial grain-storage facility that needs a complete unload solution.

The Double Barrel is available in two underbin layouts. The Center-Run configuration extends to the center of the bin, while the Through-Bin configuration extends across the full bin and allows intermediate sumps along the length of the underbin system. Both configurations are designed to maintain consistent grain flow from the sweep to the center sump throughout the unloading cycle.

If your larger bins create more demanding cleanout conditions

Best fit D-Series Commercial Sweep

Large bins can create cleanout conditions that go beyond what a standard sweep was designed to handle. Deeper grain pressure, more grain remaining on the floor, and higher-capacity unload systems can all place additional demands on the sweep.

In these applications, the right sweep is determined more by the bin and the job than by whether the operation is a farm or commercial facility.

Sudenga’s D-Series Commercial Sweeps are built for large farms, grain elevators, and high-capacity storage operations where capacity, control, and reduced bin entry matter.

Those conditions are where the D-Series’ heavier-duty design comes into play. Its construction is intended to handle more demanding cleanout conditions while maintaining strong floor-cleaning performance.

D-Series sweeps lead with the flighting, allowing them to take a full bite into tough or stubborn grain. Sweep bristles maintain close contact with the floor, helping clean the bin floor in one pass while reducing the amount of manual sweeping required after unloading.

The D-Series is available in two models to match different bin sizes and unload requirements.

• The D100 offers capacities up to 6,000 bushels per hour in dry corn and is designed for bins from 36 to 105 feet in diameter, with bin heights up to 100 feet.
• The D150 expands that range with 6,000- or 10,000-bushel-per-hour configurations in dry corn for bins from 36 to 139 feet in diameter and bin heights up to 150 feet.

Both models are available with electric or hydraulic drives and can be equipped with either a motorized push tractor or a floor-mounted trac drive.

“A lot of customers hear ‘commercial sweep’ and think it only applies to grain elevators or commercial facilities, but with the D-Series, it really comes down to the bin and the job. If the operation has larger bins, deeper grain, and higher-capacity unload needs, a D-Series sweep may be the right fit.”

— Cory Vaselaar, Sudenga engineer

For operations prioritizing outside-the-bin control and reduced bin entry, the D-Series can be equipped with additional control features. When properly equipped with Sudenga’s Above-Floor Collector Ring, the sweep has a permanent source of power for the sweep and tractor drives. The sweep remains installed in the bin, eliminating the need to enter the bin to run a power cord as part of normal sweep operation. Sudenga’s Auto Advance panel monitors sweep motor amperage and controls sweep movement as grain is carried away.

A D-Series Commercial Sweep is especially well suited for an operation that:

• Has larger or taller bins with deeper grain.
• Requires capacities up to 6,000 or 10,000 bushels per hour in dry corn.
• Needs one-pass floor-cleaning performance and help moving tough or less-than-ideal grain.
• Prioritizes outside-the-bin control and reduced bin entry during normal sweep operation.

Start with your bins and the job they need to do

The best grain bin sweep is the one that matches how your operation stores, unloads, and cleans out grain. Bin diameter is an important starting point, but grain depth, unload capacity, floor configuration, frequency of use, and operational preferences should all factor into the decision.

Whether your operation needs the flexibility of a removable sweep, the convenience of a permanently installed power sweep, zero-entry operation, or a heavier-duty commercial cleanout system, the right solution starts with the demands of the bin and the job.

Connect with your local Sudenga dealer or a Sudenga grain-handling expert to evaluate your bin setup and determine which sweep and unload system best fits your operation.