Frants Frantsen celebrates his 50th anniversary at SOBY; the family business that first produced wooden silos and has since developed into a leading player in the field of transport and aeration of crops. He sees the anniversary as a milestone that not only celebrates the past, but also paints an exciting picture of the future.

It should be easy to do business with SØBY. Therefore, a dealer portal with webshop is being launched, where dealers have access to drawings, documentation, prices, specifications and history with a few clicks - and can order immediately.

SOBY celebrates its 60th anniversary. Since 1961, the company has grown from a handful of employees to 50 employees.
The production facility has been expanded from a single to seven production halls, which now total 12,000 m2 under one roof.

2400 sqm are added to the factory to accommodate new products and more stock. Our production facility thus totals 11,000 square meters and added to this comes our testing facility in Hojslev.

SOBY exhibits for the first time at the Agritechnica fair in Hanover, Germany. The 80 sqm stand was very well visited by both existing and new customers from home and abroad. Thus, a new tradition of exhibiting at Agritechnica in the future was created.

SOBY celebrates 40 years anniversary of exhibiting at Agromek. Below you see managing director Frants Frantsen, who has participated at all 40 exhibitions together with SOBY.

The launch of the SOBY Grain Pump Loop with the capacity of 100 t/h, which gains two stars at Agromek 2016. Above you can see the first test machine which is located at Stenalt Agriculture and forestry in Ørsted, Denmark.

The new management start the work with a comprehensive strategy process, which determines the company’s direction and priorities towards 2020. The process is carried through with Vinderstrategi as facilitator, which involves customers, employees and owners. The preparation of the strategy lasts for three months, whereas the implementation itself is an ongoing process until 2020.

On September 30th at the age of 67 Birthe and Svend Clausen step out of the owners' circle and wish to retire after many years of active work in the company. Their shares are bought by the two children of Frants Frantsen, Mette and Morten Frantsen, who today own and run the company together with their father Frants Frantsen. As such they are the 3rd generation of the family business.

The introduction of conveyors and bucket elevators with a capacity of 150 t/h. Previously these were only available in the capacity of up to 120 t/h.

Frants Frantsen’s daughter, Mette Frantsen, is employed at the company at the age of 29. Mette is trained in international trade and marketing. She is responsible for logistics and administrative tasks.

A new big production hall of 2200 square meters as well as a new office building are built. In total, the company now has more than 8500 square meters under roof.

Frants Frantsen’s son, Morten Frantsen, joins the company at the age of 26. Morten is a qualified electrician. He works daily in the production, where he among others helps to streamline the workflows.

SOBY bucket elevator SK25-50 is launched. The demand for vertical conveying is increasing and as such this new product group is taken into the range. Since then bucket elevators for larger and smaller capacities have been added.

Søby Maskinaktieselskab receives Nordea’s business award. Above you can see the management at the award ceremony.

Again there is a shortage of space, and another production hall is built to the existing buildings on Viborgvej 306, Højslev.

The activity in the company increases as well as the number of employees, which in 1998 is 23 persons. A new canteen and bathroom as well a warehouse of almost 1400 square meters is built.

The launch of grain canons and grain augers. Initially in size SS102, and later more models have been added.

SØBY Maskinaktieselskab goes from selling directly to the end user to selling through dealers – both nationally as well as internationally.

Birthe Clausen’s husband, Svend Clausen, has been employed in the company since 1994, and in 1995 the joins as a co-owner of the company at the age of 46. Svend is a qualified mechanical engineer and now in charge of the sales function of SØBY Maskinaktieselskab. Svend has a wide experience from the industry, and since his youth he has assisted in the company during his spare time.

Generation change from 1st to 2nd generation. The company is transferred from Jens Frantsen to his children, Birthe og Frants. Frants takes over the position as company director. Shortly after the generation change Jens Frantsen passed away.

The first CNC-controlled machine is procured. This is the start of the high technology development, which has proven to be successful at SØBY Maskinaktieselskab.

Jens Frantsen’s daughter, Birthe Clausen, joins the company as a book keeper at the age of 44. Birthe has until then for several years assisted with the book keeping besides her job as a bank assistant.

The export is increasingly important through the 80’es, among others 42 silos are sold to Malaysia. At the same time the export to Sweden, Ireland, Luxemburg and Austria begins. Above you see a full truck with 42 silos on their way to Luxemburg.

The characteristic blue-painted HSLG low pressure blowers are launched in various sizes.

SØBY Silo factory changes its name to SØBY Maskinaktieselskab and at the same time the form of the company changes into limited liability company.

In the beginning of the 80’es the production is changed to iron products. The production of blowers, chain elevators and conveyors. The silos are now being produced in steel instead of wood.

SØBY Silo factory exhibits at the Skive animal show. In order to extend the knowledge about SØBY Silo factory, they participated in a lot of animal shows during the 70’es throughout Denmark.

Jens Frantsen´s son, Frants Frantsen, joins the company at the age of 22. Frants is a trained mechanic and he has helped his father for several years in the company.

A new factory is built for concrete production at Viborgvej 306, Højslev. This is still where our premises is located today. Production of wooden silos remains at the property in Nr. Søby.

Over two decades, the characteristic yellow-painted portion dryers and wooden storage silos have been produced. Parallel to this production, concrete products such as pipes, blocks and tiles begin to be produced.

SØBY silo factory is situated at the property of Jens Frantsens in Nr. Søby. The silo factory is named after this very city.

SOBY Silo factory is established by carpenter Jens Frantsen, 41 years of age and trained carpenter. Jens has previously run his own furniture factory and production of toys.