Author: Brian Reuwee

TriRinse Invests in Evolving Ag Chemical and Container Sector, Names New COO

Posted on by Brian Reuwee

Manufacturing and Industrial Operations Leader Pavan Sirpa Joins TriRinse

ST. LOUIS (September 3, 2026) – TriRinse, a family-owned agricultural chemical and container management company, recently named Pavan Sirpa its Chief Operations Officer.

Sirpa brings more than 15 years of experience in both strategy and execution across manufacturing, distribution, and industrial businesses. His contributions have shaped operations and decision making from the shop floor to the boardroom.

“The COO position represents an investment in the future of TriRinse,” said Clint Shocklee, President and CEO. “Working with the Executive Leadership Team, we recognized that to take us to the next level we needed someone who could serve as a bridge between strategic vision and operational excellence.”

Sirpa will be a close collaborator with ownership, tasked with sustainably growing and securing TriRinse’s portfolio of businesses divisions (Ag Chemical Formulation and Packaging, Seed Box Management, Container Recycling and Industrial Cleaning), serving our customers, and influencing the long-term legacy of a family-held business.

“Pavan brings both the technical expertise and a sophisticated leadership skill set into this role,” added Shocklee. “He has the knowledge and capability to drive efficiency while serving as an entrepreneurial partner who will find and create value for the company and our customers.”

Most recently, Sirpa served as a senior operations executive at Compana Pet Brands where he led several of the company’s core supply chain and operations functions through a period of rapid growth and integration.

Sirpa started his career with ITC, Ltd., in India, running manufacturing operations, quality, capital projects, and Lean and Six Sigma improvement. He later joined Deloitte, consulting with large companies on operational strategy and supply chain improvement.

He holds an MBA from Harvard and a mechanical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay. He was drawn to TriRinse for our mission, people, and the chance to build the next chapter of a respected family-owned business. He resides in the St. Louis area with his wife and two children.

“He will be a critical part of strengthening the foundation of our business and driving growth,” Shocklee said. “So that TriRinse, our team members and our customers can continue to thrive for the next 45 years.”

About TriRinse

TriRinse, a family-owned company established in 1981, provides agricultural chemical and container solutions to leading seed and crop protection brands by cleaning, maintenance, repair, packaging and recycling containers of all sizes and types. With operations in six locations throughout the Midwest and more than 200 employees, TriRinse serves customers through a portfolio of four core businesses: Seed Box Management, Formulation and Packaging, Container Management, and Industrial Cleaning.

TriRinse strives to be the supplier of choice for safer, high quality, and environmentally responsible services.

Professional Bulk Tank Cleaning for Agricultural Chemical Storage

Posted on by Brian Reuwee

Reduce Risk. Improve Readiness. Protect Your Operations.

In agriculture, bulk tank cleaning is not just a maintenance issue. It is an operational, regulatory, and business continuity issue.

From bulk storage tanks and transport vessels to pumps, valves, hoses, and chemical handling systems, residue buildup, cross-contamination, deferred maintenance, and storage-related degradation can create costly risks that impact product quality, operational efficiency, and customer confidence.

At TriRinse, we help agricultural retailers, chemical distributors, and crop protection manufacturers maintain clean, inspection-ready equipment through professional industrial cleaning services designed specifically for the agricultural chemical supply chain.

Whether you’re preparing for a busy application season, changing product lines, relocating inventory, conducting maintenance, or simply reducing operational risk, TriRinse provides the expertise and infrastructure to keep your operations ready.

Bulk Tank Cleaning Matters

Many organizations wait until a problem occurs before addressing bulk tank and equipment cleaning needs.

The most successful operations take a proactive approach.

Regular cleaning and maintenance of tanks, hoses, pumps, and associated handling equipment can help:

  • Reduce the risk of product contamination
  • Minimize costly downtime
  • Extend asset life and equipment performance
  • Improve product quality and integrity
  • Prepare equipment for inspections and audits
  • Support safer handling and storage practices
  • Improve operational efficiency
  • Ensure readiness for seasonal demand fluctuations

Simply put, clean equipment supports reliable operations.

Industrial Cleaning Services Built for Agriculture

TriRinse specializes in industrial cleaning solutions tailored to agricultural chemical operations. We’re not your brother-in-law’s cousin with a truck and a power-washer. Our mobile crews are trained in confined-space entry, pesticide handling and waste disposal. They always wear appropriate personal protective equipment. And we provide the necessary testing, certifications and documentation to verify the job is complete to customer specifications.

Bulk Tank Cleaning

Bulk tank cleaning at ag retail locations.

We clean:

  • Crop protection chemical storage tanks
  • Lined and unlined tanks
  • Stainless steel and fiberglass tanks
  • ISO tanks
  • Mixing and blending tanks
  • Process tanks
  • Transport tanks and totes
  • Rail Cars
  • Liquid fertilizer tanks

Our cleaning process removes product residue, sediment buildup, contaminants, and accumulated deposits that can negatively impact performance and product quality.

Hose, Valve, and Pump Cleaning

The equipment connecting your system can present just as much risk as the tank itself.

We help restore and maintain:

  • Chemical transfer hoses
  • Pumps
  • Loading systems
  • Meters
  • Valves
  • Manifolds
  • Distribution equipment

Routine cleaning and inspection help identify issues before they become costly failures.

Tank Repair and Maintenance Support

Bulk tank cleaning often reveals opportunities to improve system performance.

TriRinse can help identify concerns related to:

  • Wear and degradation
  • Leaks
  • Corrosion
  • Failing connections
  • Product accumulation
  • Operational inefficiencies

Addressing these issues early helps prevent downtime during critical business periods.

The Business Case for Proactive Bulk Tank Cleaning

Risk Mitigation

Bulk Tanks at an agri-chemical distribution facility.

For manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, contamination events can have far-reaching consequences.

Potential risks include:

  • Product compatibility issues
  • Off-spec products
  • Customer complaints
  • Lost inventory
  • Regulatory concerns
  • Unplanned shutdowns

Professional bulk tank cleaning reduces these risks by ensuring equipment is properly prepared for continued use or product transitions.

Operational Readiness

Every operation has its busy season. The challenge is that maintenance doesn’t wait for convenient timing.

Organizations that proactively clean and maintain equipment are positioned to:

  • Respond quickly to customer demand
  • Handle inventory transitions
  • Support product changeovers
  • Manage peak-season volumes
  • Reduce unexpected service interruptions

Readiness is not built when demand arrives. It is built before demand arrives.

Asset Protection

Storage tanks, pumps, valves, and transfer systems represent a significant capital investment.

Regular cleaning helps:

  • Maintain performance
  • Improve reliability
  • Extend service life
  • Reduce replacement costs
  • Improve overall equipment effectiveness

A preventive maintenance mindset protects both productivity and capital investments.

Now is Always the Right Time

Regardless of the season, there is always a compelling operational reason to evaluate cleaning and maintenance needs.

During Peak Season

  • Operations are running at maximum capacity. Clean, well-maintained equipment helps prevent downtime and supports productivity.

After Peak Season

  • Equipment can be cleaned, inspected, repaired, and prepared before issues worsen during storage.

During Product Changeovers

  • Proper cleaning helps reduce contamination risks when introducing new products or formulations.

Before Regulatory or Internal Audits

  • Clean, documented systems demonstrate operational discipline and readiness.

During Facility Upgrades or Expansion

  • Bulk tank cleaning provides an ideal opportunity to inspect infrastructure and ensure equipment is prepared for future growth.

The best time to identify a problem is before it impacts operations.

Why TriRinse

For decades, TriRinse has helped agricultural businesses manage complex chemical handling, container processing, cleaning, and operational support needs.

Our customers trust us because we understand:

  • Agricultural chemical products
  • Operational realities of agricultural retail and chemical distribution
  • Manufacturer expectations
  • Distribution challenges
  • Safety and compliance requirements
  • The importance of minimizing business disruption

We bring the expertise, processes, and commitment necessary to help customers maintain safe, efficient, and reliable operations.

What Sets TriRinse Apart

✅ Agriculture-focused expertise

✅ Experienced industrial cleaning professionals

✅ Strong safety culture

✅ Efficient project execution

✅ Responsive service

✅ Proven understanding of chemical handling systems

✅ Midwest footprint with nationwide support capabilities

Don’t Wait for a Problem to Find a Solution

Bulk tank cleaning and maintenance should not be viewed as a reaction to a problem.

It should be part of a strategy for protecting assets, reducing risk, and maintaining operational readiness.

Whether you’re managing a retail location, distribution terminal, manufacturing facility, or storage operation, TriRinse can help ensure your tanks, hoses, pumps, and handling systems are ready for whatever comes next.

Talk with TriRinse About Your Industrial Cleaning Needs

Contact our team to discuss:

  • Bulk tank cleaning
  • Tank inspection support
  • System cleaning
  • Hose and valve cleaning
  • Pump maintenance support
  • Preventive maintenance planning

Reduce risk. Protect your assets. Stay ready.

Distressed Inventory Doesn’t Have to be Dead Inventory

Posted on by Brian Reuwee

TriRinse helps customers recover value from distressed inventory with product rework, container cleaning and smarter container asset utilization.

The Problem

Distressed inventory takes up space, ties up valuable containers and creates operational, safety and compliance headaches. It may be discontinued product, separated material, off-spec inventory, product in the wrong package or material that needs to be cleaned out before a container can be reused.

How TriRinse Helps Resolve Distressed Inventory Issues

No doubt you have “distressed inventory” in your facilities today – assets in your warehouses, distribution sites and retail locations you can’t sell because the product’s discontinued, withdrawn from market or past its useful life. Or the solids separated. Or it’s in a tote and needs to be in a jug. Or you need the container for another product.

TriRinse helps you find the best path forward. When product can be recovered, we can support re-homogenization, rework and repackaging. When the container is the real value, we can clean, rinse and return it to useful service. When disposal is required, we help manage that process with the right documentation necessary to conform to applicable regulatory standards.

Why It Matters

Customers consider TriRinse the “easy button” for bulk tank cleaning, container recycling and formulation and packaging. But, as agricultural chemical solutions experts, we do so much more. Our services help you maximize the value of any viable product inside a container, as well as the container asset itself, all while mitigating risk.

  • Recover usable value from viable product.
  • Free up floor space and reduce clutter.
  • Put totes, drums, tanks and other containers back to work.
  • Reduce risk around aging or hard-to-move inventory.
  • Get clear documentation after the job is complete.

Get a Quote

When you have distressed inventory sitting in your facility, contact us to get a quote and see what value TriRinse can help you recover.

Waste Disposal Options for Agricultural Chemicals

Posted on by Brian Reuwee

Safe, Compliant Waste Disposal

Managing leftover or discontinued crop protection products isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a safety and regulatory risk. Whether you’re dealing with agri-chemical waste disposal or other universal waste removal, TriRinse provides straightforward, fully compliant solutions.

We help ag retailers, distributors and wholesalers safely handle universal waste, hazardous and non-hazardous agricultural chemicals, and containers of all sizes—without the guesswork. Our consultative approach aims to help facility managers, EHS directors and regional leaders address the risks and unknowns associated with unused chemical inventory, discontinued products and mystery mixes lurking in jugs, totes, bulk container and tanks at your sites.

A Smarter Approach to Ag Chemical Disposal

Outdated inventory, partial containers, and unknown materials can quickly become a liability. TriRinse offers a turnkey approach to waste disposal and agricultural chemical management so you can stay focused on your business.

Our services include:

  • On-site inventory and chemical identification
  • Safe removal and transportation
  • Pesticide and waste-water disposal
  • Container cleaning and recycling
  • Waste stream analysis
  • Complete compliance documentation
  • Guidance and consulting on environmental reporting

We handle everything—from initial assessment to final paperwork—so you don’t have to.

Site Audits and Chemical Inventory Cleanup

Every project starts with a detailed inventory review.

We identify and assess:

  • Discontinued or obsolete crop protection products
  • Unknown or improperly labeled chemicals
  • Universal waste, non-hazardous and regulated materials
  • Storage risks and compliance gaps

With deep regulatory and compliance expertise, TriRinse ensures your materials are handled in accordance with applicable waste disposal regulations, managing your risk and helping you stay prepared for inspections and audits.

Herbicide, Insecticide, and Fungicide Disposal—Done Right

Proper disposal of pesticides and herbicides requires specialized handling, documentation, and transport.

TriRinse ensures:

  • Safe handling of hazardous and non-hazardous ag chemicals
  • Compliance with EPA and state guidelines
  • Proper classification as universal, non-hazardous or hazardous waste
  • Full traceability from pickup through disposal

Whether it’s a small quantity or a large-scale cleanout, we make ag chemical disposal safe, simple, and compliant.

Complete Container Management and Recycling

TriRinse is a leader in agricultural container recycling and stewardship.

We manage:

  • Drums, totes, and mini-bulks
  • Small package containers
  • Rinseable and non-rinseable containers

Our lifecycle approach includes:

  • Collection and logistics
  • Cleaning and processing
  • Recycling and material recovery
  • Warehousing and tracking
  • Regulatory documentation and reporting

Universal Waste Disposal and Compliance Support

Understanding whether materials qualify as universal, non-hazardous or hazardous waste can be complex. We help you navigate those distinctions with confidence.

TriRinse provides:

  • Waste classification and compliance guidance
  • Manifesting and required documentation
  • Audit-ready reporting
  • Advance support for regulatory inspections
  • Post-inspection corrective action implementation

You’ll have the records and transparency you need to meet any compliance requirement.

Your Partner in Agricultural Stewardship

At TriRinse, we’re committed to responsible farm chemical waste management across the entire product lifecycle.

We partner with ag retailers to:

  • Reduce environmental impact
  • Improve workplace safety
  • Extend container usability
  • Maintain compliance across the supply chain

Our goal is simple: help you manage chemical waste responsibly while protecting your business.

Why Ag Retailers, Distributors and Wholesalers Choose TriRinse

  • Proven expertise in ag chemical disposal and recycling
  • Turnkey waste disposal solutions
  • Nationwide service capabilities
  • Deep knowledge of pesticide and herbicide regulations
  • Trusted partner for compliance, safety, and stewardship

Schedule Your Waste Disposal Assessment

If you have pesticides, other agricultural chemicals or universal waste that need disposal, TriRinse is ready to help.

Contact us today to schedule your site inspection and inventory review.

Price Increase Looms for New Seed Boxes

Posted on by Brian Reuwee

New Buckhorn CenterFlow Seed Box. A major price increase is coming for manufacturers of HDPE products.

Cost pressures building to make new seed boxes more expensive

With planting season in full swing, it may feel premature to consider any seed box purchases. But waiting for box returns to make that assessment could prove costly. A major price increase is likely in the works.

Tariffs, global trade disputes, armed conflicts in the Middle East, domestic economic uncertainty and other world events have pushed prices up across the board. Whether through higher mortgage interest rates, gas pump sticker shock or eating in rather than dining out, consumers feel the squeeze. Unfortunately, even with a potentially improving situation in the Middle East, supply chain disruptions will persist, and the price increases we’re all experiencing will continue, likely through the end of the year and beyond.

A price increase is a consumer problem not a business problem, right?

While many seed companies like you absorbed global price impacts rather than passing them onto customers, your suppliers, including seed box manufacturers, are getting pinched. They’ve eaten input cost increases, fuel surcharges and other fees, which is becoming unsustainable.

What’s the Strait of Hormuz have to do with a seed box price increase?

Oil seems to be essential to most industries. Agriculture included. We live in a globally connected society. HDPE resin, the plastic material seed boxes are made from, is a petroleum-based product. Typically, new plastic is cheaper than recycled plastic. But with global oil prices going up, the cost of HDPE resin is too. Therefore, your seed box supplier’s costs are going up.

Our sources suggest new seed box prices are increasing about 30% in the next 30 days due to higher resin costs. This looks highly likely based on prices for HDPE re-grind, the feedstock for recycled plastic resin, which has moved up 10-15% since the bombing of Iran. 

Mitigating Seed Box Costs

With a new seed box price increase, alternatives to maintain or expand your seed box fleet should start to look pretty attractive. A refurbished used box, Certified Pre-Owned Seed Box, or matching a new top ring to your own existing orphan base presents an even greater value over a new seed box in period of rising crude oil prices. 

Don’t wait until the end of year to make your box purchase. Now is the time to make a move on the secondary market to lock in pricing.

Book used and CPO box orders now for delivery this summer. Our used boxes are washed, inspected and fully repaired to exacting standards by certified DVT welders. Our Certified Pre-Owned seed boxes pair new OEM top rings and lids with refurbished bases. The result is a like-new box at a used-box price.

Used boxes start at $299 with a lid. CPO boxes start at $379 including a lid. Volume discounts available.