Super-B SQ12 Continuous-Flow Grain Dryer

The Super-B SQ12 is the entry point into serious commercial-grade continuous-flow drying for Canadian prairie farms. With 245 bushels of holding capacity, a 12-foot 3-inch grain column, and a 10 HP fan, the SQ12 delivers the full Super-B technology platform — variable-width grain column, EVENFLO drag-chain unloading, centrifugal blower, optional INTUI-DRY controls — in the smallest practical size for a single-combine operation that has outgrown natural-air drying.

The SQ12 is the model most often selected by farms transitioning from natural-air bin drying to dedicated continuous-flow drying for the first time. It’s also the standard choice for small-to-medium prairie operations (quarter-section to full-section) running a single combine on tough harvest seasons where natural air alone can no longer keep up with damp wheat or canola.

For prairie operators handling 500–1,500 acres of mixed crops with a single combine, the SQ12 frequently delivers the right balance of capacity, footprint, and capital cost — meaningfully more capable than the SQ8 but at a fraction of the SQ16’s installed cost.

SQ12 Configuration Choice — D, E, or M

The SQ12 is offered in three standard configurations defined by the letter suffix after the model number. Note: the SQ12 is NOT available in the A (Energy Miser) configuration — the heat-recovery hot air return duct option begins at the SQ16 size class. If fuel-recovery is a priority, the SQ16A is the smallest model that supports it.

SQ12D — Full Heat (Single Zone)

Continuous-flow full-heat operation with one temperature throughout the column. Grain leaves the dryer hot and is cooled in-bin afterward. The simplest and lowest-cost SQ12 configuration.

Best for: Single-crop operations focused primarily on wheat or feed-grade grain where in-bin cooling capacity is well-established. Common on smaller mixed grain farms with simple drying requirements.

SQ12E — Continuous Flow with Louvers

Adds adjustable cooling louvers enabling three drying modes: full heat, pressure heat / pressure cool, and pressure heat / vacuum cool. The most-installed SQ12 configuration on Canadian prairie farms.

Best for: Mixed-crop prairie operations where the SQ12 sees use across wheat, canola, oats, and pulses. The standard recommendation for typical Canadian small-to-medium grain operations.

SQ12M — Two-Temperature-Zone

Uses two distinct temperature zones for full-heat or pressure-heat / pressure-cool drying. Designed for sensitive crops where temperature staging protects grain quality.

Best for: Smaller seed-grade producers, niche pulse processors, and specialty crop operations where temperature control matters at a smaller scale.

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Series	SUPER-B Energy Miser SQ Series
Configuration	Single-module continuous flow
Total Fan HP	10 HP
Auger Load HP	3 HP
Chain Unload HP	2 HP
Column Length	12′ 3″
Overall Length	23′ 1″
Overall Height	14′ 2″
Total Holding Capacity	245 BU
Configurations Available	D (Full Heat), E (Louvers), M (Two-Zone)
Fuel	LP or Natural Gas
Burner	Brock full flame-wall with stainless steel baffles
Blower	Double-width, double-inlet centrifugal (standard)
Grain Column	Variable-width (narrower top, wider bottom)
Outer Skins	18-gauge stainless steel perforated
Unloading	EVENFLO drag-chain conveyor
Standard Controls	QUANTUM or SPECTRUM
Optional Controls	INTUI-DRY 15.6″ touchscreen with remote access
Plenum Door	42″ × 22″ vertical access with safety shutdown switch

Drying Capacity by Crop and Mode

All capacities below are wet bushels per hour. Standard reference (corn 25.5%→15.5%) is published by Brock for cross-model comparison. Prairie crop capacities vary with grain temperature, ambient temperature, fines content, and crop maturity.

Corn Capacity (Manufacturer Standard Reference)

Mode	Moisture Removal	Capacity (BPH)
Full Heat – Single Zone (Model D)	25.5% to 15.5% (10 points)	351
Full Heat – Single Zone (Model D)	20.5% to 15.5% (5 points)	579
Modified Full Heat – Single Zone (Models M, E)	25.5% to 15.5%	337
Modified Full Heat – Single Zone (Models M, E)	20.5% to 15.5%	557
Pressure Heat – Two-Zone (Model M)	25.5% to 15.5%	318
Pressure Heat – Two-Zone (Model M)	20.5% to 15.5%	518

Approximate Prairie Crop Capacity (Practical Estimates)

Crop	Moisture Removal	Approximate Capacity (BPH)
Hard Red Spring Wheat	16% → 14.5% (1.5 points)	1,150–1,500
Wheat	18% → 14.5% (3.5 points)	700–900
Canola (crush grade, 82°C max)	12% → 8% (4 points)	550–750
Canola (seed grade, 45°C max)	12% → 8% (4 points)	270–400
Oats	16% → 14% (2 points)	850–1,150
Yellow Peas	18% → 16% (2 points)	600–850

These prairie-crop estimates are derived from the published corn ratings and typical efficiency factors for each crop. Always confirm capacity for your specific crop, moisture differential, and ambient conditions with your dealer before sizing.

Fan & Heater Configuration

The SQ12 runs a single 10 HP centrifugal blower — the same fan rating as the smaller SQ8. The double-width, double-inlet centrifugal blower design provides:

• Significantly lower noise than axial fans found on most competitors and earlier Super-B models
• Adequate static pressure for the SQ12’s 12′ 3″ grain column
• Better energy efficiency than equivalent axial designs at this capacity

The 10 HP rating is well-matched to the SQ12’s column length and drying capacity. While the same 10 HP fan is shared with the smaller SQ8, the SQ12 puts that airflow through a 50% longer column, delivering meaningfully higher drying capacity.

The trade-off, common to all centrifugal-blower SQ Series units, is that the fan can ice up in extreme cold (typically below approximately –17°C) and may require a thaw-out cycle. For most prairie harvests this is rarely an issue. Late-October drying in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan occasionally requires interrupting drying briefly to thaw the fan.

The Brock full flame-wall burner with stainless steel baffles distributes heat evenly across the SQ12’s grain column. The plenum geometry maintains uniform plenum temperatures across the full column length, which directly affects grain quality consistency.

The SQ12 is configured for either liquid propane (LP) or natural gas (NG) at order. For SQ12-class operations drying 10,000–25,000 bushels per season, the fuel cost difference between propane and natural gas is meaningful but smaller in absolute dollar terms than larger SQ Series units. If natural gas is already available at your yard, it remains the better long-term choice; if it requires utility extension, propane is often the practical option for SQ12-scale installations.

Grain Column & Holding Capacity

The SQ12 features Super-B’s variable-width grain column in a 12′ 3″ configuration. The geometry follows the same principle as larger SQ Series models — narrower at the top for efficient moisture removal, wider at the bottom for better dwell time — applied across a column length appropriate for the SQ12’s drying throughput.

Total holding capacity: 245 bushels — including the perforated wet garner bin at the top, the active grain column, and the discharge zone. The wet garner pre-warms incoming grain using exhaust heat from the lower drying chambers, beginning the drying process before grain enters the main column.

Stainless steel perforated outer skins (18-gauge) are standard. With proper maintenance — including thorough cleaning between crops and especially after canola — stainless skins typically outlast every other component on the dryer. Operators report 25–30+ year service life on the skin assemblies of well-maintained SQ Series units.

For drying canola or other small grains, the small grain screen option is recommended. While the SQ12’s lower throughput means less canola fines accumulation per hour than larger units, daily screen inspection during canola drying campaigns is still essential.

Loading, Unloading & Metering (EVENFLO System)

The SQ12 uses Super-B’s patented EVENFLO drag-chain unloading system — the same fundamental design as larger SQ Series models, sized appropriately for the SQ12’s throughput.

Loading: A 3 HP top auger feeds wet grain from your wet bin into the SQ12’s perforated wet garner. The 3 HP rating is sized to keep up with the SQ12’s drying capacity without becoming a fill-rate bottleneck.

Unloading via EVENFLO: A slow-moving drag-style chain conveyor at the base of the dryer powered by a 2 HP variable-speed AC motor. Advantages over conventional metering-roll systems:

• Even unloading across the full column length — eliminates column-to-column flow imbalance
• Gentler grain handling — significantly less kernel damage during discharge, directly affecting pulse and oat grade-out
• Debris-tolerant — passes most foreign material that would jam an auger or metering roll
• Easier between-crop cleaning — removable top cover means crop changeovers happen faster
• Consistent metering — chain speed control delivers reproducible exit moisture

For smaller prairie operations frequently switching between wheat, canola, oats, and pulses on the same machine, the EVENFLO’s clean-out advantage is particularly valuable — at SQ12 scale, between-crop cleaning time is a meaningful percentage of total operating time.

Operating Modes

The SQ12 supports continuous-flow drying with mode capability dependent on configuration:

Full Heat (D, E, M configurations) — Maximum drying intensity. Grain exits the dryer hot and is cooled in-bin afterward. Highest published BPH ratings — 579 BPH on corn at 5-point removal. Best for high-throughput drying with adequate in-bin cooling capacity.

Pressure Heat / Pressure Cool (E, M configurations) — Cooling air pushed through the lower portion of the column. Grain exits cooled and ready for direct binning. The most-used mode on prairie operations because it eliminates in-bin cooling complexity.

Pressure Heat / Vacuum Cool (E configuration) — Cooling air pulled through the lower column via vacuum. Different airflow characteristics than pressure cool.

Two-Zone Pressure Heat (M configuration only) — Hotter top zone for moisture removal, cooler bottom zone for finishing. Used for sensitive crops at smaller scale.

For most prairie SQ12 buyers, the E configuration with pressure cool mode covers virtually every drying scenario.

Transport & Installed Dimensions

Dimension	Value
Overall Length	23′ 1″
Overall Height	14′ 2″
Overall Width (varies by config)	Approximately 9′ 6″
Total Fan HP	10
Auger Load HP	3
Chain Unload HP	2

The SQ12 is designed primarily as a fixed installation. While the SQ12’s smaller size makes relocation more feasible than larger SQ Series units, most prairie installations are still permanent — set on a reinforced concrete pad with appropriate electrical service and supporting infrastructure.

Concrete pad requirement: The SQ12 requires a properly engineered reinforced concrete pad sized for the dryer’s operating weight plus full grain load. Confirm specifications with your dealer and local engineer based on soil conditions.

Electrical service: Three-phase service is preferred. Unlike larger SQ Series models, the SQ12’s 10 HP fan motor and supporting auxiliary loads can run reasonably on single-phase 220V with appropriate circuit sizing — making the SQ12 a more practical choice for yards without three-phase infrastructure than larger SQ Series units.

INTUI-DRY Controls and Remote Monitoring

The SQ12 supports two control system options:

QUANTUM or SPECTRUM Controllers (Standard) — Brock’s standard electronic dryer controllers covering all operating modes, plenum temperature setpoints, moisture targeting, and basic diagnostic logging. Suitable for operators who manage the dryer on-site during operation.

INTUI-DRY Controller (Optional Upgrade) — A 15.6-inch full-color touchscreen system with intuitive management of all dryer functions and remote smartphone access.

For smaller SQ12 operations where the operator is typically in the yard during drying anyway, the standard controller often delivers everything needed. For operators running the SQ12 alongside combine work or wanting to monitor drying remotely, the INTUI-DRY upgrade adds practical value — though the upgrade cost is a higher percentage of total dryer cost on the SQ12 than on larger models.

Optional Equipment

Beyond the standard configuration, the SQ12 supports several factory and dealer-installed options:

Small Grain Screen — Smaller perforations for canola, mustard, and other small grains. Reduces maximum throughput on standard crops by approximately 20%.

MOISTURE EQUALIZER System — A patented Brock option that moves the hottest and driest grain through the dryer faster, improving drying uniformity.

INTUI-DRY Touchscreen Upgrade — Replaces the standard QUANTUM/SPECTRUM controller with the 15.6-inch touchscreen and remote access capability.

Reversing Cooling Louvers (E and M configurations) — Adjustable cooling louvers for fine-tuning the cooling air volume.

Service Access Catwalks and Platforms — Required for safe operation and maintenance access.

Note on the A (Energy Miser) configuration: The SQ12 is NOT available with the hot air return duct that defines the A configuration on larger models. Buyers prioritizing fuel-recovery technology should consider the SQ16A as the smallest qualifying model.

Best Applications for the SQ12

The SQ12 fits a specific operational profile across smaller Canadian prairie farms.

Best fit for the SQ12:

• Single-combine prairie operations on 500–1,500 acres of mixed crops
• Farms transitioning from natural-air drying to dedicated continuous-flow drying for the first time
• Operations replacing aging natural-air or older small-frame dryers
• Yards where three-phase power is not available (single-phase operation possible at the SQ12’s 10 HP fan motor)
• Smaller mixed-crop operations valuing the full Super-B technology platform but not requiring the SQ16’s higher capacity

Best fit for the SQ12E (most-installed configuration):

• Mixed-crop prairie operations needing flexibility across full heat and pressure cool modes
• Operators handling 8,000–25,000 bushels of drying per season

Best fit for the SQ12D:

• Single-crop operations focused on wheat or feed grain
• Buyers prioritizing the lowest capital cost in the SQ12 frame

Best fit for the SQ12M:

• Smaller seed-grade producers
• Specialty crop operations where temperature staging matters at smaller scale

Less suitable for:

• Operations approaching or exceeding 1,500 acres on tough crop years — the SQ16 provides meaningfully more headroom
• Two-combine operations of any size — the SQ20 or SQ24 are appropriate
• High-volume custom drying operations — fuel cost matters more, and the lack of A configuration on the SQ12 limits efficiency
• Operations specifically wanting heat-recovery technology — step up to the SQ16A

How the SQ12 Compares to Adjacent Models

SQ12 vs SQ8: The SQ8 is the smallest model in the lineup — 163 BU holding, 8′ 2″ column, same 10 HP fan as the SQ12. Drying capacity in corn at 5-point removal is 405 BPH on the SQ8 versus 579 BPH on the SQ12 — about 43% more on the SQ12. The SQ8 is appropriate for very small operations (under 500 acres) or as a backup unit; the SQ12 is the right choice for serious single-combine operations under 1,500 acres.

SQ12 vs SQ16: The SQ16 has a 16′ 4″ column versus the SQ12’s 12′ 3″, with a 15 HP fan versus 10 HP, and 326 BU holding versus 245 BU. Drying capacity in corn at 5-point removal increases from 579 BPH (SQ12) to 770 BPH (SQ16) — about 33% more. The SQ16 is also the smallest model available in the A (Energy Miser) configuration, so buyers prioritizing fuel-recovery technology should consider the SQ16 minimum. For operations expecting heavier annual drying volumes, larger combine output, or who want the heat-recovery option, the SQ16 is the meaningful step up.

SQ12 vs SQ20: The SQ20 is substantially larger — 408 BU holding, 20 HP fan, 20′ 5″ column. Corn drying capacity at 5-point removal is 976 BPH on the SQ20 versus 579 BPH on the SQ12 — about 69% more. The SQ12 is appropriate for smaller operations; the SQ20 is the right choice for large single-combine and small two-combine setups.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the SQ12, SQ12E, and SQ12M? All three are the same SQ12 model with different drying mode capabilities. SQ12D is full heat only, SQ12E adds louvers for pressure cool modes, SQ12M provides two-temperature-zone operation. The E configuration is the most-installed on prairie farms. Note: the SQ12 is NOT available in the A (Energy Miser) configuration.

Why isn’t the SQ12 available in the A (Energy Miser) configuration? Brock has structured the SQ Series so the heat-recovery hot air return duct begins at the SQ16 size class. The engineering logic is that the A configuration’s fuel-savings payback works best at higher annual drying volumes than typical SQ12 operations generate. Buyers wanting fuel-recovery technology should consider the SQ16A as the smallest qualifying model.

Is the SQ12 a portable or fixed dryer? The SQ12 is designed primarily as a fixed installation, though its smaller size makes relocation more feasible than larger SQ Series units. Most prairie installations are permanent.

What’s the holding capacity of the SQ12? 245 bushels total — including the wet garner bin, active drying column, and discharge zone.

How much grain can an SQ12 dry per hour? Manufacturer-published capacity in corn is 579 BPH at 5-point moisture removal (Model D, full heat) and 351 BPH at 10-point removal. For prairie crops, capacity varies significantly: wheat at 1.5-point removal can run 1,150-1,500 BPH, while seed-grade canola at 4-point removal at the 45°C temperature limit may run 270-400 BPH. Always confirm capacity for your specific scenario with your dealer.

Can the SQ12 run on single-phase power? Yes — the SQ12’s 10 HP fan motor can run reasonably on single-phase 220V with appropriate circuit sizing, making the SQ12 a more practical choice for yards without three-phase infrastructure than larger SQ Series units. Three-phase remains the preferred service when available.

Does the SQ12 handle canola? Yes — with the small grain screen option and proper temperature management (45°C maximum for seed grade, 82°C maximum for crush grade per Canola Council guidelines). The variable-width column and EVENFLO unloading system handle canola’s specific requirements well. Daily screen inspection is essential during canola drying campaigns.

What fuel does the SQ12 use? LP (liquid propane) or natural gas (NG), selected at order. For SQ12-class operations drying 10,000-25,000 bushels per season, propane is often the practical choice if natural gas requires utility extension. If natural gas is already at the yard, it remains the better long-term cost option.

How long does an SQ12 last? With proper maintenance, current SQ Series units are designed for 25–30+ year service life. Stainless steel skins typically outlast every other component. Daily cleaning during peak season and thorough between-crop cleanout are the most important maintenance practices.

Should I buy an SQ12 or step up to an SQ16? Choose the SQ12 if your operation is under 1,500 acres, you’re transitioning from natural-air drying for the first time, or you want the most economical entry point into the SQ Series. Choose the SQ16 if you expect to grow your acreage, run heavier annual drying volumes, or want the option of A (Energy Miser) configuration for fuel savings. The SQ16 offers more headroom; the SQ12 is more economical for smaller operations.

Is the SQ12 a good first grain dryer? Yes — the SQ12 is one of the most popular first-dryer choices on Canadian prairie farms. It delivers the full Super-B technology platform (variable-width column, EVENFLO unloading, centrifugal blower, optional INTUI-DRY controls) at the smallest practical scale for serious commercial operation. For farms moving from natural-air bin drying to dedicated drying, the SQ12 is a meaningful capability step without committing to the larger investment of the SQ16 or beyond.

Related Models in the SQ Series

• Super-B SQ8 — 163 BU holding, smallest model for very small operations or backup use
• Super-B SQ16 — 326 BU holding, single-combine prairie sweet spot
• Super-B SQ20 — 408 BU holding, large single-combine and small two-combine
• Super-B SQ24 — 490 BU holding, two-combine prairie sweet spot

For complete buying guidance — sizing math, crop-specific operation, used vs. new pricing, and how Super-B compares to GSI, Vertec, and Neco — read our Super-B grain dryers buyer’s guide.

Browse all grain dryers on Aglist to compare across manufacturers.

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