QualySense

What QualySense does

QualySense (now QualySense Analytics AG) is a Swiss agricultural-technology company founded in 2010 that builds AI-driven robotic systems for the high-throughput inspection and fine sorting of grains, seeds, and beans. Its flagship QSorter platform combines wide-angle 3D imaging (CCD camera processing up to 120 frames per second), high-resolution near-infrared spectroscopy in the 900–1700 nm range, and proprietary machine-learning algorithms to measure both physical properties (geometry, color, size, defects) and biochemical properties (protein, moisture, oil, sucrose, lipids) at single-kernel resolution — capabilities the company describes as unique versus traditional multi-equipment lab workflows. The product line spans a lab-scale QSorter Explorer (up to 30 kernels/sec) and an industrial QSorter Horizon (up to 3,000 kernels/sec with 99% sorting accuracy), complemented by the SQI2 Cloud data platform for reporting and API integration; verticalized applications address coffee, peanuts, soybeans, corn, sweet corn, barley, oats, rice, and hemp.

The company monetizes via hardware sales of QSorter units (manufactured through the Ferrum Group partnership integrated in August 2023) supplemented by recurring revenue from the SQI2 cloud platform and, more recently, fee-based seed-sorting services that recover seed waste. Enterprise go-to-market is led by direct field sales supported by demo tours, free sample testing, multi-year contracts, and 24/7 remote assistance; key customer segments include specialty coffee traders/roasters, seed companies and breeders, peanut processors, and oat/rice/corn processors, with named enterprise logos such as Cooxupé, Nespresso, Starbucks, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Suntory, DMCC, JLA, Hershey, and academic partner NC State University. Following the Aug 2023 integration into Ferrum Group and the Jan 2026 acquisition by IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group, QualySense operates as QualySense Analytics AG with headquarters in Schafisheim, Switzerland, and an 11–50 employee footprint.

Name

QualySense

Legal name

QualySense Analytics AG

Website

https://qualysense.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

QualySense Analytics AG is a Swiss agtech firm that builds AI-driven robotic systems (QSorter Explorer and Horizon) combining 3D imaging, NIR spectroscopy, and machine learning for single-kernel inspection and sorting of grains, seeds, and beans, serving coffee traders, seed breeders, and food processors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Sorting Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Robot Perception & Sensing for Agriculture (Computer vision, LiDAR, multispectral, sensor fusion) (AFAAAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advanced/Optical Sorting & Quality Control Services (NIR, AI, Robotics) (BPALADAH), Robotics & Autonomous Field Operations (Weeding, Spraying, Harvest Assist, Autonomous Tractors) (AFAGALAJ), Crop Scouting & Pest/Disease Detection (Digital Scouting, Computer Vision, Alerts) (AFAGALAI)

Keywords

• Seed sorting technology
• Grain quality inspection
• Single kernel analysis
• Near-infrared spectroscopy
• Agricultural sorting robots

Headquarters

HQ city

Glattbrugg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. QSorter Hardware Sales: Sale of QSorter Explorer and Horizon machines for seed/grain inspection and sorting. Production partner Ferrum AG manufactures the equipment.
2. SQI2 Cloud Software/Services: Cloud-based data platform providing quality reports, API access, and data analytics. Includes 24/7 remote assistance and dedicated web customer area.
3. Sorting Services: New seed sorting services launched to recover seed waste and provide processing services to customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

QualySense designs and sells AI-powered robotic systems (QSorter Explorer and QSorter Horizon) that perform high-speed, non-destructive, single-kernel analysis and sorting of grains, seeds, and beans by combining 3D imaging, high-resolution NIR spectroscopy, and AI/machine learning algorithms. The QSorter Explorer analyzes up to 30 kernels per second for lab inspection and breeding, while the QSorter Horizon processes up to 3,000 kernels per second for industrial sorting with 99% accuracy. The SQI2 Cloud Platform provides real-time quality reporting, data management, and API integration for enterprise customers.

Product overview

QualySense offers the QSorter family of products - a platform-plus-applications architecture centered on AI-powered robotic systems for quality inspection and fine sorting of agricultural commodities. The core product line includes the QSorter Explorer (high-speed analysis robot processing up to 30 kernels/second for lab inspection and breeding) and QSorter Horizon (high-capacity sorting platform processing up to 3,000 kernels/second for production facilities). Both platforms utilize 3D imaging and Near-Infrared spectroscopy combined with AI/machine learning algorithms. The SQI2 Cloud Platform provides data management and reporting. Specialized application solutions address specific commodities: Coffee, Peanuts, Soybeans, Corn, Sweet Corn, Barley, Oats, Rice, and Hemp - each optimized for relevant quality parameters and sorting requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• QSorter Explorer Lab-scale high-speed single kernel analysis and sorting robot for quality inspection and breeding, capable of analyzing up to 30 kernels per second with 3D imaging and NIR spectroscopy for physical and biochemical property measurement. Targets seed companies, breeders, and quality inspection labs.
• QSorter Horizon High-capacity sorting platform for seeds, grains, and beans processing up to 3,000 kernels per second with 99% mechanical sorting accuracy, designed for waste recovery, premium crop creation, and continuous processing quality control in industrial facilities.
• SQI2 Cloud Platform Cloud-based data management platform providing real-time access to QSorter quality reports, enabling quality tracking, sample comparison, supplier analysis, traceability across seasons, and online sharing. Includes 24/7 remote assistance and dedicated web customer area with PDF/Excel export and API integration.
• Coffee Quality Solutions Specialized QSorter application for green coffee inspection including bean-by-bean analysis detecting 27 visual defects and 15 size classes, with biochemical analysis of moisture, protein, sucrose, and fats. Reports in SCA, COB, GCA, NY, or any other standard. Designed for coffee traders, roasters, and producers.
• Peanut Quality Solutions QSorter application for peanut quality control and breeding, monitoring oleic content, detecting aflatoxin-risky kernels, and measuring damaged kernels, moisture, size, roundness, color, splits, sucrose, oil, and dimensions for peanut breeders and processors.
• Soybean Solutions QSorter application for soybean breeding and quality control, sorting by oleic content, protein content, oil content, linolenic content, hilum color classification, size analysis, and kernel weight and geometry for soybean breeders and processors.
• Corn Solutions QSorter application for corn seed processing including haploid/diploid kernel sorting, removal of broken and discolored kernels. Achieves 40x faster speed than manual selection with at least 80% haploid recovery for corn breeders.
• Sweet Corn Solutions QSorter application for sweet corn processing including removal of GMO field corn contamination, pre-germinated kernels, and broken kernels to achieve germination rates above 95% for sweet corn seed processors.
• Barley Solutions QSorter application for barley quality inspection measuring protein, moisture, size (length, width, thickness), and volume for every single kernel with fully automated analysis for maltsters, brewers, and barley processors.
• Oats Solutions QSorter application for oats quality control achieving 99% accuracy in detecting gluten contaminants (barley, wheat, rye) with 20x faster speed than manual inspection, reducing inspection error from 20% to 2% for gluten-free oat producers.
• Rice Solutions QSorter application for rice quality inspection measuring chalkiness, broken/head kernels, color variations, kernel dimensions, volume, and weight at 10x speed of manual inspection for rice processors, traders, and breeders.
• Hemp Solutions QSorter application for hemp seed processing to increase germination rates above 95%, remove pre-germinated and immature seeds, and recover valuable discards at 20x speed of manual inspection for hemp seed processors and breeders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-40x faster inspection than manual processes
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Coffee Industry Leaders Consortium (Cooxupé, DMCC, Nespresso, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Starbucks, Suntory)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2022$1 million investment to automate coffee quality inspection and roasting performance. World-leading coffee companies contributing expertise to advance QSorter technology for green coffee grading standardization.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with ETH Zurich Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health. Food Biochemistry laboratory studies influence of food composition on nutritional value, especially lipids and cereal chemistry.
• USDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D collaboration results in high-speed sorters using imaging, acoustic, near-infrared spectroscopy and other sensing technologies for grain analysis and food safety.
• AgroscopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss centre of excellence for agricultural research contributing to sustainable agriculture and food sector innovation.
• JLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on high oleic peanut purity measurements using QSorter Explorer technology.
• HersheycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative study on measuring high oleic purity in peanut lots for quality control in chocolate/confectionery supply chain.
• North Carolina State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in collaborative study on peanut quality and oleic acid measurement technology.
• IEH Laboratories & Consulting GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEH acquired QualySense in January 2026. As global leader in food safety and inspection, IEH provides extensive global network to support agricultural producers, breeders, and food processors worldwide.
• Venture LabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual training modules for entrepreneurs. Prioritizes innovative companies in computer science, life science and nanotechnology.
• KTI/CTI (Innosuisse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Commission for Technology Innovation helps companies collaborate with universities through local consortiums under KTT initiatives.
• AT&TcoreTechnology or IntegrationAT&T provides global SIM cards enabling remote real-time customer support for QSorter technology deployed in rural agricultural areas with limited connectivity.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bühler Group: Swiss-based global leader in grain processing, food, and feed equipment; its SORTEX optical sorters compete directly with QSorter in coffee, nuts, grains, and seeds, combining vision/NIR with AI in industrial sorters.
• TOMRA: Global sensor-based sorting leader (TOMRA Food) with optical/NIR sorters for nuts, grains, coffee, and seeds; competes head-to-head with QSorter in coffee and snack/ingredient processing applications.
• SATAKE: Japanese grain processing and optical sorting pioneer with established presence in rice, wheat, coffee, and seed sorting — direct overlap with QSorter's NIR + vision-based kernel inspection.
• Key Technology (Duravant): Manufacturer of digital sorting and conveying equipment for food processing; its VERYX and optical sorters serve nuts, vegetables, and grain processors — comparable customer base and use cases to QSorter Horizon.
• Ellips: Dutch developer of optical sorting and grading systems for fresh produce and tree nuts, using multi-spectral imaging and AI; directly comparable to QSorter's vision-first internal quality grading capabilities.
• Cimbria (AGCO): AGCO-owned seed and grain processing equipment maker with optical sorters and SEA-type sortex-class equipment; serves the same seed company and grain processor customer base as QualySense.
• AWETA: Dutch supplier of sorting, grading, and packing lines for fruits, vegetables, and eggs, with growing presence in internal quality and defect sorting; comparable in target vertical and technology stack to QSorter.

Broad incumbents

• Perten Instruments: PerkinElmer-owned provider of NIR and quality analysis instruments widely used in grain and food testing; overlaps with QSorter on biochemical property measurement at the batch and kernel level.

Emerging players

• Kett Instrument: Manufacturer of NIR moisture and composition analyzers used in grain, food, and agricultural quality control; comparable in NIR-based measurement but does not match QSorter's single-kernel imaging fusion.
• Amandus Kahl: German manufacturer of processing equipment for feed, oilseeds, and grains with growing optical and NIR-based quality inspection offerings; serves overlapping agricultural processors with adjacent technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLENV9qkMawsOagzJF1jl2Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qualysense
• Xx.com/QualySense
• Facebookfacebook.com/qualysensesorters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds11 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QualySense