Lockwood Manufacturing

What Lockwood Manufacturing does

Lockwood Manufacturing Co. is a West Fargo, North Dakota-based manufacturer of specialized potato and sweet potato farming equipment, operating as a division of Crary Industries, Inc., which is wholly owned by ECHO Incorporated (Lake Zurich, IL). The company was founded in 1979 (with brand roots to 1935) and produces a full equipment lineup across the potato production cycle: Air Cup and Belted Cup Planters (4/6/8-row configurations), 500 and 600 Series Windrowers, 600 Series and 773/774 Series Harvesters, sweet potato harvesters, and the VACS-8 and VACS MOBILE vacuum air cleaning/separator systems. Core technology centers on air-based handling, including vacuum seed pickup, positive air blast release, and high-throughput vacuum chambers (up to 5,000 CWT/HR) that separate potatoes from rocks, clods, and debris while minimizing bruising.

The company generates revenue through direct hardware sales at four company-owned retail stores (Presque Isle ME, Grafton ND, Paul ID, Blackfoot ID) and an independent dealer network that includes PGS Equipment in Alberta. It also distributes European equipment under exclusive arrangements, most recently becoming AVR Machinery's first official U.S. dealer and importing Struik rotary cultivators directly from Holland. Pricing is quote-based with individual equipment listings ranging from approximately $40,000 for used windrowers to six-figure prices for harvesters and planters. The company sells into a single vertical — commercial potato growers — with named end users including multi-generational family farms operating 1,000-1,500+ acre operations across the major North American potato belts.

The customer base is exclusively SMB growers, and go-to-market relies heavily on regional trade shows, dealer relationships, and grower testimonials. Marketing channels include Potato Expo, Idaho Potato Conference, Washington & Oregon Potato Conference, and Manitoba Potato Production Days, supplemented by YouTube equipment videos and a standard organic social footprint. On August 8, 2025, Lockwood was sold to Brattle Technologies, a Massachusetts-based family-owned holding company, with Generational Group serving as sell-side advisor; the acquisition was followed by a series of distribution expansions and product refreshes in 2026.

Name

Lockwood Manufacturing

Legal name

Lockwood Manufacturing Co.

Website

https://lockwoodmfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lockwood Manufacturing designs, builds, and distributes specialized potato and sweet potato equipment — including air cup planters, harvesters, windrowers, and vacuum air cleaning systems — to commercial potato growers across North America through company-owned stores, independent dealers, and direct European equipment imports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Equipment - Potato and Sweet Potato Farming Machinery

NAICS

Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111), Agricultural Implement Manufacturing (33311)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Potato & Specialty Crop Planters (Potato, Garlic, Sugarcane) (AFAAABAJ)

Keywords

• Potato farming equipment
• Agricultural planters
• Potato harvesters
• Windrower machinery
• Crop handling systems

Headquarters

HQ city

West Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Equipment Sales: LOCKWOOD manufactures and sells potato planting, harvesting, and handling equipment including planters, windrowers, harvesters, and cleaning systems. Revenue is generated through direct sales at company-owned stores, independent dealer networks, and sales of new and pre-owned equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lockwood Manufacturing designs, builds, and sells specialized potato and sweet potato farming equipment, including air cup and belted cup planters, 600 Series and 774 harvesters, 673 air harvester, sweet potato harvesters, 500 and 600 Series windrowers, and VACS vacuum air cleaning/handling systems. The company also distributes imported Struik rotary cultivators and AVR potato equipment in North America, and sells used equipment alongside replacement parts and accessories such as blades and cleaning tables.

Product overview

Lockwood Manufacturing is a manufacturer of specialized potato farming equipment offering a comprehensive product portfolio across the planting, harvesting, and handling phases of potato production. The core product line includes three planter types (Air Cup Planters, Belted Cup Planters) and multiple harvester lines (600 Series, 673 Air Harvester, 774 Harvester, Sweet Potato Harvesters) alongside windrowers (500 Series and 600 Series) and handling equipment (VACS-8 and VACS MOBILE separators). Accessories include interchangeable cleaning tables and durable blades. Additionally, Lockwood distributes imported equipment including Struik rotary cultivators and AVR potato machinery. The company operates four LOCKWOOD store locations in key growing regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Cup Planters High-precision potato planters using vacuum-based seed pickup and positive air blast release for accurate seed spacing and placement. Models include 604 (4-Row), 606 (6-Row), and 608 (8-Row). Designed for commercial potato growers requiring accurate seed placement and high-speed operation.
• Belted Cup Planters Economical potato planters using belt-based seed pickup mechanism. Models include 404 (4-Row), 406 (6-Row), and 408 (8-Row) with a dual-feed chain system. Targeted at commercial potato growers seeking a lower-cost planting option.
• 774 Harvester High-capacity potato harvester with a 10-inch touchscreen control system, dual high-efficiency fans, up to 48-inch rear cross, and full swing boom for truck loading efficiency. Features a dynamic rear cross and improved airflow vine blower.
• 600 Series Harvesters Lightweight, reliable potato harvesters with industry-leading visibility. Models include 672 (2-Row), 673 (3-Row), and 674/674CR (4-Row) with various cleaning table options. Built for commercial potato growers.
• 673 Air Harvester Air-based separation harvester using dual Crary blowers and a 60-inch vacuum chamber to gently separate potatoes from rocks and debris, minimizing bruising while maximizing cleaning. Designed for commercial potato growers.
• Sweet Potato Harvesters Specialized harvesters for sweet potato fields. Models include 672SP BOX (2-Row) and 674 (4-Row) with 100% hydraulic drive, CAN bus control, and automated lowering elevators to reduce skinning and bruising. Built for commercial sweet potato growers.
• 500 Series Windrowers Economical windrowers with simplicity and lower horsepower requirements. Models include 552 (2-Row), 554 (4-Row), and 554XTS (4-Row) with steerable rear wheels and variable speed hydraulic drive. Built for commercial potato growers.
• 600 Series Windrowers Efficiency-focused windrowers with operator-friendly controls and adaptable hydraulics. Models include 654 (4-Row) and 656 (6-Row) with patented telescoping rear cross and CAN bus system with joystick control. Designed for commercial potato growers.
• VACS-8 Separator High-capacity potato separator using vacuum chamber technology to efficiently separate rock, debris, and soil from potatoes. Features a 96-inch wide table, 5,000 CWT/HR capacity, and 230/460V variable frequency drive motors. Built for commercial potato operations.
• VACS MOBILE Industry-leading mobile potato separator mounted on a single semi-trailer. Features a patented cleaning system with 2,500-4,000 CWT/HR capacity, quick-change table configurations, and minimal setup/teardown time. Designed for commercial potato growers requiring portable cleaning.
• Struik Equipment Imported rotary cultivators and hillers from Holland-based Struik, a market leader in precision engineering and durability for cultivation equipment and potato hilling machines. Distributed by Lockwood for North American potato and row-crop growers.
• AVR Equipment Belgian potato equipment from AVR Machinery, including handling and piling equipment. Lockwood is AVR's first official U.S. dealer, distributing in North Dakota and Minnesota. Targeted at commercial potato operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Air cup planters achieve up to 95% planting accuracy while traveling at 6 mph
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature13 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered expansion, strategic, regional, minor and core.

• Bad Boy MowersexpansionChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 May 2026North Valley Equipment, a LOCKWOOD store in Grafton, ND, became an authorized Bad Boy Mower dealer. This expands their lineup of high-performance outdoor power equipment for both residential and commercial customers.
• AVR MachinerystrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 April 2026LOCKWOOD announced a new distribution partnership with AVR Machinery, a Belgian manufacturer of innovative potato equipment. LOCKWOOD serves as AVR's official distributor in North Dakota and Minnesota, marking AVR's first official U.S. based dealer. AVR manufactures full-range potato machinery including planting, harvesting, and storage equipment.
• PGS EquipmentregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 April 2026PGS Equipment, located in Taber, Alberta, is the new LOCKWOOD potato equipment dealer for whole goods, parts, and service for southern Alberta and surrounding area. PGS focuses on sales and service of new and used agricultural machinery specialized in row crop and potato equipment.
• Generational GroupminorOthers · 1 January 2025Generational Group served as the sell-side advisor facilitating the sale of Lockwood Manufacturing Co. to Brattle Technologies.
• StruikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLOCKWOOD has partnered with Struik, a Holland-based equipment manufacturer and internationally recognized market leader in rotary cultivator technology, for over 25 years. LOCKWOOD now imports directly from Struik to reduce freight costs. Struik is known for precision engineering, durability, and performance in cultivation equipment and potato hilling machines.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Double L Group: Double L builds potato and root crop equipment including planters, harvesters, and handling systems. It competes with Lockwood across multiple product lines and shares a similar focus on commercial potato growers in North America.
• Spudnik Equipment Company: Spudnik manufactures potato planting, harvesting, and handling equipment from Blackfoot, Idaho. It is the closest direct competitor to Lockwood in the North American potato equipment market, offering similar air-bag planters, windrowers, and harvesters.
• Dewulf: Belgian manufacturer of potato and root crop harvesting and handling equipment with a global footprint. Dewulf is a direct competitor in harvesters and storage equipment categories overlapping Lockwood's VACS and harvester lines.
• AVR (AVR Machinery): Belgian manufacturer of potato planting, harvesting, and storage equipment that now distributes through Lockwood in the U.S. AVR competes head-to-head with Lockwood in the same product categories but with stronger European market presence.
• Struik (Struik Wigersma): Dutch manufacturer of rotary cultivators, potato hilling machines, and cultivation equipment. Lockwood directly imports Struik equipment, making them both supplier and competitor in the cultivation/hilling equipment segment.

Broad incumbents

• Ploeger Oxbo Group: Manufacturer of specialty harvesting equipment including potato, pea, and corn harvesters with broader crop applications. Ploeger Oxbo competes with Lockwood in potato harvesters while also serving adjacent specialty crop markets.
• John Deere: World's largest farm equipment manufacturer with extensive dealer network and financing capabilities. John Deere represents the broad incumbent threat to specialty equipment makers like Lockwood as it expands into higher-value crop segments.
• Case IH (CNH Industrial): Global farm equipment manufacturer with a broad product portfolio. While not a direct competitor in Lockwood's niche, Case IH's scale, dealer network, and recent moves into specialty crops represent an emerging competitive threat.
• Wieland & friends (formerly Grimme): German family-owned manufacturer and global leader in potato, beet, and vegetable harvesting equipment. Grimme is the dominant European specialty crop equipment maker and a broad incumbent competitor to Lockwood in harvesters, planters, and handling equipment.

Regional players

• Amity Technology: North Dakota-based manufacturer of sugar beet and root crop equipment including planters and harvesters. Comparable to Lockwood in serving row-crop farmers in the upper Midwest with specialized planting and harvesting equipment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lockwood_mfg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LockwoodMfg
• Facebookfacebook.com/LockwoodPotatoEquipment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crary
• Instagraminstagram.com/lockwoodmfg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Lockwood Manufacturing