What Blackmore Company does

Blackmore Company is a family-run U.S. manufacturer founded in 1965 by Fred Blackmore and now operating under third-generation ownership from its Belleville, Michigan headquarters. The company designs and sells plant production technologies for commercial horticulture, including patented Pioneer Pots, proprietary Air Trays with air root pruning, seed plug trays, Ellepot paper-pot systems and machines, and complementary automation equipment (tray fillers, seeders, transplanters, soil mixers, watering systems) plus the Greencare fertilizer line formulated by Bill Argo, PhD. The technology stack is mechanical and consumable rather than software-driven: integrated production lines can output up to 40,000 Ellepots per hour, Pioneer Pots operate up to 30°F cooler than standard containers, and a nationwide recycling program enables up to 90% recycled plastic content in new trays.

Blackmore generates revenue through direct B2B sales of equipment and consumables to commercial nurseries, greenhouses, forestry operations, fruit and nut tree growers, hemp and cannabis producers, and hydroponic and aquaponic growers. The business model is quote-based with no publicly disclosed pricing and no self-serve e-commerce; transactions are conducted via toll-free phone, email, and contact forms. U.S. customers are served directly, while Canadian customers are served through distribution partner AMA Hort. Additional partners include Ellepot (core OEM/licensing for paper-pot systems), Da Ros Machines, and Proptek. End markets include forestry, horticulture, citrus, fruit trees, greenhouse ornamentals, and emerging segments such as hemp and cannabis propagation.

Name

Blackmore Company

Legal name

Blackmore Co., Inc.

Website

https://blackmoreco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Blackmore Company is a family-run Belleville, Michigan manufacturer founded in 1965 that designs plant production technologies — patented air-pruning trays and pots, Ellepot paper-pot systems, automation equipment, and Greencare fertilizers — for commercial nurseries, greenhouses, forestry operations, and hemp/cannabis growers across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nursery and Greenhouse Production Equipment

NAICS

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursery & Greenhouse Seeding/Transplanting Equipment (Seeders, Plug Transplanters) (AFAAABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Plant Propagation & Nursery CEA Equipment (Germination Rooms, Tissue Culture Support) (AFAAAHAJ)

Keywords

• Nursery automation equipment
• Seed sowing trays
• Air root pruning
• Greenhouse production technology
• Transplant machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Belleville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seed Plug Trays and Growing Containers: Direct product sales of seed plug trays, Ellepot trays, and Pioneer Pots for plant propagation and nursery production
2. Automation Machinery and Equipment: Custom machinery sales including tray fillers, seeders, transplanters, soil mixers, and bale busters for nursery automation
3. Pre-Filled Ellepots: Pre-filled Ellepot program for US-based customers and Canadian customers through partner AMA Hort
4. Greencare Fertilizers: Water soluble fertilizers, micronutrients, soil nutrient charge, and liquid formulas formulated by Bill Argo, PhD. Custom formulations available for nursery, greenhouse, hydroponic, hemp, tree, and orchid production

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blackmore Company manufactures and sells plant production technologies for commercial horticulture, including air root pruning trays (Air Trays), patented Pioneer Pots, seed plug trays, Ellepot paper-based plantable pots, and a full line of automation equipment (tray fillers, seeders, transplanters, top coaters, watering systems, dibblers, soil mixers, and bale busters) for nursery, greenhouse, forestry, hydroponic, hemp/cannabis, and fruit/nut tree operations. The company also supplies Greencare Fertilizers formulated by an in-house plant nutrition expert.

Product overview

Blackmore Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of plant production technologies for agribusiness, consisting of multiple product families: tray products (Air Trays, Seed Plug Trays, Ellepot Trays, Pioneer Pots), automation equipment (Blackmore Machines including tray fillers, seeders, top coaters, water systems; Da Ros Machines including transplanters, bale busters, dibblers, soil mixers; and Ellepot Machines including H-series semi-automatic and fully automated lines), fertilizers (Greencare formulations), and Paper Pot 2.0. These products work together as an integrated system where trays are filled and seeded using Blackmore automation, with Ellepot paper pots providing a plantable alternative to plastic. The company serves diverse crop sectors including forestry, horticulture, hydroponics, hemp/cannabis, fruit/nut trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pioneer Pots: Revolutionizing root production with patented air pruning technology that prevents circling and girdling of roots. Made in USA.
• Air Trays
• Greencare Fertilizers

Products and services

• Air Trays

Quantifiable outcome

• Air Trays improve lateral root development leading to faster field establishment in tree nurseries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EllepotcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerStrategic partnership to offer Ellepot paper-based plantable alternatives to plastic pots. Blackmore distributes Ellepot machines and pre-filled Ellepots, providing plant production solutions that prevent plastic waste from reaching consumers and landfills.
• AMA HortcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian distribution partner for Ellepot products. Canadian-based customers order through AMA Hort for localized service and distribution in Canada.
• ProptekminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution of Proptek trays through Blackmore product offerings. Proptek trays are part of the product assortment available alongside Blackmore's own Air Trays and Ellepot products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Landmark Plastic: Landmark Plastic manufactures nursery containers, pots, and trays for the horticulture industry. Directly comparable to Blackmore's Air Tray, seed plug tray, and Pioneer Pot product families in terms of customers and use cases.
• Ellepot: Ellepot developed and owns the paper-based plantable pot system that Blackmore distributes in the US. The two companies share core product technology and overlapping customer base in commercial greenhouse and nursery propagation.
• RootMaker: RootMaker makes air-pruning containers and propagation trays that prevent root circling — the same core agronomic principle behind Blackmore's Air Tray and Pioneer Pot lines. Direct competitor in root-pruning containers serving nurseries, forestry, and fruit-tree growers.
• T.O. Plastics: T.O. Plastics manufactures propagation trays, plug trays, and horticultural containers for greenhouse and nursery customers. Directly overlaps with Blackmore's seed plug tray and container product lines.
• Proptek: Proptek designs and manufactures propagation trays and containers for the nursery and greenhouse industry. Blackmore itself distributes Proptek trays, making it the most direct overlap in product category, customer base, and channel.

Broad incumbents

• Jiffy Group: Jiffy produces propagation media, growing systems, and pre-filled containers for greenhouse and nursery operators globally. Comparable to Blackmore's Ellepot/seed plug trays and pre-filled pot offerings, with broader international reach.
• HC Companies: HC Companies is a large horticultural container and tray manufacturer with a broad portfolio spanning nursery, greenhouse, and consumer markets. Overlaps with Blackmore's tray and pot categories but at meaningfully larger scale.
• Ball Horticultural Company: Ball Horticultural supplies seeds, plants, and growing systems to the global ornamental horticulture industry. While broader than Blackmore, it is comparable as a commercial horticulture supplier with overlapping greenhouse and nursery customers.

Regional players

• AMA Hort: AMA Hort is Blackmore's Canadian distribution partner for Ellepot products and also sells comparable horticultural production supplies in Canada. Comparable offerings in a regional Canadian market that Blackmore addresses only through this channel partner.

Emerging players

• Speedling: Speedling is a large-scale transplant and seedling producer serving vegetable, fruit, and ornamental growers. Comparable as a user and buyer of similar propagation trays, Ellepot systems, and automation equipment that Blackmore sells.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackmore-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackmorecompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Blackmore Company