Ellips B.V

What Ellips B.V does

Ellips B.V is a Dutch industrial technology company that designs and supplies AI-powered optical grading and sorting systems for fresh fruit and vegetables. Founded in 1989 (some sources state 1990) by Erwin Bakker and headquartered in Eindhoven, the company operates through the Ellips Group, which combines Ellips (grading software), Elisam (grading machines for potatoes, onions, apples), and Elifab (grading machines for cherries, blueberries, and other small/delicates produce). Its product platform spans TrueSort EQ for external quality assessment via color and near-infrared cameras, TrueSort IQ for internal defect detection using NIR transmittance spectroscopy, and the True-AI deep learning stack trained on hundreds of thousands of reference images from the installed base, alongside specialized offerings such as TrueVision for cherries. The technology covers 19 produce types and runs across roughly 3,500 grading systems globally, with 350+ Elisam/Elifab machines delivered and around 150 new systems installed per year.

Ellips makes money primarily through capital equipment sales of configured Elisam and Elifab grading machines (2-48 lane configurations, throughput up to 70+ tons/hour for onions), augmented by licensing of TrueSort and True-AI software, retrofit solutions that deploy Ellips electronics on competitor hardware, and ongoing service, training, and support contracts. Pricing is quote-based and customized per produce type, throughput, and configuration under multi-year enterprise contracts. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales with demo-driven selling: regional offices in Eindhoven, Wenatchee (USA), and Curicó (Chile), a North American channel partner network including Durand Wayland, JDC Packing Solutions, GP Graders, and Korblu, and active presence at events such as Fruit Logistica. Customer base spans large commercial fruit and vegetable growers and packers across Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and Africa, with named enterprise customers including Stourgarden, Vidrio Fruits, Wada Farms, Walla Walla River Packing, Baker and Murakami, Costa Berries, and African Blue.

The company is privately held by the Bakker family, with no external venture, private equity, or institutional funding disclosed. Capital structure has supported organic geographic expansion and incremental product development, including the recent acquisition of a majority stake in Aris to strengthen optical sorting capabilities. Workforce size is reported in the 11-50 range, consistent with a focused industrial engineering firm rather than a large enterprise software vendor. Elifab Chile was established in 2023-2025 and Ellips USA expanded in Wenatchee, WA in 2024 to extend regional sales, service, and demonstration infrastructure.

Name

Ellips B.V

Legal name

Ellips B.V

Website

https://ellips.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ellips B.V is a Dutch family-owned industrial technology company that provides AI-powered optical grading and sorting systems covering 19 types of fresh fruits and vegetables across approximately 3,500 installed systems globally, selling hardware, software, and retrofit solutions to commercial growers and packers through enterprise field sales in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Sorting Equipment

NAICS

Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Sorting, Grading & Optical Inspection Systems (Size/Color Sorters) (AFAAAJAC)

Keywords

• Optical grading technology
• Produce sorting machines
• AI quality inspection
• Internal defect detection
• Fruit vegetable grading

Headquarters

HQ city

Wenatchee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Grading Machines: Sale of proprietary Elisam and Elifab grading machines configured for specific produce types (potatoes, onions, cherries, blueberries, apples, etc.). Machines sold with varying lane configurations and throughput capacities based on customer requirements.
2. Grading Software Licensing: Licensing of TrueSort, True-AI, TrueSort EQ/IQ, and TrueVision grading software. Software can be deployed on Elisam graders or retrofitted on competitor sorting machines.
3. Service and Support: Ongoing service, support, training, and technical assistance for customers. Includes remote support capabilities and on-site training during installation.
4. Retrofit Solutions: Retrofitting existing sorting machines with Ellips electronics and grading technology to upgrade customer equipment to current AI standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ellips B.V develops and manufactures AI-powered optical grading and sorting systems for fresh fruits and vegetables. The portfolio combines proprietary True-AI software (with TrueSort EQ for external quality and TrueSort IQ for internal quality via NIR spectroscopy) with physical grading machines built by its sister companies Elisam and Elifab. The technology is sold as turnkey grading lines or retrofitted onto competitor machines for commercial packhouses globally.

Product overview

Ellips B.V is a technology company specializing in AI-powered optical grading and sorting solutions for fresh fruit and vegetables. The product portfolio centers on the True-AI platform, which combines TrueSort EQ (external quality assessment using computer vision with color and NIR cameras) and TrueSort IQ (internal quality detection using NIR transmittance spectroscopy) with Elisam and Elifab grading machines. The company offers specialized grading solutions for 19 types of produce including potatoes, onions, apples, cherries, blueberries, dates, citrus, stone fruits, and more. Solutions range from standalone software (deployable on Ellips machines or retrofitted on competitors' equipment) to complete turnkey grading systems. The portfolio includes specialized products such as TrueVision for cherries and the Gran Torino for potatoes/onions, with global deployment across 3,500+ systems worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TrueSort: Grading software technology platform that assesses external and internal quality of produce
• True-AI
• TrueVision
• TrueSort EQ
• TrueSort IQ

Products and services

• True-AI AI-based grading software using advanced deep learning algorithms that continuously learns and improves detection accuracy on challenging defects across fruits and vegetables. Built on hundreds of thousands of reference images gathered from a global installed base.
• TrueSort EQ (External Quality)

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, minor and core.

• Palm SystemssupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology integration partner providing automatic bin tipping robots for cherry processing lines. Palm Systems' 4 synchronized bin tippers deliver up to 300 bins/hour infeed for Elifab cherry graders at operations like Vidrio Fruits.
• Mat ExaktasupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner providing fully automated box filling systems for cherry packing. Mat Exakta's automation handles weighing, sealing, and labeling with minimal human intervention at operations like Vidrio Fruits and African Blue.
• Durand WaylandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American channel partner delivering Ellips-Elisam grading solutions to customers in the region.
• JDC Packing SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American channel partner delivering Ellips-Elisam grading solutions to customers in the region.
• GP GradersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American channel partner delivering Ellips-Elisam grading solutions to customers in the region.
• KorbluminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth American channel partner delivering Ellips-Elisam grading solutions to customers in the region.
• African BluecoreTechnology or IntegrationMorocco-based joint venture (part of Costa Group) that invested in Elifab grader with Mat Exakta punnet fillers following success seen at Costa Berries Australia. Represents cross-border technology adoption within the Costa Group network.
• ElifabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within Ellips Group that designs and manufactures Elifab grading machines (cherry, blueberry, cherry tomato). Elifab Chile office opened in Curicó to support South American operations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TOMRA: TOMRA is the global leader in optical sorting for food, recycling and mining and is the most direct competitor to Ellips. Its TOMRA Food division addresses the same fresh produce and processed food sorting categories that Ellips serves, particularly potatoes, onions, berries, citrus, and tree fruit.
• Key Technology (Duravant): Key Technology designs and manufactures optical sorters for the food processing industry, directly competing with Ellips in vegetables, fruits and processed foods. As part of Duravant's food processing portfolio alongside WECO, it shares Ellips' profile of serving produce packers globally with digital sorting solutions.
• Compac (TOMRA Food): Compac specializes in sorting, grading, and packing solutions for fresh produce — particularly apples, citrus, avocados and stonefruit — competing directly with Ellips' offering to commercial packers. Now integrated into TOMRA Food, it represents one of the most capable rivals in fresh produce post-harvest technology.
• BBC Technologies (TOMRA Food): BBC Technologies is a specialist in sorting and packing technology for berries and small fruit — the same use cases where Ellips' TrueVision and Elifab cherry/blueberry grading machines compete. Acquired by TOMRA in 2018, it directly challenges Ellips in blueberries and cherries.
• GP Graders: GP Graders designs and manufactures electronic grading machinery for blueberries, cherries, tomatoes and other small fruit, and is listed as a North American channel partner for Ellips while simultaneously competing for the same end-customer accounts in the small-fruit grading segment.
• MAF Industries: MAF Industries produces automated grading and packing lines for apples, peaches and other tree fruit, competing in the same fresh-produce post-harvest automation category where Ellips positions TrueSort EQ and specialized grading machines for orchard crops.
• Sorma Group: Sorma Group provides weighing, grading, and packaging machinery for fruits and vegetables globally, overlapping with Ellips' post-harvest packaging and sorting value chain. Especially relevant in Italian and European apple, citrus, and stone fruit packhouses.

Broad incumbents

• Bühler Group: Bühler is a global diversified food processing equipment supplier with optical sorting capabilities that overlap with Ellips' produce grading business, but serves a much broader portfolio of grain, chocolate and consumer foods. It competes as a broad incumbent in industrial optical sorting including for produce, though Ellips is more focused on fresh fruit/vegetables.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ellipsnextlevelgrading7076
• Facebookfacebook.com/ellips.software
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ellips-b.v.
• Xx.com/Ellipssoftware

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Ellips B.V