Ziel

What Ziel does

Ziel is a privately held industrial technology company founded in 2008 that commercializes Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave platforms — originally developed at UC Davis — for non-ionizing, chemical-free microbial decontamination of agricultural commodities. The company's core technology operates at 27.12 MHz, rotating polar water molecules to generate volumetric heat that eliminates mold, yeast, bacteria, Salmonella, and E. coli while preserving cannabinoids, terpenes, and sensory qualities. Ziel's product portfolio spans the RFX and APEX 7 systems for cannabis and hemp cultivators, the APEX 85 continuous pasteurization system for nuts and seeds processors (developed with manufacturing partner STALAM S.p.A. in Italy), and the SENTINEL microwave system for dates and prunes.

Ziel generates revenue primarily through one-time capital equipment sales (RFX at $360K, APEX 7 Reconditioned at $180K, Reconditioning Packages at $85K base), supplemented by recurring service plans ($24K/year), consumables, EU GMP validation documentation packages, and an Authorized Tolling Partner Program that enables fee-for-service access for smaller operators. The company sells directly to enterprise and mid-market cultivators and processors across North America, South America, Central America, and Europe, supported by an 11-language website, equipment financing facilitation, and a 4-day installation and commissioning cycle. Headquartered in San Francisco with a fulfillment center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and manufacturing in Nove, Italy through STALAM, Ziel holds the first U.S. and Canadian patents for RF treatment of cannabis and the first EU GMP validation for cannabis microbial decontamination.

Name

Ziel

Legal name

Ziel

Website

https://ziel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ziel commercializes Radio Frequency and Microwave technology for non-ionizing microbial decontamination of cannabis, nuts, seeds, dates, and prunes, selling turnkey equipment (RFX, APEX 7, APEX 85, SENTINEL) to enterprise and mid-market cultivators and processors across five continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Microbial Decontamination Equipment

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)

SIC

Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grain Protectants & Post-Harvest Insecticide Application (AFAOAIAF)

Keywords

• Radio frequency pasteurization
• Cannabis mold remediation
• Microbial decontamination equipment
• Agricultural pathogen reduction
• Post-harvest food safety

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales (Capital Sale): One-time capital sale of RFX ($360,000 USD) and APEX 7 Reconditioned ($180,000 USD) equipment. Turn-key solution includes installation, commissioning, and training. Equipment can be purchased outright or financed.
2. Extended Warranty and Service Plans: Annual service plans available after initial warranty expires. Extended warranties extend parts and labor coverage up to 3 years. First year service included with new unit purchases. Service plan priced at $24,000/year after initial period.
3. Professional Services: EU GMP Validation Turnkey Package for documentation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Reconditioning Package for used APEX 7 units ($85,000 base), financing facilitation, and tolling partner services.
4. Processing Consumables: Food-grade nylon processing bags and storage bags sold as consumables. Processing bags: $1.95 each. Storage bags: $4.00 each.
5. Tolling / Fee-for-Service Processing: Smaller cannabis cultivators can access RFX/APEX equipment through authorized tolling partners on a fee-for-service basis, avoiding upfront capital costs while achieving mold-free cannabis flower.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ziel designs, manufactures, and sells industrial Radio Frequency (27.12 MHz) and Microwave microbial decontamination equipment for the cannabis, nut, seed, date, and prune industries. Its flagship systems (RFX, APEX 7, APEX 85, and SENTINEL) use non-ionizing thermal energy to eliminate mold, yeast, bacteria, and insect pests while preserving cannabinoids, terpenes, and product quality. The company delivers turnkey solutions including installation, commissioning, training, EU GMP validation documentation, optional extended service plans, and reconditioned units for the North American market.

Product overview

Ziel offers a portfolio of microbial decontamination solutions built on two core technology platforms: Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave technology. The RF platform powers the RFX and APEX 7 for cannabis/hemp decontamination, and the APEX 85 for nuts and seeds pasteurization. The Microwave platform powers the SENTINEL system for dates, prunes, and other high-moisture commodities. All systems use non-ionizing, chemical-free thermal processes suitable for organic, GMP, and EU GMP-certified operations. Ziel provides turnkey solutions including equipment, installation, commissioning, training, and ongoing support, with optional EU GMP validation documentation packages and equipment financing/leasing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RFX: Next-generation cannabis microbial treatment machine, compact design running on single phase power with highest throughput in the industry
• APEX 7
• APEX 85
• SENTINEL

Products and services

• RFX Next-generation Radio Frequency decontamination unit for cannabis and hemp cultivators. Processes 1.3-2.5 kg per batch (14-minute average cycle), up to 160 lb per 8-hour shift, with 99.9% microbial efficacy. Runs on single-phase 240 VAC with 4 kW RF power, controlled by Siemens PLC/HMI for real-time temperature management. Suitable for organic and EU GMP-certified operations.
• APEX 7 Radio Frequency cannabis kill-step system that uses controlled RF waves to reduce microbial pathogens in cannabis and hemp. Processes 0.5-2.3 kg per batch (14-minute average cycle), achieving up to 5-log microbial pathogen reduction. EU GMP validated. Now available as reconditioned units with three-phase 400/480 VAC power and 7 kW RF output for North America.
• APEX 85 Continuous Radio Frequency pasteurization system for nuts and seeds processors, developed with STALAM. Uses 27.12 MHz RF technology to achieve 3-5 log reduction for Salmonella and E. coli with throughput up to 1,200 kg/hr (2,700 lb/hr). Suitable for both organic and conventional processors, including almond and chia seed pasteurization applications.
• SENTINEL Microwave-based disinfestation and disinfection system for dates, prunes, and high-moisture or high-salinity commodities. Processes up to 4,000 kg/hr (9,000 lb/hr) of loose bulk or finished packaged product. Provides organic, chemical-free, non-ionizing insect and microbial control to extend shelf life without chemical preservatives.
• EU GMP Validation Turnkey Package Complete IQ/OQ/PQ documentation package for EU GMP validation of RFX and APEX 7 machines. Includes all traceability records customized to local regulatory requirements, completed during installation week. The first decontamination technology in cannabis to earn EU GMP validation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.9% microbial compliance pass rate for cannabis testing
• +12 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• PortocannaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Ziel partnered with Portocanna to receive the first EU GMP certification for the use of Frequency Technology for microbial control in cannabis. This landmark partnership established Ziel as the first company to achieve EU GMP validation for RF decontamination in cannabis.
• Hello FarmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Hello Farms operates an 80-acre sun-grown cannabis farm in Au Gres, MI. First Authorized Tolling Partner in Michigan. Processed more than 4 tons of cannabis flower with APEX since 2022. Provides microbial reduction services to smaller and mid-size operators to assist them in meeting Michigan regulatory compliance.
• STALAM S.p.A.coreTechnology or IntegrationBased in Nove, Italy, STALAM is the established world leader in development, design, and manufacture of Radio Frequency equipment for drying and thermal processing. Ziel and STALAM partnered to commercialize RF for pasteurization of nuts and seeds, and pioneered RF in the cannabis and hemp industry for microbial reduction. STALAM manufactures the RFX unit for Ziel.
• AMTekcoreTechnology or IntegrationBased in the USA, AMTek is a global leader manufacturing industrial microwave systems for pasteurizing, drying, cooking, and tempering. Ziel and AMTek partnered to design customized high-volume disinfestation solutions for the date and prune industries. AMTek is the leading supplier for custom-built turnkey microwave systems.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• STALAM S.p.A. Italy-based global leader in Radio Frequency equipment manufacturing for drying and thermal processing. STALAM manufactures Ziel's RFX unit under partnership and develops competing RF equipment for textiles and industrial drying. Direct peer in industrial RF thermal processing technology and Ziel's primary manufacturing partner.
• AMTek Microwaves: US-based global leader manufacturing industrial microwave systems for pasteurizing, drying, cooking, and tempering. AMTek manufactures Ziel's SENTINEL microwave platform and offers competing microwave processing equipment for food and agricultural applications, making it both partner and direct peer.
• EnWave Corporation: Canadian public company developing Radiant Energy Vacuum (REV) microwave dehydration technology for food, pharmaceutical, and cannabis applications. Direct peer in microwave thermal food processing and decontamination with publicly traded comparable and similar target markets.
• 915 Labs: US-based company commercializing Radio Frequency (RF) technology for food pasteurization, focused on meat, seafood, and produce. Direct peer in RF food pasteurization competing with Ziel's APEX 85 in food safety and broader thermal processing applications.
• Rad Source Technologies: US-based manufacturer of X-Ray based cannabis decontamination equipment (RS 420 series) and blood irradiation devices. Direct competitor in cannabis microbial kill-step technology, offering ionizing radiation alternative to Ziel's non-ionizing RF approach with similar throughput/cost positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Sterigenics: Global leader in gamma and electron beam sterilization services for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food, and cannabis. Broad incumbent in sterilization technologies with established regulatory acceptance, offering ionizing radiation alternatives to Ziel's RF/microwave approach across multiple end markets.
• STERIS: Global provider of sterilization and infection prevention products and services for medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Broad incumbent offering gamma, ethylene oxide, and other sterilization technologies as alternatives to Ziel's RF/microwave thermal processing across multiple regulated verticals.
• Ecolab: Global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions for food service, food processing, and healthcare. Broad incumbent offering chemical-based sanitation and food safety solutions as alternatives to thermal decontamination, with deep distribution and customer relationships in food processing.

Emerging players

• ELEA Technology: Germany-based company developing Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology for food and beverage processing applications including microbial inactivation. Emerging player offering non-thermal alternative to Ziel's RF/microwave thermal processing, primarily serving food processors seeking energy-efficient pasteurization.
• Pulsemaster: Netherlands-based company specializing in Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) systems for food processing applications including potato, vegetable, and beverage processing. Emerging player offering non-thermal food preservation technology as an alternative to thermal methods like Ziel's RF/microwave.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Ziel