Nobels
Nobels Group is a Dutch family-owned manufacturer of automation and machinery for horticulture, agriculture (flower bulbs and perennials), and industrial markets, operating worldwide through its Javo, Agro Techniek, and Javo International subsidiaries. It serves greenhouse operators, bulb growers, and industrial customers with custom pot and tray handling systems and field service support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersNoordwijkerhout, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nobels does
Nobels Group is a Dutch family-owned industrial automation and machinery holding company headquartered in Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands, operating since 1955 when founder Arnold van Nobelen began building machines for the Dutch bulb region. Following the 2022 generational transition, the company is now led by the third generation of the Van Nobelen family alongside CEO Koos de Vink. The group operates three core subsidiaries: Javo, the world market leader in pot and tray handling automation for horticulture; Agro Techniek, which provides agricultural and horticultural mechanization for the flower bulb and perennial plant sector (including the integrated Van der Slot Techniek activities acquired in 2019); and Javo International, the dedicated export sales arm. Core products include pot-filling machines, tray automation systems, custom-designed machines for individual customers, and supporting service and spare parts offerings; manufacturing is conducted entirely in-house across 13,500 m² of production space, utilizing laser cutting, powder coating, and computer-controlled bending capabilities.
The company's business model is built on hardware sales of custom and standardized automation machines, supplemented by professional services — installation, maintenance, repair, and spare parts — delivered by a global field service engineering team. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting the custom-engineered nature of most systems. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting horticultural pot plant growers, greenhouse operators, flower bulb growers and processors, and selected industrial customers, with brand-specific websites (javo.eu, agro-techniek.com, javointernational.com), showrooms at the Noordwijkerhout facilities, and presence at industry trade shows such as IPM Essen. Distribution spans more than 60 countries worldwide, and the company markets its differentiation on family-business heritage since 1955, end-to-end in-house manufacturing, machines designed for generational use, and world-market leadership in the pot and tray handling niche.
Nobels firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nobels
- Legal name
- Nobels BV
- Website
- https://nobels-group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Nobels Group is a Dutch family-owned manufacturer of automation and machinery for horticulture, agriculture (flower bulbs and perennials), and industrial markets, operating worldwide through its Javo, Agro Techniek, and Javo International subsidiaries. It serves greenhouse operators, bulb growers, and industrial customers with custom pot and tray handling systems and field service support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nobels industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural and Horticultural Automation Machinery
- NAICS
- Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Precision Agriculture & Farm Technology Equipment (IMAHACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Robotic Implements, End-Effectors & Tooling (Grippers, cutters, weeding tools, smart implements) (AFAAAGAI)
Keywords
Where Nobels is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Noordwijkerhout
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Nobels business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Machine Manufacturing and Sales: Design, production, and sale of automation machines for agriculture, horticulture, and industrial markets. Products include pot machines, tray automation, and custom-built machines sold globally.
- Service, Repair and Maintenance: Field service engineers provide installation, troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance services for machines at customer sites worldwide.
- Custom Solutions and Parts: Custom-made solutions and spare parts for existing machines and A-brand machines sold to agricultural customers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Nobels product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nobels Group is a Dutch family-owned industrial manufacturer that designs, produces, and services automation and robotic machinery for the agricultural, horticultural, and industrial markets under its Javo and Agro Techniek brands. Its core commercial products are pot-filling and tray handling machines for horticulture (Javo) and agricultural mechanization equipment for the flower bulb and perennial plant sector (Agro Techniek), supplemented by custom-built machines, spare parts, and on-site installation, maintenance, and repair services delivered by a global field engineering team.
Product overview
Nobels Group is a family-owned company since 1955 that operates as a holding company for multiple brands in the agricultural and horticultural machinery sector. The group consists of Nobels (the parent company), Javo (world market leader in horticulture automation for pot and tray handling), Agro Techniek (agricultural and horticultural mechanization for bulb and perennial plant sectors), and Javo International (global operations). The entire process from design and production to service and sales takes place under one roof, with all departments working closely together. The group offers automation systems for agriculture, horticulture, and industrial markets, with machines sold worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Javo: World market leader in horticulture automation; specializes in pot and tray handling machines and tray automation for the global horticulture market.
- Javo International
- Agro Techniek
Products and services
- Javo Pot and Tray Handling Machines Javo pot-filling machines, tray automation, and related pot and tray handling systems for commercial horticulture and greenhouse operators; the brand is described as the world market leader in pot and tray automation.
- Agro Techniek Agricultural Machines Agricultural and horticultural mechanization machines for the flower bulb and perennial plant sectors, including both A-brand machines and custom-built solutions produced and serviced by Agro Techniek.
- Field Service, Installation, Maintenance and Repair Installation, troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance services for Nobels Group machines and other A-brand machines, delivered on customer sites worldwide by field service engineers.
- Custom-Built Machines and Spare Parts Custom-designed machines tailored to individual customer specifications and spare parts for existing machines and A-brand machines, sold to agricultural and industrial customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Machines delivered to more than 60 countries worldwide
Companies that use Nobels
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nobels technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Nobels partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AVAGcoreJavo joined the AVAG industry association in June 2024. AVAG is the branchevereniging (industry association) for horticultural suppliers. Javo, known as a world leader in pot machine innovation, joined to connect with other horticultural suppliers in the association.
- Van der Slot TechniekminorNobels Group acquired all activities and employees of Van der Slot Techniek effective January 1, 2019. All activities and employees were integrated under Agro Techniek. Van der Slot Techniek was a reliable partner in agricultural mechanization, construction work, repair and maintenance. The acquisition strengthened market position and offers growth opportunities.
- Ronald Moerings Foundation (RMF)minorJavo has been a proud sponsor of the Ronald Moerings Foundation since 2016, supporting their fight against cancer through inspiring projects. Recent initiatives include greening projects at Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nobels competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Visser Horti Systems: Direct Dutch competitor in horticultural automation. Visser designs and builds pot, tray, and transport handling systems for greenhouse nurseries — directly overlapping with Javo's product line and serving the same greenhouse operator customer base globally.
- ISO Group (TTA / Tuinbouw Techniek Amsterdam): Dutch horticultural machinery specialist focused on internal transport, sorting, and handling automation in greenhouses. Directly comparable to Nobels Group's pot and tray handling systems and competing for the same European greenhouse customer wallet share.
- Mayer Group: German manufacturer of horticultural and tree nursery machinery including potting, transplanting, and handling equipment. Closely comparable product portfolio to Javo's pot handling and tray automation systems, addressing the same nursery and greenhouse operators across Europe.
- Flier Systems: Dutch specialist in horticultural automation, including potting machines, tray handling, and internal transport systems. Headquartered in the Netherlands and serving the same pot plant and greenhouse nursery segments as Nobels' Javo brand.
- Bercomex: Netherlands-based supplier of flower and plant processing automation, including bunching, sorting, and potted-plant handling lines. Comparable to Nobels in serving the ornamental horticulture value chain with mechanical handling and processing machinery.
- Bouldin & Lawson: US manufacturer of nursery and greenhouse automation equipment including potting machines, tray fillers, and handling systems. Directly comparable product line to Javo's pot and tray automation, addressing the North American nursery operator segment.
- Da Ros Srl: Italian manufacturer of horticultural machinery including pot fillers, tray stackers, and handling equipment. Comparable European competitor to Nobels in pot plant automation with overlapping customer base of European greenhouse nurseries.
- AgriNomix: US-based supplier of nursery and greenhouse automation including potting lines, conveyors, and material handling. Comparable in product scope to Nobels' Javo and in target customer (commercial nursery and greenhouse operations).
Emerging players
- WPS (Wageningen): Dutch supplier of greenhouse and horticultural automation including climate, irrigation, and handling systems. Partial overlap with Nobels Group in greenhouse automation but with a broader scope including climate control rather than purely mechanical pot/tray handling.
Others
- Metazet / FormFlex: Dutch supplier of greenhouse infrastructure including internal transport systems, grow gutters, and cultivation systems. Adjacent to Nobels' horticultural automation offering, serving overlapping greenhouse customers but focused on fixed infrastructure rather than pot/tray handling machinery.
Market position
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nobels social profiles
Digital presenceNobels financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nobels leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Nobels subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Nobels funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nobels M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nobels
What does Nobels do?
Nobels Group is a Dutch family-owned industrial manufacturer that designs, produces, and services automation and robotic machinery for the agricultural, horticultural, and industrial markets under its Javo and Agro Techniek brands. Its core commercial products are pot-filling and tray handling machines for horticulture (Javo) and agricultural mechanization equipment for the flower bulb and perennial plant sector (Agro Techniek), supplemented by custom-built machines, spare parts, and on-site installation, maintenance, and repair services delivered by a global field engineering team.
Is Nobels a public or private company?
Nobels is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Nobels founded?
Nobels was founded in 1955. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Nobels based?
Nobels is headquartered in Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Nobels make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Machine Manufacturing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are service, Repair and Maintenance and custom Solutions and Parts.
Who are Nobels's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Visser Horti Systems, ISO Group (TTA / Tuinbouw Techniek Amsterdam), Mayer Group, Flier Systems, Bercomex, Bouldin & Lawson, Da Ros Srl and AgriNomix. WPS (Wageningen) is listed as an emerging player. Metazet / FormFlex is listed as an others.
Does Nobels have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nobels.
What industry is Nobels in?
Nobels's product category is Agricultural and Horticultural Automation Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHACAH, Precision Agriculture & Farm Technology Equipment, with a secondary code of AFAAAGAI, Robotic Implements, End-Effectors & Tooling (Grippers, cutters, weeding tools, smart implements). Its NAICS code is 3339 and its SIC code is 3559.