Van Doren Sales
Van Doren Sales, Inc. designs, manufactures, and services custom produce handling and processing equipment—including optical graders, robotic packers, and control systems—for fruit and vegetable packing facilities across North America, operating from offices in Washington, Michigan, and British Columbia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersWenatchee, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Van Doren Sales does
Van Doren Sales, Inc. is a privately-held, family-owned manufacturer and integrator of custom produce handling and processing equipment, founded in 1946 in Wenatchee, Washington and now in its third generation of family control under Bret Pittsinger. The company designs, fabricates, and installs end-to-end packing lines for fruit and vegetable operations—primarily apples, cherries, potatoes, and onions—covering bin dumping, optical sorting, grading, sizing, conveyance, cleaning, labeling, palletizing, and finished packaging. Its technology stack combines proprietary hardware (UL-certified custom electrical panels, PLC and HMI/SCADA control systems, the TerraGrade cable sizer, the COR robotic tray filler, and the VDS O.N.E. software platform) with integrated third-party components from a Global Integration Network of more than a dozen partners including TOMRA (Spectrim optical graders, SLS bagging platform), Rockwell Automation (Gold OEM Partner status), SKALS, Intralox, KUKA, ICON Robotics, Hytrol, Sinclair, Markem-Imaje, and Durand Wayland.
The business sells quote-based, custom-engineered equipment to enterprise produce packers in North America, generated through direct field sales from four regional offices (East Wenatchee WA as headquarters, Yakima WA, Grand Rapids MI, and Kelowna BC via the Van Doren North sister company). Revenue mechanics span one-time equipment sales, recurring service contracts and preventative maintenance, vendor-managed inventory agreements, and fee-based operator training through the Van Doren Sales University program (Spectrim 101/Intermediate/Advanced, Cherry sizer, and custom courses). The company has invested in data and analytics capability through its May 2020 acquisition of AgJet, and has accelerated product launches (TerraGrade Cable Sizer, Apple SLS Bagging Solution, Case Optimization Robot, and OnionCam with TechNature) across 2023-2024 to deepen automation and computer-vision-driven grading across its produce verticals.
Van Doren Sales firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Van Doren Sales
- Legal name
- Van Doren Sales Inc.
- Website
- https://vandorensales.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Van Doren Sales, Inc. designs, manufactures, and services custom produce handling and processing equipment—including optical graders, robotic packers, and control systems—for fruit and vegetable packing facilities across North America, operating from offices in Washington, Michigan, and British Columbia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Van Doren Sales industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Produce Handling Equipment
- NAICS
- Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)
- SIC
- General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cartoning, Case Packing & Tray Loading Machines (IMALAOAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cartoning & Case Packing Systems (IMAHAOAB)
Keywords
Where Van Doren Sales is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wenatchee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Van Doren Sales 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
- Custom Produce Equipment Sales: Sale of custom-designed produce handling, sorting, grading, sizing, and packing equipment. Equipment includes apple solutions, cherry solutions, potato solutions, onion solutions, and other produce line solutions. Solutions are tailored to customer facility needs.
- Service & Maintenance: Ongoing service including preventative maintenance, remote service, in-field service, and routine equipment audits. Service contracts available for parts management and maintenance.
- Training Programs: Van Doren Sales University training programs including Spectrim operator training (101, Intermediate, Advanced levels), Cherry sizer training, and custom training programs. Training is offered at company facilities and on-site at customer locations.
- Vendor Managed Inventories: VMI agreements ensuring replacement parts availability at customer locations through service contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Van Doren Sales product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Van Doren Sales designs, manufactures, and integrates custom produce handling and processing equipment for fruit and vegetable packing operations, including optical grading, sorting, sizing, conveying, robotic palletizing, labeling, and PLC control systems. The company supports its equipment with the proprietary VDS O.N.E. software platform for traceability, production oversight, and ERP/WMS integration, plus ongoing service, preventative maintenance, and operator training programs.
Product overview
Van Doren Sales is a custom produce handling and processing equipment company established in 1946, offering industry-leading integration solutions and service for fruit and vegetable equipment. Their portfolio is organized around produce-specific solution lines (Apple, Cherry, Potato, Onion, and Other Produce Solutions) supported by core technology categories (Controls & Integration, Material Handling & Palletization). Key products include VDS O.N.E. software platform for traceability and data analytics, advanced optical grading and sorting equipment utilizing computer vision technology, custom electrical panels (UL certified), and specialized produce handling machinery. The company offers comprehensive services including preventative maintenance, service contracts, and operator training programs. Recent innovations include OnionCam with TechNature partnership (2024), Case Optimization Robot with GlobalPac (2023), Apple SLS Bagging Solution using TOMRA platform (2023), and TerraGrade Cable Sizer (2023).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Apple Solutions Complete apple sorting and packing solutions including bin handling, grading, sizing, inspection, conveyance, and packing equipment for apple packing facilities.
- Cherry Solutions
Quantifiable outcome
- OnionCam handles 15-30 tons per hour with multi-camera imaging system
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Van Doren Sales
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Van Doren Sales technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability8 records
Feature9 records
Van Doren Sales partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- AgJetcoreAcquired in May 2020 to advance produce handling transparency and crop traceability through data analytics. Combined with Van Doren's data gathering programs for comprehensive customer information access.
- TOMRA FoodcoreGlobal integration partner providing optical grading and sorting technology. Van Doren integrates TOMRA equipment including the Spectrim system and SLS bagging platform into comprehensive produce handling solutions.
- Rockwell AutomationcoreGold OEM Partner status. Provides PLC control systems, HMI panels, and automation technology integrated into Van Doren's custom electrical panels and control systems.
- SKALScoreEquipment integration partner for potato and onion handling equipment including bin tippers, receiving bunkers, roller graders, screen sorters, and inspection tables.
- IntraloxmajorGlobal integration partner providing conveyor belt systems and material handling solutions for produce packing operations.
- SinclairmajorProduce labeling specialist partner. Van Doren-Sinclair labeling specialists inspect and maintain produce labelers across service regions.
- Markem-ImajemajorIntegration partner for print and stamper systems enabling customized labels and product coding in packing solutions.
- ICON RoboticsmajorRobotic solutions partner for produce handling and packing automation integration.
- KUKAmajorGlobal integration partner for industrial robotics and automation in food and consumer goods industries.
- HytrolmajorConveyor solutions partner specializing in material handling equipment for food and beverage industries.
- TechNaturecoreStrategic technology partnership to bring advanced grading systems to onion packing industries. Co-developed OnionCam system with multiple camera angles and produce rotation for comprehensive grading accuracy.
- GlobalPacmajorGlobal integration partner for the Case Optimization Robot (COR) development, completing the automated tray filling solution with Aporo robotics and Van Doren's Vertical Carton Conveyor.
- Durand WaylandmajorEarly partnership established in the 1980s for color sorter/sizer technology integration into Van Doren packing solutions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Van Doren Sales competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TOMRA Food: Global leader in optical sorting and grading for fresh produce. Directly competes with Van Doren's grading/sorting solutions while also being a key technology partner via Spectrim and SLS platforms, making it both a competitor and collaborator in the produce packing line.
- Duravant (Key Technology): Food processing and sorting equipment manufacturer serving produce, nuts, and similar industries. Offers optical sorting, conveying, and integrated line solutions directly comparable to Van Doren's produce handling portfolio.
- Greefa: Dutch manufacturer of fruit grading, sorting, and packing equipment for apples, pears, citrus, and stone fruit. Direct competitor in optical grading and sorting machinery with comparable customer base of fruit packers.
- UNITEC Group: Italian provider of integrated sorting and packing lines for fresh fruit and vegetables. Competitor in optical grading and complete packing line solutions for the same apple, pear, cherry, and stone fruit customer base.
- Compac (TOMRA): Specialist in fresh produce sorting and grading technology, now part of TOMRA. Direct competitor in apple, cherry, and citrus sorting lines with comparable computer vision and grading capability.
- Ellips (TOMRA): Optical sorting technology specialist for fresh produce, now part of TOMRA. Direct competitor in multi-spectrum imaging and AI grading for apples, onions, and similar produce categories.
Broad incumbents
- JBT (John Bean Technologies): Large diversified food processing and air transport equipment supplier. Provides produce processing solutions as part of a broader portfolio, overlapping with Van Doren in fruit and vegetable handling equipment.
- Marel: Global food processing equipment leader serving meat, fish, poultry, and produce. Offers integrated produce packing solutions as part of a much broader portfolio; competes indirectly with Van Doren for larger multi-category packers.
Emerging players
- Ser.mac: Italian manufacturer of electronic grading and sorting machines for fresh fruit. Smaller-scale competitor focused on cherry, apple, and stone fruit grading with overlapping optical sorting capability.
Others
- Aporo (GlobalPac): Developer of robotic apple tray-filling solutions; Van Doren's co-development partner on the Case Optimization Robot. Comparable through robotic produce packing automation, but supplies to Van Doren rather than competing for end customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Van Doren Sales social profiles
Digital presenceVan Doren Sales compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Van Doren Sales financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Van Doren Sales leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Van Doren Sales subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Van Doren Sales funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Van Doren Sales 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 Van Doren Sales
What does Van Doren Sales do?
Van Doren Sales designs, manufactures, and integrates custom produce handling and processing equipment for fruit and vegetable packing operations, including optical grading, sorting, sizing, conveying, robotic palletizing, labeling, and PLC control systems. The company supports its equipment with the proprietary VDS O.N.E. software platform for traceability, production oversight, and ERP/WMS integration, plus ongoing service, preventative maintenance, and operator training programs.
Is Van Doren Sales a public or private company?
Van Doren Sales is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Van Doren Sales founded?
Van Doren Sales was founded in 1946. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Van Doren Sales based?
Van Doren Sales is headquartered in Wenatchee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Van Doren Sales make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Produce Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are service & Maintenance, training Programs and vendor Managed Inventories.
Who are Van Doren Sales's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TOMRA Food, Duravant (Key Technology), Greefa, UNITEC Group, Compac (TOMRA) and Ellips (TOMRA). Broad incumbents are JBT (John Bean Technologies) and Marel. Ser.mac is listed as an emerging player. Aporo (GlobalPac) is listed as an others.
Does Van Doren Sales have an API?
No public API is recorded for Van Doren Sales.
What industry is Van Doren Sales in?
Van Doren Sales's product category is Produce Handling Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAOAE, Cartoning, Case Packing & Tray Loading Machines, with a secondary code of IMAHAOAB, Cartoning & Case Packing Systems. Its NAICS code is 333241 and its SIC code is 3560.