What Eqraft does

Eqraft (trading name of Proqraft BV) designs, builds, and maintains smart factories for grading, weighing, packing, and palletizing onions, potatoes, and bulk agricultural products. Founded in 1984 in Emmeloord, Netherlands, the company originated as ERC with the closed onion topper and now offers a full-line portfolio including the AI-powered Eqrader optical sorter (six cameras per track plus near-infrared for internal rot detection, with a self-learning neural network covering 18 external quality categories), the Combination Scale weigher, the Baxmatic and Rollstock Bagger packers, the Cratefiller, and the Eqontrol factory software platform that enables machine-to-machine communication, recipe management, and real-time monitoring across the line.

The company monetizes primarily through project-based hardware sales of customized machinery and full turn-key factory installations, supplemented by revenue from project management and consultancy services and a growing aftermarket parts, maintenance, and remote-monitoring tail. GTM is enterprise field sales with dedicated regional representatives across Europe, North America, South America, and Australia/New Zealand, supplemented by a dealer channel (Pepper Equipment in NM/TX, Dobmac in ANZ, LG Distribution in Bretagne). Customer segments are onion factories (primary), potato processors (a deliberate expansion vertical), and bulk-product handlers, with marquee enterprise accounts including MSP Onions, Baker & Murakami, Dacomex, Blue Sky Onions, and La Motte.

The Onion Tech Alliance partnership with Modesta (dust extraction), Symach (palletizing/wrapping), and Deprez (internal transport) creates an integrated offering that competitors without complementary partners cannot easily match. Following a 2019 management buyout from the predecessor's bankruptcy estate, Eqraft has scaled from 40 to ~100 employees, opened a new headquarters in early 2024, and established Eqraft Inc in Washington State in mid-2024 to anchor North American growth.

Name

Eqraft

Legal name

Proqraft BV

Website

https://eqraft.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Eqraft designs, builds, and maintains smart factories for grading, weighing, and packing onions, potatoes, and bulk agricultural products, serving processors worldwide through its AI-powered Eqrader optical sorter, Eqontrol software, and integrated Onion Tech Alliance partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Processing Machinery

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241), Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333111)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Handling & Conveying for Processing Lines (Augers, Elevators, Conveyors) (AFAAAJAJ)

Keywords

• Agricultural processing machinery
• Optical sorting equipment
• Onion grading machines
• Potato packing equipment
• Factory automation software

Headquarters

HQ city

Emmeloord

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Machinery Sales: Sale of processing and packing machinery including Eqrader optical sorters, onion toppers, weighing machines, packing machines, and bin handling systems. Machines are customized for different product types (onions, potatoes, bulk products) with varying configurations.
2. Project Management & Consultancy: Comprehensive project management services for factory design, installation, and commissioning. Includes Design Brief development, process flow optimization, and coordination of third-party contractors and partners.
3. Aftermarket Parts & Service: Spare parts supply, maintenance services, and remote support. Eqraft offers online monitoring, service visits, and parts inventory management through global support centers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Eqraft designs, builds, and maintains smart factories for grading, weighing, sorting, and packing onions, potatoes, and other bulk agricultural products. Its portfolio combines proprietary hardware (Eqrader optical sorter, onion toppers, combination scales, Baxmatic and Rollstock baggers, cratefillers, bin handling) with the Eqontrol software platform that connects and controls the entire production line. Through the Onion Tech Alliance, the company also integrates Modesta dust extraction, Symach palletizing, and Deprez internal transport to deliver turn-key processing facilities.

Product overview

Eqraft is a Dutch agricultural machinery company that designs, builds, and maintains smart factories for grading, weighing, and packing onions, potatoes, and bulk products. The company operates as a comprehensive supplier offering both proprietary equipment and an integrated software platform. Core products include the Eqrader (flagship optical sorting machine using AI and computer vision), Onion Topper, Combination Scale, Baxmatic (automatic bagging), Rollstock Bagger, Cratefiller, and various supporting equipment. The Eqontrol software platform enables machine-to-machine communication and centralized control. Through the Onion Tech Alliance partnership, Eqraft also offers Deprez internal transport systems, Modesta dust extraction, and Symach palletizers as integrated components of complete factory solutions. The product portfolio spans from reception and cleaning through grading, weighing, packing, and palletizing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eqrader™: Optical sorting machine for onions and potatoes using artificial intelligence for quality, size, weight, shape, and color grading
• Eqontrol
• Baxmatic®
• Onion Tech Alliance (OTA)

Products and services

• Eqrader Optical Sorting Machine Fully automated optical sorting machine that grades onions and potatoes by internal and external quality, size, weight, shape, and color. Uses artificial intelligence, six cameras per track, and near-infrared inspection to detect internal rot and route each onion to the correct exit at high speed. Intended for industrial onion and potato processors seeking consistent quality grading and increased capacity.
• Onion Topper Machine that separates dirt and foliage from produce using rotating knives while also removing loose skins and dirt, preventing contamination in subsequent processing stages. Originally developed in 1984 and used by onion processors worldwide.
• Combination Scale (Multihead Weigher) Multihead weigher that fills bags, crates, or boxes with precisely measured produce. Can be combined with all Eqraft packing machines including Cratefiller, Baxmatic, Sewing Lane, Printer, and Rollstock Bagger for end-to-end automated weighing lines.
• Baxmatic Bagging Machine Automatic bagging machine that fills and sews bags fully automatically and supports easy switching between wicket, jute, and woven-net bags. Designed for onion and potato packers that need flexible packaging with minimal manual intervention.
• Rollstock Bagger High-speed machine that forms, fills, and seals plastic net bags from reels by burning off material to size and melting the sides. Handles 2.5–25 kg bags at speeds of at least 1,000 bags per hour for agricultural, industrial, and bulk products, and can integrate with Manufacturing Execution Software (MES).
• Cratefiller Machine that carefully deposits agricultural produce in crates or boxes of various sizes, shakes to evenly distribute product, and closes. Features gentle product handling via a filling mouth that lowers into the crate before releasing produce.
• Bin Handling Systems Fully automated bin handling equipment including roller tracks, stackers, destackers, turntables, shuttles, filling stations, and crossings. Built with sturdy materials and electronic/pneumatic technology (avoiding hydraulics) for food-safe produce handling in processing facilities.
• Check Weigher Machine that checks if closed consumer packs have the required weight and ejects those that are over or underweight, ensuring accurate portioning and quality control on packing lines.
• Sewing Lane Equipment that properly closes bags after filling, with an integrated label printer for full traceability of produce.
• Big Bag Filler Machine capable of handling bags up to 2,000 kilograms for jumbo packaging requirements.
• Cratematic Masterfiller Machine for gentle product handling, consistent filling patterns, and high speed. Can fill many types of crates and cartons with consumer packs.
• Eqontrol Software Platform Software platform that enables all machines on the line to communicate with each other intelligently. Allows operators to control production lines via tablet, desktop, or smartphone with preset recipes for every bag, crate, and carton configuration, and provides real-time monitoring and machine alarms.
• Real-time Laser Printer Bag laser printer developed in collaboration with LC Packaging that prints directly onto bags without ink ribbons, tape, or paper tickets. Enables real-time editing of text and images through a user-friendly interface for printing dates, product information, and track-and-trace numbers.
• Onion Shaver Machine that removes foliage remnants beyond what the onion topper removes, preparing onions for premium (luxurious) packaging.
• Tray and Carton Fillers Equipment for filling trays and cartons with produce, part of the consumer-pack packing line.
• Clippers (Bag Closing Equipment) Equipment for closing and securing bags, part of the broader packaging line offered by Eqraft.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% capacity increase with Eqrader at Blue Sky Onions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Onion Tech Alliance (OTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Eqraft (Logistics, Grading, Weighing, Filling, Packaging), Modesta (Windsifting & Dust Extraction), and Symach (Palletizing & Wrapping). Founded to provide integrated project approach where factory owners receive expert advice at every step. Three companies' solutions are optimally adapted to each other, providing comprehensive turn-key agri factory capabilities.
• ModestacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDust extraction and air filtration specialist. Provides windsifting and dust extraction installations that keep machines and premises clean, vital for factory operations. Their equipment is integrated from early design stages of OTA projects.
• SymachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalletizing and wrapping specialist. Provides custom-built palletizers with great stacking quality for load securing. Critical component of OTA integrated factory approach.
• Deprez Handling SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal transport solutions provider. Products include roller tracks, shuttles, bin-rotation tables, bin destackers, and bin stackers for automated material handling within processing facilities.
• LC PackagingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of real-time laser printing system for bag identification. LC Packaging designed laser-printable bags while Eqraft developed the printer. Eliminates need for pre-printed tape, tickets, or ink ribbons.
• Norman 'Snap' KeeneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based local support and sales representative for the Northwest region, instrumental in establishing Baker & Murakami relationship through trade show invitation.
• Thomas BimbiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal support and sales representative in the US, integral to Baker & Murakami project success during installation phase.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TOMRA: Global leader in optical sorting and grading equipment across food, recycling, and mining. TOMRA's food sorting division directly competes with the Eqrader in produce and potato applications, serving many of the same enterprise packer customers worldwide.
• Ellips: Dutch-based developer of optical sorting technology for fruits and vegetables. Ellips competes head-to-head with Eqraft's Eqrader in onion and potato grading, offering AI-driven multi-camera sorting systems to global packers.
• Multiscan Technologies: Spanish manufacturer of optical sorting and inspection equipment for fruits and vegetables. Multiscan competes with Eqraft across citrus, stone fruit, and other produce categories with similar machine-vision-based grading solutions.
• Turatti Group: Italian manufacturer of food processing machinery with strong presence in produce washing, sorting, and packing lines. Turatti competes with Eqraft in vegetable handling and integrated processing line installations across European and international markets.

Broad incumbents

• Key Technology (Duravant): US-based manufacturer of digital sorting, conveying, and processing equipment for food processing. Key Technology serves overlapping potato and produce processor customers with a broader portfolio including vibratory conveyors and larger installed base.
• Heat and Control: Global manufacturer of food processing, seasoning, and packaging equipment. Heat and Control serves overlapping potato and vegetable processor customers with broader industrial-scale systems, including frying, conveying, and weighing solutions.
• JBT Corporation: Diversified food processing and air transport equipment provider. JBT's FoodTech division offers sorting, weighing, and packaging solutions that overlap with Eqraft's product portfolio, particularly in fruit and vegetable processing.
• Bühler Group: Swiss global plant and equipment manufacturer serving food processing, including grain, sorting, and optical quality control. Bühler's SORTEX optical sorting line competes in adjacent produce and grain categories to Eqraft's Eqrader.
• GEA Group: German multinational supplying processing equipment and turnkey plant solutions for food, dairy, and beverages. GEA competes in larger integrated processing lines where Eqraft's OTA-partnered turnkey approach also operates.

Others

• Modesta (Onion Tech Alliance partner): Dutch dust extraction and air filtration specialist partnered with Eqraft in the Onion Tech Alliance. Modesta's windsifting and dust extraction systems are bundled with Eqraft's graders in OTA turnkey onion factory projects, making it an adjacent ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eqraft
• Facebookfacebook.com/eqraft

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Eqraft