What Emerald Automation does

Emerald Automation is a privately-held U.S. industrial packaging machinery manufacturer headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, founded in 2004 and operating with 11–50 employees. The company designs and builds customized packaging automation systems — including robotic and sanitary case erectors, drop packers, bulk packers, vertical case packers, case inverters, product settlers, and VFFS retrofits — primarily for food-processing facilities and, increasingly, for nonprofit retail distribution. Its equipment integrates Allen-Bradley CompactLogix PLCs, variable frequency drives, servo motion, FANUC/Comau robotics, RFID authentication, and Ethernet-connected controls, with U.L. 508A-certified panels and HACCP/AMI/3A-compliant sanitary designs for hygiene-sensitive environments. The company claims 265+ packaging lines deployed across its 21+ year history and a 2–3x performance-per-dollar value position versus competitors, supported by marquee customers including McCain, Kellogg's, Hershey's, Lactalis, Darigold, Simplot, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The business model combines one-time capital-equipment sales with recurring aftermarket revenue: Emerald Care Service Contracts, factory spare parts (1–3 business-day fulfillment), and Machine Rebuilds & Modernization services that extend to competitor-installed equipment. Pricing is predominantly quote-based, with the only publicly disclosed price point being the Flipster Model 1 base at $33,315 plus optional add-ons. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales via website consultation requests, phone, and email, supported by case studies (notably Goodwill Industries with documented +150% throughput / -40% labor / +75% sales outcomes via the GoodFlow™ system) and a content-marketing engine through a blog and help center. There is no reseller or distributor channel, no disclosed institutional ownership, no funding rounds, and no parent company; ownership structure constitutes a data gap.

Name

Emerald Automation

Legal name

Emerald Automation

Website

https://emeraldautomation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Emerald Automation is a Kennewick, Washington-based industrial packaging machinery manufacturer (founded 2004) that designs custom case erectors, drop packers, case inverters, and VFFS retrofits for food processors and, via GoodFlow™, nonprofit retail distribution, sold direct to enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Line Automation, Robotics & Integration (Controls, Turnkey Lines) (IMALAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

Keywords

• Industrial packaging equipment
• Case erectors
• Drop packers
• Packaging automation
• Machine rebuilding

Headquarters

HQ city

Kennewick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Packaging Machine Sales: Sale of industrial packaging equipment including case erectors, drop packers, vertical case packers, case inverters, and product settlers. One-time hardware sales with customizable configurations and add-on options.
2. Emerald Care Service Contracts: Ongoing service contracts providing priority technical support, scheduled preventive maintenance, discounted parts and labor, detailed service records, and remote support and diagnostics.
3. Spare Parts: Factory replacement components for Emerald machines including essential parts for optimal performance and longevity. Orders processed within 1-3 business days with tracking information provided.
4. Machine Rebuilds & Modernization: Full machine rebuilds and modernization services for Emerald and competitor equipment. Includes mechanical overhaul, control system upgrades, safety compliance updates, electrical panel modernization, and performance tuning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Emerald Automation designs, manufactures, and services industrial packaging automation equipment—including case erectors, drop packers, bulk packers, vertical case packers, case inverters, and product settlers—for food processors, industrial manufacturers, and Goodwill Outlet Centers. The company also delivers the GoodFlow™ automated distribution solution, plus spare parts, Emerald Care service contracts, and machine rebuilds/modernization services for both Emerald and competitor equipment.

Product overview

Emerald Automation offers a comprehensive portfolio of packaging equipment organized into four main product categories: Primary Packaging (Bosch VFFS Retrofit, SpudWrapper P40), Secondary Packaging (DashDrop series including standard, Max, and Sanitary models; BulkBuddy; PrecisionPack), Case Erectors (FormTech RCE robotic random case erector, PureLine F16 sanitary case erector), and Case and Product Handling (Flipster Model 1 case inverter, SetFit PS1 product settler). The portfolio also includes the GoodFlow™ distribution system solution for Goodwill Outlet Centers. Emerald provides related services including spare parts, Emerald Care Service Contracts for ongoing maintenance, and Machine Rebuilds & Modernization services. The equipment is designed for food processing environments with a focus on high-speed output, gentle product handling, washdown durability, and industry-best uptime, delivering 2 to 3 times the performance-per-dollar compared to competitors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GoodFlow™: The Emerald-powered distribution system built exclusively for Goodwill Outlet Centers. Designed to reduce labor costs and increase sales, keeping teams focused on customers.

Products and services

• Bosch VFFS Retrofit Complete modernization and rebuild service for Bosch Vertical Form Fill Seal baggers that enhances performance, extends equipment life, and brings legacy baggers up to current technology standards. Sold to food processors and industrial manufacturers with installed Bosch VFFS bases.
• SpudWrapper P40 Specialized automated foil wrapping system designed for high-speed potato packaging operations, capable of wrapping up to 40 units per minute using roll-based foil instead of sheets. Designed for potato processors and food manufacturers.
• DashDrop Sanitary Advanced drop packing system with formed stainless steel open-frame design built for sanitary environments, supporting bag rates up to 30 per minute and packing cases at up to 15 per minute on multi-layer patterns. Built for food and pharmaceutical processors requiring hygienic equipment.
• BulkBuddy High-efficiency bulk packing machine that optimizes precision and consistency in high-speed packing operations, ensuring product bags are evenly spaced before counting and loading with independently controlled lanes and programmable recipes. Sold to food processors and manufacturers handling bulk packaging.
• DashDrop Max Advanced drop packing system combining speed with precision for efficient and reliable product loading, supporting horizontal bag orientation and pack patterns from 10 to 50 lbs at speeds up to 30-40 bags per minute. Designed for food processors requiring higher capacity drop packing.
• DashDrop Versatile drop packing solution that delivers reliable performance and consistent product handling, maximizing throughput while ensuring gentle product handling and precise pack patterns at speeds up to 140 bags per minute. Sold to food processors and packaging operations requiring high-speed drop packing.
• PrecisionPack Sophisticated vertical case packing system delivering precise product placement and efficient operation with all-servo motion control for speeds up to 10 cases per minute. Built for food processors and manufacturers requiring vertical case packing.
• FormTech RCE State-of-the-art robotic case erector designed for random case sizes with advanced robotic technology and precision engineering, featuring FANUC/Comau robotics, SIKO motor preset magazine positioning, laser sensor automatic pick height adjustment, and EOAT with vacuum cups and tucking mechanisms. Capable of forming and placing over 8 cases per minute as a replacement for traditional COPs on Dynapak and Dash lines.
• PureLine F16 Hygienically designed case erector built specifically for sanitary operations meeting food safety standards including HACCP, AMI, and 3A, forming and sealing up to 16 cases per minute with servo-driven mechanics, Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, Festo pneumatics, and tool-free quick-lock adjustment points. Sold to food, pharmaceutical, and clean-room manufacturers.
• Flipster Model 1 Case inverter engineered for label orientation, barcode visibility, and matching case orientation to downstream equipment, featuring a welded mild steel powder-coated frame, Ethernet PLC controls, lift-away stop bar for pass-through, and multi-color stack light for status indication. Capable of handling up to 8 cases per minute.
• SetFit PS1 Product in-box settler combining advanced settling technology with integrated conveyance, maximizing package density while maintaining product integrity throughout the settling process. Features a 0.5 HP 3-phase motor, 12-inch width and 36-inch length conveyor, and split side access for quick belt changes.
• GoodFlow Automated distribution system built exclusively for Goodwill Outlet Centers, designed to reduce labor costs and increase sales through automated product intake, intelligent distribution, and automated return processing. Features PLCs, touchscreen interfaces, real-time monitoring, automatic fault detection, remote diagnostic capabilities, and comprehensive reporting.
• Spare Parts Factory replacement components tailored for Emerald machines, ensuring optimal performance and reliability with streamlined ordering process and timely delivery logistics. Orders processed within 1-3 business days with tracking information provided. Sold to existing Emerald customers.
• Emerald Care Service Contracts Comprehensive service contract program providing ongoing support and maintenance including priority technical support, scheduled preventive maintenance, discounted parts and labor, detailed service records, and remote support and diagnostics. Sold as a recurring subscription to existing Emerald equipment owners.
• Machine Rebuilds & Modernization Full machine rebuilds and modernization services for both Emerald systems and competitor equipment, including mechanical overhaul, control system upgrades, safety compliance updates, electrical panel modernization, and performance tuning. Sold to manufacturers with installed packaging equipment bases.

Quantifiable outcome

• +150% throughput, -40% labor, +75% sales for GoodFlow customers
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ProMach: ProMach is a large US-based packaging machinery conglomerate with broad capabilities across case packing, cartoning, filling, and palletizing. It competes with Emerald across multiple product categories but at a much larger scale and through a wider portfolio of brands.
• BW Packaging Systems (Barry-Wehmiller): BW Packaging Systems, part of Barry-Wehmiller, offers a broad portfolio of packaging equipment including form-fill-seal, cartoning, case packing, and palletizing. It competes with Emerald as a broad incumbent serving the same food and CPG customer base at significantly greater scale.
• Syntegon (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology): Syntegon is a global packaging machinery manufacturer with deep food processing and VFFS expertise. It is a broad incumbent whose VFFS retrofit and case packing lines overlap with Emerald's Bosch VFFS Retrofit and broader secondary packaging portfolio.

Direct peers

• Triangle Package Machinery: Triangle Package Machinery produces case packers, cartoners, and packaging equipment for food and consumer products manufacturers. It competes head-to-head with Emerald in vertical and drop packing for similar mid-market food processors.
• Aagard Group: Aagard designs and manufactures custom case packing and packaging automation machinery, serving many of the same CPG and food customers as Emerald. Its engineered-to-order approach and focus on throughput gains make it a close comparable in business model and customer profile.
• Delkor Systems: Delkor Systems builds case packing and packaging automation equipment, including case erectors, case packers, and wraparound solutions for food, beverage, and consumer goods customers. It overlaps directly with Emerald's case erecting and drop packing portfolio.
• R.A Jones (ProMach brand): R.A Jones produces cartoning, case packing, and packaging machinery for food, beverage, and consumer goods producers. It is a direct competitor in cartoning and case packing, the same categories where Emerald's PureLine F16 and FormTech RCE compete.
• Brenton (ProMach brand): Brenton specializes in case packers, palletizers, and integrated end-of-line packaging systems for food, beverage, and personal care customers. It is a direct competitor to Emerald's case packing and end-of-line handling offerings.
• Douglas Machine: Douglas Machine designs and manufactures case and tray packaging machinery, including case packers and robotic solutions for food and consumer goods producers. It is a direct competitor in the case erecting and case packing categories where Emerald's FormTech RCE and DashDrop lines operate.
• Edson Packaging: Edson manufactures case packers and custom packaging machinery for food, beverage, and industrial customers. Its engineered case packing solutions compete directly with Emerald's DashDrop, BulkBuddy, and PrecisionPack product lines.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Emerald Automation