CropCare

What CropCare does

CropCare, a brand operated by PBZ LLC under the family-owned Paul B. Zimmerman, Inc., manufactures small-to-midsize agricultural sprayers and specialty vegetable equipment from its headquarters in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1947 by Paul B. Zimmerman as a metal shop near Ephrata, PA, the company has grown into a multi-category equipment OEM whose product line spans 60-gallon three-point-hitch sprayers through 1,000-gallon trailer sprayers, ATV/ATX utility sprayers, lawn and garden sprayers, and a specialty vegetable equipment range including plastic mulch layers, plastic mulch lifter-wrappers, the solar-powered PA1600 Picking Assistant, and an ATX60 Vineyard Sprayer. Technical differentiators include GPS guidance with automatic boom section control for precise chemical application, a proprietary chemical eduction system for safer loading, a hydraulic boom design that uses a single cylinder per side, and the use of common automotive parts to simplify field maintenance. The company also operates a sub-brand, Zimmerman Equipment, which supplies poultry house washers and truck disinfect systems for biosecurity applications.

The business model is hardware sales, with revenue generated through both an authorized dealer network spanning the mid-Atlantic region (PA, NJ, MD, DE, VA, plus Alabama) and direct online e-commerce through the company website. CropCare serves a diversified set of customer segments including commodity row-crop farmers, vegetable and fruit growers supplying major brands such as Driscoll's, athletic field and golf course managers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts maintaining food plots, small property owners and hobby farmers, and poultry farmers. Core customer relationships are anchored by long-standing dealers such as Hoober Inc (since 1941, 12 locations) and Java Farm Supply, complemented by direct sales supported by Andrew Zimmerman (Sales & Technical Support) and Bryce Dates (Outside Sales). Marketing is content-led via an active blog, video library, customer testimonials, and an email newsletter, while go-to-market combines dealer relationships with a Refer a Dealer program, a dealer access portal, and online purchasing for standard models alongside built-to-order customization. The company is privately held with no institutional investors, no funding rounds disclosed, and no publicly available revenue figures.

Name

CropCare

Legal name

PBZ LLC

Website

https://cropcareequipment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CropCare, founded 1947 and operated by PBZ LLC under Paul B. Zimmerman, Inc., manufactures agricultural sprayers (60-1,000 gallon) and specialty vegetable equipment for farmers, produce growers, sports turf managers, and property owners, distributed through a mid-Atlantic dealer network and direct online sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Sprayers and Specialty Farm Equipment

NAICS

Lawn and Garden Tractor and Home Lawn and Garden Equipment Manufacturing (333112)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Crop Protection & Application Equipment (Sprayers/Spreaders) (IMAHACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Field & Orchard Sprayers (Boom, Airblast, Spot Sprayers) (AFAAADAA), Spray Control, Rate Controllers & Nozzle Systems (Pumps, Valves, Atomizers) (AFAAADAF)

Keywords

• Agricultural sprayers
• Vegetable farming equipment
• Three-point sprayers
• Trailer sprayers
• Specialty farm machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Lititz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Equipment Sales: CropCare generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of agricultural sprayers and specialty vegetable equipment. Products are sold through dealer network and direct online channels. Both standard models and built-to-order/customized equipment are available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CropCare manufactures and sells small to midsize agricultural sprayers and specialty vegetable farming equipment, including 3PT sprayers (60-400+ gallons), trailer sprayers (up to 1,000 gallons), ATV/ATX sprayers, lawn and garden sprayers, plastic mulch layers and lifters, vineyard sprayers, and a solar-powered Picking Assistant. Products are sold as standard value-optimized models or built-to-order configurations through an authorized dealer network and direct online channels.

Product overview

CropCare manufactures small to midsize agricultural sprayers and specialty vegetable equipment designed for commercial farms, vegetable growers, and property owners. The product portfolio is organized into two main categories: agricultural sprayers (3PT Sprayers, Trailer Sprayers, ATV Sprayers, ATX Sprayers, and Lawn & Garden Sprayers) and specialty vegetable equipment (Plastic Mulch Layer, Single and Double Reel Plastic Mulch Lifter-Wrappers, ATX60 Vineyard Sprayer, and Picking Assistant). Supporting accessories include Foam & Turf Markers and Liquid & Drum Applicators. Additionally, Zimmerman Equipment offers liquid applicators, poultry house washers, and truck disinfect systems. Both standard models and built-to-order configurations are available to meet diverse farming needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zimmerman Equipment: Heavy-duty equipment for farm and land management, including liquid applicators, drum applicators, poultry house washers, and truck disinfect systems.

Products and services

• 3PT Sprayers Three-point hitch sprayers for small to midsize agricultural applications, available in standard models from 60 to 300 gallons and built-to-order models from 110 to 400+ gallons, including shielded boom variants. Configurable with customer choice of boom, controller, pump, and accessory options.
• Trailer Sprayers

Quantifiable outcome

• Plastic Mulch Lifter/Wrapper reduces labor from 10-20 man-hours per acre to as few as 2 man-hours per acre
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hoober InccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1941Hoober Inc is a third-generation family-owned agricultural equipment dealership founded in 1941. They operate 12 locations with more than 350 employees serving PA, NJ, MD, DE, and VA. Featured as a CropCare dealer spotlight partner with a 300-mile service area.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hagie Manufacturing: Hagie Manufacturing (now part of AGCO) designs and builds self-propelled and pull-type agricultural sprayers for crop production customers. Directly comparable to CropCare as a sprayer specialist, though focused on larger self-propelled machines versus CropCare's mounted/trailed focus.
• Equipment Technologies (Apache Sprayers): Equipment Technologies manufactures Apache brand self-propelled and pull-type agricultural sprayers for row crop and specialty applications. Comparable to CropCare as a North American sprayer specialist competing in similar product categories and customer segments.
• Hardi International: Hardi International is a Danish manufacturer specializing in agricultural sprayers, including boom, trailed, and mounted models, with strong presence in specialty crop and vegetable markets. Closely comparable to CropCare as a sprayer-focused manufacturer serving similar customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• John Deere: John Deere is the largest agricultural equipment manufacturer globally, offering a full lineup of sprayers (including self-propelled and pull-type), tractors, and precision agriculture technology. Comparable to CropCare as the dominant incumbent in farm machinery, though operating at vastly greater scale and with broader product scope.
• Case IH: Case IH (part of CNH Industrial) produces a comprehensive portfolio of agricultural sprayers, tractors, and implements for crop production. Comparable to CropCare in the sprayer category, but as a broad incumbent serving large-scale commercial farming operations globally.
• AGCO Corporation: AGCO owns multiple farm equipment brands including Massey Ferguson, Fendt, and Hagie Manufacturing, which produce self-propelled and trailed sprayers. Comparable to CropCare as a broad incumbent in agricultural application equipment, with significantly larger scale and global reach.
• Kubota: Kubota is a Japanese manufacturer of compact tractors, utility vehicles, and a growing lineup of agricultural sprayers and implements, including small to midsize models overlapping with CropCare's compact tractor-mounted sprayers.

Emerging players

• Chapin Manufacturing: Chapin Manufacturing produces industrial, agricultural, and lawn/garden sprayers, including backpack, ATV-mounted, and skid-mounted models. Comparable to CropCare as a specialty sprayer manufacturer serving small-acreage and specialty crop customers with overlapping product categories.

Others

• TeeJet Technologies: TeeJet Technologies is a leading manufacturer of spray nozzles, controllers, and precision application components used in agricultural spraying equipment. Comparable to CropCare as a technology partner in the sprayer ecosystem, supplying components integrated into CropCare's products.
• Stihl: Stihl is a global leader in outdoor power equipment, including backpack and handheld sprayers for agricultural and property maintenance use. Comparable as a competitor in the small-scale and consumer-facing sprayer segments where CropCare's LGX and ATX lines compete.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 CropCare