What DOWNS does

DOWNS (legal entity ETS DUBRULLE) is a French designer and manufacturer of handling and storage equipment for potatoes, onions, and other root vegetable crops, headquartered in Sainte-Marie-Cappel (Nord, France). Founded in 1860 in England and acquired by the family-owned Groupe DUBRULLE in 2006, the company operates a fully integrated manufacturing facility built in 2015 and serves customers across 25 countries on five continents through direct sales and regional distributors such as Italy's SGORBATI GROUP. Its product portfolio centers on modular equipment families that combine into bespoke production lines: DG-series receiving hoppers and déterreurs, DS PREMIUM square-mesh graders with the patented SYNCHRON and WILLIAMS systems, the GEO DTX-18 / Fieldloader for in-field operations, DBF/BOXER/MIXTE/PLATEAUX box and big-bag fillers, BOXMASTER/VPC/VF/ROTATO box tippers (including the patented Cover Belt system), DUO and TELESCOPIQUE conveyors, REPARTITEUR elevators, COUPEUSE seed cutters, and full turnkey lines for potato trading centers and seed producers.

DOWNS's technology stack combines mechanical engineering with proprietary automation and AI. The 2021-launched CropVision optical sorter, extended by the I-CropVision+ and Mobile CropVision+ variants, uses industrial cameras and an AI algorithm to perform 360-degree surface analysis of unwashed potatoes at up to 100 tonnes per hour. The 2022 acquisition of SAALTO added patented automatic box detection and warehouse management software, bringing traceability and real-time inventory control across the potato logistics chain. The company markets via multilingual digital content, YouTube product demonstrations, and a heavy trade-show presence at SIMA, AGRITECHNICA, POTATO EUROPE, and INTERPOM PRIMEURS.

DOWNS generates revenue primarily through one-time sales of custom-configured capital equipment (machines and complete production lines), quote-based pricing, and a multi-year contract cadence tied to its 6-step accompaniment process (need definition, engineering, production, delivery, installation, after-sales). The SAALTO acquisition introduced a recurring software/services revenue stream for warehouse and storage management. Customers span potato producers, onion producers, seed-potato growers, potato trading centers (négoce), and field contractors, served through direct enterprise sales and a distributor network.

Name

DOWNS

Legal name

ETS DUBRULLE

Website

https://downs.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1860

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DOWNS is a French designer and manufacturer of potato, onion, and root-vegetable handling and storage equipment, serving agricultural producers, trading centers, and field contractors across 25 countries through bespoke production lines, AI-powered optical sorting, and recently acquired warehouse-management software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Post-Harvest Potato and Onion Handling Equipment

NAICS

Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) (115114), Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine (115113)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Potato & Root Crop Washing/Grading/Bagging Sheds (AFAOAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Onion/Garlic Curing, Grading & Packing Facilities (AFAOAGAG), Curing & Drying Storage for Bulb/Tuber Crops (Onions, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes) (AFAOAEAG), Shelling, Hulling & Dehusking Equipment (Rice Hullers, Nut Shellers) (AFAAAJAE)

Keywords

• Potato handling equipment
• Optical sorting systems
• Agricultural machinery manufacturing
• Onion processing equipment
• Warehouse management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Sainte-marie-cappel

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales (Capital Goods): DOWNS designs, manufactures, and sells capital equipment for potato and onion reception, cleaning, sorting, grading, and storage. Sales are primarily one-time capital equipment purchases (machines and complete production lines), with revenue derived from custom-built machines and standardized product lines. The company operates as a fully integrated manufacturer with in-house production.
2. SAALTO Software/Services: Following the acquisition of SAALTO in November 2022, DOWNS also offers software and connectivity solutions for automated warehouse and storage management of potatoes in crates and palox. SAALTO provides ongoing monitoring, traceability, and inventory management services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DOWNS designs, manufactures, and sells capital equipment for post-harvest potato and onion handling, including receiving hoppers (déterreurs), AI-powered optical sorters (CropVision), square-mesh graders, box/bag fillers, box tippers, conveyors, and elevators that combine into complete custom production lines. Following the 2022 acquisition of SAALTO, DOWNS also provides automated warehouse and crate/pallet traceability software for potato storage operations.

Product overview

DOWNS is a manufacturer of potato, onion, and legume handling and storage equipment. The product portfolio centers on modular equipment families that combine into complete production lines: receiving hoppers/diggers (DG series), optical sorters (CropVision with AI-powered 360-degree analysis), field loaders (DFL series), graders (DS PREMIUM square-mesh graders), box/bag fillers (DBF, BOXER, MIXTE, PLATEAUX), box tippers (BOXMASTER, VPC, VF, ROTATO), conveyors (TELESCOPIQUE, CONVOYEUR DUO), elevators (REPARTITEUR), seed cutters (COUPEUSE), and turnkey custom solutions. The 2022 acquisition of SAALTO added warehouse connectivity and storage management technology with real-time tracking capabilities. Equipment is designed to be combined in custom configurations to meet specific client needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• I-CROPVISION+ Independent, autonomous AI-powered optical sorter for unwashed root vegetables (potatoes, onions, beets) that can be integrated into any existing line regardless of manufacturer, using 360° industrial camera analysis for quality classification and foreign-object removal.
• UNITE MOBILE CROPVISION+ Mobile optical sorting unit for unwashed potatoes with high throughput up to 100 tonnes per hour, equipped with industrial cameras and an AI algorithm for 360° quality analysis and classification.
• DETERREUR DG-series potato receiving and cleaning machine for receiving, cleaning, grading and inspecting all types of potatoes, with modular construction allowing full customization of capacity and layout.
• Déterreur pomme de terre Custom potato receiving and cleaning line in the DOWNS DG series (including COMBI range), configured by the engineering bureau for receiving, cleaning, grading and inspecting potatoes with various storage and packaging options.
• Fieldloader pomme de terre Mobile field-based equipment for receiving, cleaning, grading, inspecting and loading potatoes and other root crops directly in the fields, with modular construction and multiple configuration options.
• Déterreur oignons Onion-specific receiving and cleaning machine in the DOWNS DG version, designed to receive, clean, grade, and inspect onions with standard and custom configurations including handling for unstemmed onions.
• SAALTO Automatic storage management solution for potato warehouses using crates and pallets, with patented technology providing total stock control, real-time inventory tracking, and complete logistics traceability.
• DBF Automatic crate/pallet filling machine for potatoes and onions with throughput of 50 crates per hour, featuring dual adjustable heads with hydraulic control to minimize drop height and product damage.
• PLATEAUX Automatic big-bag filling machine for potatoes and onions with variable-height horizontal plates that limit drop height, achieving 30 big bags per hour throughput.
• MIXTE Dual-purpose filling machine for both crates and big bags for potatoes and onions, featuring dual vertical transfer conveyors that limit drop height and achieve 35-40 tonnes per hour throughput.
• BOXER Automatic double-crate filling machine for potatoes and onions with gentle product handling via low conveyor speed, 50 crates per hour throughput, and MAGELIS touchscreen control.
• Calibreur pomme de terre Square-mesh potato grading machine in the DS PREMIUM series, featuring the SYNCHRON double rotation speed system and the WILLIAMS wave-effect roller system for precise, product-friendly grading.
• Calibreur oignon Square-mesh onion grading machine in the DS PREMIUM series, leveraging the SYNCHRON and WILLIAMS systems for precise grading of onions without product damage.
• CALIBREUR Custom potato grading lines designed by the DOWNS engineering bureau for receiving, sorting, grading and packaging potatoes into crates and big bags, configured to each client's throughput and layout.
• COUPEUSE Heated-disc seed potato cutting machine with 350°C discs that destroy pathogens and ensure sterilized, healthy cut seed potatoes, achieving 7 tonnes per hour throughput.
• BOXMASTER Simple and efficient box tipper for returning potato crates, typically installed in front of receiving hoppers, with multiple dimensions available for different crate sizes.
• VPC Forklift box tipper using DOWNS' patented cover belt system for efficient and damage-free crate turning, adaptable to all forklift types and brands.
• VF Frontal crate tipper for telescopic handlers for potato crate dumping, with a robust design for intensive use, handling crates up to 2.40 m wide on all telescopic handler brands.
• ROTATO Crates/pallet box tipper derived from DOWNS' patented cover belt system, featuring 145° rotation with controlled progressive opening via the cover belt for gentle product discharge without damage.
• REPARTITEUR High-throughput bulk storage elevator/distributor for potatoes, onions, cereals and other products, with adjustable length from 6 to 16 metres and belt widths of 600/800/1000 mm.
• CONVOYEUR DUO Double telescopic conveyor for bulk handling, designed to facilitate inspection and movement while respecting the product, transporting up to 100 tonnes with adjustable length up to 16 metres and a maximum width of 1 metre.
• TELESCOPIQUE Premium double telescopic conveyor in the DOWNS PREMIUM range for intensive use, featuring electric in/out conveyors and a unique 0.85 m dual-surface belt with a PVC face to prevent soil adhesion and a rubber surface for resistance.
• Négoce pomme de terre (turnkey trading center solutions) Custom turnkey production lines for potato traders and trading centers covering receiving, quality control, inspection, sorting, grading and packaging of potatoes into crates and big bags.
• Conditionnement plants de pomme de terre (seed potato conditioning solutions) Custom solutions for seed potato processing including receiving, cleaning with the AutoClean system, separation, inspection and grading with attention to germ-free conditioning.

Quantifiable outcome

• CropVision optical sorter throughput up to 100 tonnes per hour
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SGORBATI GROUPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSGORBATI GROUP is DOWNS' exclusive distributor in Italy, described as a 'System Integrator' for vegetable processing with 30 years of experience. They offer DOWNS reception hoppers, box fillers, bag fillers, and graders as part of their comprehensive vegetable transformation solutions. Coordinates: Italy, +39 030 259 4201, [email protected].

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TOMRA: Norwegian sensor-based sorting giant with a food division competing directly with DOWNS's CropVision. Significantly larger and broader portfolio; the most credible incumbent threat to DOWNS in AI-driven optical sorting for produce.
• Ellips (TOMRA Food): Optical sorting specialist now part of TOMRA Food, focused on fresh produce grading. Competes with CropVision in potato/onion sorting with global reach and broader product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Dewulf: Belgian family-owned manufacturer of potato and root crop machinery (harvesters, receiving hoppers, storage equipment). Headquartered in Roeselare, directly competing with DOWNS in the same Belgian/European customer base.
• GRIMME Landmaschinenfabrik: German family-owned manufacturer of potato, sugar beet, and vegetable handling and harvesting equipment. Direct competitor across the full reception, cleaning, grading, and storage chain that DOWNS serves, and the global market leader in potato equipment.
• Tong Engineering: UK-based manufacturer of vegetable handling, grading, and washing equipment. Direct competitor to DOWNS in European potato and onion grading/handling lines.
• Wyma Engineering: New Zealand-based designer/manufacturer of post-harvest vegetable handling equipment (hoppers, sizing, washing, conveyors). Closely comparable to DOWNS in product mix and customer type for root-vegetable packhouses.
• Allround Vegetable Processing: Dutch specialist in vegetable processing and handling lines. Direct peer in the turnkey reception/grading/sorting segment that DOWNS serves.
• Ploeger Machines: Dutch manufacturer of specialty agricultural machinery including potato and onion handling/reception equipment. Comparable product scope in reception hoppers and storage lines, with strong Benelux distribution overlap.
• Sormac: Dutch manufacturer of machinery for processing fresh vegetables, including washing, peeling, and grading lines. Overlaps with DOWNS in vegetable post-harvest handling, particularly for industrial vegetable processors.

Emerging players

• ASA-Lift: Danish manufacturer of specialty root-crop machinery (carrots, onions, potatoes). Smaller scale than DOWNS but overlapping product scope in reception and grading equipment for niche root crops.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF6obBURfnCL7sJKMhnh5fg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/dubrulle.downs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/downs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 DOWNS