QualySense

QualySense is a Swiss company that develops and markets robotic solutions for the high-throughput analysis and sorting of grains, seeds, and beans. Founded in 2010 by Dr. Francesco Dell'Endice, Paolo D'Alcini, and Olga Peters, the company originated from Dr. Dell'Endice's doctoral research in imaging spectroscopy at the University of Zurich, conducted in cooperation with the European Space Agency. His background in aerospace engineering and hyperspectral imaging for environmental analysis provided the technological foundation for the company's core offering. Co-founder Paolo D'Alcini brings 25 years of experience in managing complex technology projects to his role as COO, overseeing the supply chain and production. In August 2023, QualySense was acquired by the Ferrum Group, a Swiss industrial company, and now operates as a subsidiary named "Ferrum Analytics and Sorting AG." This strategic integration provides QualySense with a global platform to expand its business operations. The company has raised a total of $22.4 million over seven funding rounds since its inception.

The company's flagship product, the QSorter®, provides a sophisticated method for quality control in the agricultural and food industries. This technology analyzes and sorts individual kernels at high speeds, ranging from 30 to 3,000 items per second. It utilizes a combination of 3D machine vision and high-resolution spectroscopy to assess both physical attributes—such as size, shape, and color—and biochemical properties like protein, moisture, and oil content. This capability allows clients, which include breeders, seed producers, and food processors, to move beyond subjective, sample-based testing to a more precise, objective, and comprehensive quality assessment. For instance, it can detect 27 different defects in green coffee beans and classify them by 15 screen sizes in under three minutes per 100 grams. Data and analytics from the sorting process are accessible through the SQI2 Cloud platform, enabling easy sharing and collaboration among stakeholders. QualySense's business model centers on the sale of these advanced sorting robots and related services, targeting entities in the global food and agricultural sectors seeking to enhance product quality, reduce waste, and optimize processing.

Keywords: agricultural technology, grain sorting, seed analysis, bean inspection, food quality control, hyperspectral imaging, machine vision, robotic sorting, biochemical analysis, crop science, commodity grading, food processing technology, AgTech, Ferrum Analytics and Sorting, QSorter, Francesco Dell'Endice, single kernel analysis, precision agriculture, quality assurance, food safety, sorting automation