Ludlum Measurements, Inc.

What Ludlum Measurements, Inc. does

Ludlum Measurements, Inc. is a privately held electronic manufacturer founded in 1962 by Don Ludlum in Sweetwater, Texas, designing and producing radiation detection instrumentation for health physics, medical physics, metal recycling, emergency response, and border security applications. The company's technology portfolio spans Geiger-Müller detectors, scintillation detectors (NaI(Tl), ZnS(Ag), plastic), gas proportional detectors, ion chambers, and neutron detectors (He3 proportional and solid-state), with vertical integration covering in-house photomultiplier tube manufacturing (ADIT Electron Tubes), organic scintillator production (Eljen Technology), PC board assembly, and plastic injection molding (West Texas Molding). Its modular architecture, anchored by the Radiological Detection System (RDS) with Smart Probe technology and a Base Unit that accepts any probe without recalibration, supports interchangeable detector families across survey meters, frisker instruments, portal monitors, and body/article monitors.

The company monetizes through a combination of hardware sales (instruments, detectors, accessories priced via quote-based part numbers), recurring service revenue (ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration of 500+ instruments per week plus a repair operation averaging 380 fixes per month at $150-$315/hour), and professional training (Instrument Repair Training at $750 per attendee, free Calibration and Radiation Detection Fundamentals courses approved for 16 ABHP continuing education credits). Distribution runs through regional representatives and dealers globally, supplemented by wholly-owned subsidiaries Ludlum GmbH in Hamburg, Germany, and Ludlum Systems in Uxbridge, UK, plus direct phone/email ordering in North America. The integrated VPI Technology subsidiary in Draper, Utah handles electronic product design and prototyping, while Protean Instrument in Knoxville, Tennessee provides specialized alpha/beta sample counting and a second calibration and repair node.

Ludlum is ISO 9001:2015 certified, holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from A2LA, and maintains Texas, Tennessee, and NRC radioactive material licenses. Adjacent capabilities include the Lumic Calibration Software for desktop instrument configuration and the Lumic Linker 2.0 mobile app for Bluetooth-enabled remote monitoring and RadResponder Network integration. The customer base spans government and defense agencies, healthcare facilities, nuclear operators, metal recyclers, and environmental agencies, with field service support providing after-hours coverage. The company has recently launched the Model 3003, 3277, and 3078 product families and continues to invest in its 60-year-old Sweetwater headquarters and Knoxville service center.

Name

Ludlum Measurements, Inc.

Legal name

Ludlum Measurements, Inc.

Website

https://ludlums.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ludlum Measurements, Inc., founded in 1962 in Sweetwater, Texas, designs and manufactures radiation detection instrumentation — survey meters, detectors, portal monitors, and the military-grade RDS system — serving government, defense, healthcare, nuclear, recycling, and emergency response customers globally through direct sales, dealers, and subsidiaries in Germany and the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radiation Detection Instrumentation

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Radiation Detection Instruments & Systems (Portal monitors, spectrometers, contamination monitors) (EUAKAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nonproliferation Technology & Detection (radiation portal monitors, RPMs, spectroscopy, forensics) (EUAKAJAG), Radiation Measurement, Dosimetry & Monitoring Services (Personal/environmental dosimetry, calibration labs) (EUAKAIAH), Radiation Protection & Health Physics Services (ALARA programs, shielding design, RSO services) (EUAKAIAJ), Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC)

Keywords

• Radiation detection instruments
• Survey meters
• Portal monitors
• Scintillation detectors
• Calibration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sweetwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Instrument Sales: Ludlum designs and manufactures radiation detection instruments including survey meters, detectors, portal monitors, and contamination monitors. Instruments are sold as general-purpose meters with separate detector ordering. Featured products include Model 3, Model 3000 series, Model 26 frisker, and Model 4525 portal systems.
2. Calibration Services: ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration services for Ludlum instruments and over 150 different non-Ludlum radiation detection instruments. Calibration department processes over 500 instruments per week. Standard calibration includes detector, as-found readings, two points per range, and two efficiencies if requested. Fees vary by model (e.g., Model 3 at $85, Model 5 at $105).
3. Repair Services: Full service repair for Ludlum instruments and limited repair for other manufacturers. Repairs billed on Time and Materials basis with technician labor rates ranging from $150/hour (Technician) to $315/hour (Engineering 2). Average 7-10 business day turnaround.
4. Training Courses: Instrument training courses including Calibration Training (free, held at Sweetwater and Knoxville), Instrument Repair Training ($750 per attendee), and Radiation Detection Fundamentals (free). All courses approved for 16 hours of continuing education credits by ABHP.
5. Detector and Accessory Sales: Separate sale of detectors (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Neutron) and accessories (cables, check sources, instrument cases) with individual part numbers. Connectors available in multiple series with 'C' as standard.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ludlum Measurements designs and manufactures radiation detection instruments including portable survey meters, alpha/beta/gamma/neutron detectors, portal monitors, personnel and article monitors, and the militarized Radiological Detection System (RDS). The company also operates an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited service center providing calibration, repair, and training services for its own instruments and over 150 non-Ludlum models.

Product overview

Ludlum Measurements, Inc. offers a comprehensive portfolio of radiation detection instrumentation consisting of multiple interconnected product lines. The core offerings include Survey Meters (portable and benchtop models like Model 3, 3000, 3001) paired with Detectors (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Neutron variants), Portal Monitors (Model 4525 Series for vehicle/personnel screening), and the Radiological Detection System (RDS) featuring a Base Unit with six interchangeable Smart Probes. The Health Physics category encompasses portable survey meters, frisker instruments, personal radiation meters, neutron meters, dosimetry products, and monitoring systems. The Medical Physics line provides imaging QA tools for CT/MRI, mammography, and ultrasound. The Metal Recycling category includes scrap monitoring systems and isotope identifiers for facility safety. Emergency Response products offer specialized kits and instruments for first responders. The portfolio is supported by Lumic Calibration Software for instrument configuration and the Lumic Linker mobile app for Bluetooth-enabled remote monitoring connecting to the RadResponder Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lumic Linker: Mobile app for remotely monitoring live readings and connecting to RadResponder Network on Bluetooth enabled instruments
• Radiological Detection System (RDS)

Products and services

• Survey Meters Portable and benchtop instruments for measuring radiation levels in various environments, including digital and analog variants such as the Model 3 and Model 3000 Series. Used by health physics, nuclear, and industrial radiation safety professionals.
• Radiation Detectors Detectors including Alpha, Beta, Gamma (GM), Gamma Scintillator, Low-Energy Gamma Scintillator, Neutron, Waterproof, and Pipe detectors designed to pair with Ludlum survey meters via standardized connectors.
• Portal Monitors (Model 4525 Series) Radiation portal monitors for vehicle and personnel screening at borders, facilities, recycling operations, and security checkpoints. Used to detect radioactive materials passing through a monitored area.
• Personnel and Article Monitors Body monitors, article monitors, and hand and foot monitors for contamination detection on personnel and materials exiting controlled radiological areas.
• Radiological Detection System (RDS) Military-grade versatile radiation detection system with a Base Unit and six specialized Smart Probes (Alpha-Beta, SABG, Beta Photon, Sensitive Gamma, FIDLER, Neutron). Features stealth mode, headphone functionality, and on-probe calibration memory.
• Neutron Meters Instruments for neutron radiation detection including Model 12-4, Model 15, and Model 30-4, paired with He3 proportional and scintillation-based neutron detectors.
• Friskers (Model 26 Series) Handheld contamination monitoring instruments combining counting electronics with GM detectors for personnel and object contamination measurement.
• Dosimetry Products Dosimeters and dosimeter accessories for personnel radiation monitoring and cumulative dose measurement.
• Tritium Monitoring Instruments Portable monitors including Model 3100 and Model 3101 for monitoring tritium concentration in air.
• NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) Detection Kits Kits for detection and assessment of naturally occurring radioactive material in environmental and industrial applications.
• Ground and Floor Surveying Instruments Instruments designed for surveying radiation contamination levels on ground surfaces and floors.
• Area Monitoring Systems Area monitor controllers and continuous surveillance systems for facility-wide radiation monitoring.
• Lumic Calibration Software PC-based calibration software for Model 3000 Series and Model 30 family instruments, providing ability to read and write parameters via USB. Includes pulser calibration, plateau wizard, and detector calibration wizard.
• Lumic Linker 2.0 Mobile App Bluetooth-enabled mobile app for remote monitoring of live readings from compatible instruments and connection to the RadResponder Network. Available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
• ISO/IEC 17025 Calibration Services A2LA-accredited calibration services for Ludlum instruments and over 150 different non-Ludlum radiation detection models. Service center processes over 500 instruments per week with model-based fees.
• Instrument Repair Services Full-service repair for Ludlum instruments and limited repair for other manufacturers, billed on Time and Materials basis with average 7-10 business day turnaround.
• Instrument Training Courses Training courses including Calibration Training (free), Instrument Repair Training ($750 per attendee), and Radiation Detection Fundamentals (free). All courses ABHP-approved for 16 hours of continuing education credits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 instruments processed per week at service center
• +2 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

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Ludlum Medical PhysicscoreOthersA specialized product line of Ludlum Measurements created to more fully serve the Medical Physics community. Focuses on radiation detection instrumentation along with test tools, phantoms, and shielding for diagnostic and nuclear medicine quality assurance.
• Ludlum GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary of Ludlum Measurements located in Hamburg, Germany. Provides radiometric instruments including body contamination monitors and release monitors to facilitate release of people, equipment, and waste from radioactive areas.
• Ludlum SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary of Ludlum Measurements located in the United Kingdom. Distributor for Ludlum Measurements and Ludlum GmbH products in the UK, providing repair and calibration services for radiometric contamination and clearance systems.
• ADIT Electron TubescoreTechnology or IntegrationSubsidiary of Ludlum Measurements. Designer and manufacturer of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) for radiation detection and measurement devices. Complete line of head-on PMTs from 1.3-12.7 cm diameter, voltage dividers, sockets, bases, magnetic shields, and HV power supplies.
• Eljen TechnologycoreTechnology or IntegrationSubsidiary of Ludlum Measurements. Manufacturer of organic scintillator products including plastic and liquid scintillators, wavelength shifting plastics, and acrylic light guides. Located in Sweetwater, TX.
• ET Enterprises Ltd.coreTechnology or IntegrationSubsidiary of Ludlum Measurements located in the United Kingdom. Develops and manufactures photomultipliers, HV power supplies, PMT housings, modular signal processing electronics, and complete photon counting systems.
• Protean InstrumentcoreTechnology or IntegrationSubsidiary of Ludlum Measurements located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Leading manufacturer of ultra-high performance sample counting systems for measuring alpha and beta activity at very low environmental levels. Also provides calibration and repair services.
• VPI TechnologystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of Ludlum Measurements located in Draper, Utah. Designs, develops, prototypes, tests, and manufactures electronic products including security systems, medical devices, radiological detection systems, wireless communication systems, and sensor systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ametek (ORTEC/Signal Recovery): Ametek's ORTEC and Signal Recovery divisions manufacture nuclear instrumentation including radiation detectors and spectroscopy systems. It serves research, nuclear, and security markets at industrial scale, with broader portfolio diversification than Ludlum.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Through its acquisition of Canberra Industries, Thermo Fisher offers radiation detection and monitoring instruments as part of a vast analytical instruments portfolio. It competes with Ludlum in nuclear, environmental, and homeland security applications with the scale advantage of a Fortune 100 enterprise.
• Landauer (Fortive): Landauer, part of Fortive, provides dosimetry services and radiation monitoring solutions globally, primarily through passive and electronic dosimeters. It complements rather than directly competes with Ludlum's survey meter portfolio, sharing health physics customers.

Direct peers

• Mirion Technologies: Mirion is the largest pure-play radiation detection and measurement company globally, offering survey meters, dosimetry, portal monitors, and spectroscopy systems across health physics, defense, and nuclear markets. It is Ludlum's most direct and largest competitor, with overlapping product lines and customer segments.
• Atomtex: Belarus-based Atomtex manufactures portable radiation detection instruments including dosimeters, survey meters, and spectrometers. It serves similar end-markets (security, emergency response, industrial) at competitive price points, often competing with Ludlum in cost-sensitive international tenders.
• SE International: SE International is a US-based manufacturer of radiation survey instruments including the Inspector Alert and Radiation Alert series. It targets overlapping customers in health physics, education, and emergency response with simpler, lower-priced alternatives to Ludlum's professional-grade meters.
• Berthold Technologies: German-based Berthold Technologies specializes in radiation measurement, process control, and bioanalytics instrumentation. It directly competes with Ludlum in nuclear power plant monitoring, health physics, and environmental radiation detection across European and US markets.

Emerging players

• Kromek Group: UK-based Kromek develops cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) radiation detectors and networked radiation detection platforms for security, medical imaging, and nuclear markets. It represents an emerging software/hardware threat, with emphasis on connected, IoT-enabled detection systems.
• Radiation Detection Company: Texas-based Radiation Detection Company (RDC) provides handheld and portal radiation detection systems for scrap metal, security, and emergency response applications. It is a smaller emerging competitor with focused overlap in portal monitoring and metal recycling markets.

Regional players

• Fuji Electric: Fuji Electric provides radiation monitoring and measurement systems primarily for Japanese and broader Asian nuclear power and industrial markets. It represents a regional peer with comparable product categories but limited direct competition in Ludlum's core North American and European accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Ludlum_LMI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5R1nmfA_wfwo5N34g7Zd_Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/ludlums
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ludlum-measurements-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Ludlum Measurements, Inc.