Metcal
Metcal designs and manufactures precision benchtop soldering, desoldering, rework, fume extraction, and fluid dispensing equipment for global electronics manufacturers serving automotive, aerospace, medical device, military, and consumer electronics sectors, operating as a brand under OK International (Dover Corporation subsidiary).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersCypress, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Metcal does
Metcal designs, manufactures, and sells precision benchtop soldering, desoldering, convection rework, fume extraction, and fluid-dispensing equipment for electronics assembly. Founded in 1982 in Silicon Valley and now headquartered in Cypress, California, the company operates as a brand under OK International, Inc., which is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV). Metcal serves global OEM and contract manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, medical devices, military and defense, consumer electronics, industrial, telecommunications, and solar-energy sectors — verticals where solder joint reliability, process traceability, and operator safety are mission-critical.
The company's core technical differentiator is its proprietary SmartHeat® inductive heating platform, which uses the Curie point of metallic alloys in self-regulating cartridges to hold tip temperature to within ±1°C at idle without calibration cycles — a contrast to conventional resistive soldering systems. Building on this base, Metcal introduced Connection Validation™ (CV) in 2017, a solder-joint feedback system that evaluates each joint through solder event detection, preliminary validation, liquidus detection, and intermetallic compound calculation, with a green-LED pass indicator on the handpiece. The 2021 GT90 and GT120 stations extended the platform to adjustable-temperature inductive heating, and the 2023 CV-IOT Gateway turned each station into a networked data source for traceability. Patented Chip-in-Cartridge technology embeds a microchip in every heater cartridge carrying tip rating, geometry, lot, and serial data, enabling cartridge-level restriction and consumables management. Adjacent product lines include the HCT-910 hot air rework system, BVX-250 fume extraction with Smart Fume Extraction communication, MicroFine precision tools for 01005/0201 components, BH-series board holders, and fluid dispensing systems — increasingly integrated through shared firmware updates.
Metcal monetizes almost exclusively through hardware sales — soldering systems, handpieces, cartridges and tips, rework stations, fume extractors, fluid dispensers, and accessories — supplemented by recurring cartridge and consumable revenue. Pricing is quote-based and routed through a global network of authorized technically-trained distributors and representatives, with direct enterprise sales support in North America, the UK, France, Germany, China, Singapore, India, Japan, and Korea, and a self-serve e-commerce storefront for standard catalog items. Distribution is augmented by technical content marketing (website, blog, YouTube, webinars, industry events) targeting operations engineers and manufacturing managers. As a subsidiary within Dover's Engineered Products segment, Metcal does not publicly disclose standalone revenue, funding history, or detailed financials; its scale is bounded by its 251-500 employee headcount and parent-company context (Dover at $7B+ revenue across five segments).
Metcal firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metcal
- Legal name
- OK International, Inc.
- Website
- https://metcal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Metcal designs and manufactures precision benchtop soldering, desoldering, rework, fume extraction, and fluid dispensing equipment for global electronics manufacturers serving automotive, aerospace, medical device, military, and consumer electronics sectors, operating as a brand under OK International (Dover Corporation subsidiary).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metcal industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Soldering Equipment and Electronics Assembly Tools
- NAICS
- Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)
- SIC
- Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Thermal Management & Heat Dissipation Solutions (TIMs, Lids, Heat Sinks) (HDAHADAG)
Keywords
Where Metcal is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cypress
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Metcal business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Soldering and Desoldering Equipment: Sale of benchtop soldering stations, handpieces, cartridges, and tips including MX Series, CV Series, and GT Series systems with varying power levels and temperature control capabilities.
- Convection Rework Systems: Hot air rework stations and accessories including HCT-910 system with tool-less nozzle changes and precise temperature control up to 600°C.
- Fume Extraction Systems: BVX-250 and related fume extraction equipment with HEPA 13 filters for operator safety in manufacturing environments.
- Fluid Dispensing Systems: Precision fluid dispensing equipment and accessories for adhesive and fluid application in electronics assembly.
- Accessories and Consumables: Replacement cartridges, tips, nozzles, and other accessories for the company's soldering and rework equipment portfolio.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B enterprise hardware sales through authorized distributor network |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Metcal product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Metcal designs and manufactures precision benchtop soldering, desoldering, convection rework, fume extraction, and fluid dispensing systems built around proprietary SmartHeat® inductive heating technology and Connection Validation™ joint-quality feedback. The portfolio spans the MX Series fixed-temperature systems, CV Series validation-enabled systems, GT Series adjustable-temperature systems, MicroFine precision tools, the HCT-910 hot air rework station, the BVX-250 fume extractor, and the CV-IOT data gateway, sold primarily to electronics manufacturers and OEMs in automotive, aerospace, medical device, military, and consumer electronics industries.
Product overview
Metcal is a precision benchtop solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of soldering, desoldering, rework, fume extraction, and fluid dispensing products. The core product lines include the MX Series (fixed-temperature SmartHeat systems), CV Series (Connection Validation-enabled systems), and GT Series (adjustable temperature inductive heating systems). Supporting products include the MicroFine precision tools for microscope work, HCT-910 hot air rework system, BVX-250 fume extraction with Smart Fume Extraction, CV-IOT data gateway for traceability, BH-series board holders, and fluid dispensing systems. The portfolio is designed for advanced manufacturing applications in automotive, aerospace, medical devices, military, and consumer electronics sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SmartHeat: Patented inductive heating technology that uses self-regulating cartridges to maintain precise tip temperatures at the molecular level.
- Connection Validation (CV)
- CV-IOT
- GT Series
- MicroFine
Products and services
- CV-5210 Soldering System High-performance soldering system with Connection Validation technology that evaluates each solder joint in real-time via intermetallic compound calculation, providing instant visual and audible feedback on joint quality for electronics manufacturers requiring process control and traceability.
- CV-IOT Gateway IoT module and desktop software application that connects to CV-500 and CV-5200 systems to collect, monitor, and export data on every solder joint including cartridge used, temperature, power profiles, dwell time, and validation results for manufacturing operations managers.
- MicroFine Soldering Tools Precision soldering tools and cartridge tips designed for microscope-level rework of 01005 and 0201 components, available in soldering and tweezer configurations, compatible with MX and CV Series systems for electronics assembly manufacturers working with micro-components.
- BVX-250 Fume Extraction System Compact fume extraction system with 99.97% efficiency HEPA 13 filter, LED status ring, 30-second filter changes, and Smart Fume Extraction capability that syncs with CV and GT soldering systems via USB, designed for operator safety in electronics manufacturing environments.
- HCT-910 Hot Air Rework System Hot air rework system with on-the-fly manual mode for temperature and airflow adjustment, LED status indicators on handpiece, true-to-display temperature accuracy up to 600°C, and tool-less nozzle bayonet system for SMT removal and replacement.
- GT90 & GT120 Adjustable Temperature Soldering Stations Adjustable temperature soldering stations featuring patented inductive heating technology with built-in temperature sensor in cartridge tip. GT90 provides 90W power and GT120 provides 120W power; the first and only adjustable temperature systems with inductive heating that outperform 250W resistive systems for high thermal demand applications.
- MX Series Fixed-Temperature Soldering Systems
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 260% productivity improvement compared to competitive resistive products
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Metcal
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Metcal technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Metcal partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OK International, Inc.coreOK International is the parent company of Metcal. Metcal operates as a brand within the OK International portfolio of benchtop soldering and dispensing solutions, along with Techcon. OK International is headquartered in Cypress, CA and is a Dover Corporation company.
- TechconcoreTechcon is an innovator of fluid and adhesive dispensing technologies and operates as a sister brand to Metcal under OK International. Both brands share distribution channels and are positioned as complementary solutions for electronics assembly.
- Dover CorporationcoreDover is the ultimate parent company of OK International and Metcal. Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $7 billion, trading on NYSE as 'DOV'. Metcal operates within Dover's Engineered Products segment.
- Revco Products Inc.minorRevco Products Inc. is a full electronic manufacturing service (EMS) company based in Southern California that frequently serves as a field test site for Metcal products. They provide real-world evaluation of new products and have provided testimonials and case studies for Metcal.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Metcal competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JBC Tools: JBC is a Spanish soldering and rework equipment maker whose CD-1BE, CD-2BE, and JT-HE stations compete head-to-head with Metcal's adjustable-temperature and CV platforms in precision benchtop soldering.
- Kurtz Ersa: Ersa is a German manufacturer of soldering stations, rework systems, and selective soldering equipment whose i-CON and PowerFlow products compete directly with Metcal in European automotive and industrial electronics accounts.
- PACE Worldwide: PACE manufactures benchtop soldering, desoldering, and BGA rework systems serving aerospace, defense, and medical device customers — the same high-reliability verticals that anchor Metcal's customer base.
- Thermaltronics: Thermaltronics markets a full range of soldering and rework stations with cartridge-based tip technology, positioning as a direct competitive alternative to Metcal's MX/CV systems in OEM and EMS channels.
- Hakko Corporation: Hakko is a Japanese manufacturer of soldering stations, rework systems, and soldering consumables, with the FX-100 and FM-206 product lines directly competing against Metcal's MX and CV Series in OEM and EMS accounts globally.
- Weller Tools (Apex Tool Group): Weller is a long-established brand in soldering stations and rework, part of Apex Tool Group, with the WE1010 and WX Series overlapping with Metcal's MX/CV/GT lines for professional and industrial users.
- Quick Soldering (Suzhou Quick): Quick is one of China's largest soldering equipment manufacturers, offering soldering and rework stations at lower price points, increasingly competitive with Metcal across APAC electronics manufacturing.
Emerging players
- Techcon (OK International sister brand): Techcon is Metcal's sister brand under OK International, focused on precision fluid and adhesive dispensing for electronics assembly — a complementary but adjacent process step in the same end-customer workflows.
Regional players
- American Hakko Products: American Hakko is the US sales/service arm of Hakko Corporation, distributing soldering and rework products across North America and competing directly with Metcal in US electronics manufacturing accounts.
Broad incumbents
- Apex Tool Group: Apex Tool Group is a large diversified tool manufacturer whose Weller brand sits alongside Crescent, GearWrench, and others; broader portfolio and distribution provide competitive scale against Metcal's narrower soldering focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Metcal social profiles
Digital presenceMetcal financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metcal leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Metcal subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Metcal funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metcal M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Metcal
What does Metcal do?
Metcal designs and manufactures precision benchtop soldering, desoldering, convection rework, fume extraction, and fluid dispensing systems built around proprietary SmartHeat® inductive heating technology and Connection Validation™ joint-quality feedback. The portfolio spans the MX Series fixed-temperature systems, CV Series validation-enabled systems, GT Series adjustable-temperature systems, MicroFine precision tools, the HCT-910 hot air rework station, the BVX-250 fume extractor, and the CV-IOT data gateway, sold primarily to electronics manufacturers and OEMs in automotive, aerospace, medical device, military, and consumer electronics industries.
Is Metcal a public or private company?
Metcal is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Metcal founded?
Metcal was founded in 1982. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Metcal based?
Metcal is headquartered in Cypress, United States, in the North America region.
How does Metcal make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Soldering and Desoldering Equipment is the primary driver. The others are convection Rework Systems, fume Extraction Systems, fluid Dispensing Systems and accessories and Consumables.
Who are Metcal's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JBC Tools, Kurtz Ersa, PACE Worldwide, Thermaltronics, Hakko Corporation, Weller Tools (Apex Tool Group) and Quick Soldering (Suzhou Quick). Techcon (OK International sister brand) is listed as an emerging player. American Hakko Products is listed as a regional player. Apex Tool Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Metcal have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metcal.
What industry is Metcal in?
Metcal's product category is Soldering Equipment and Electronics Assembly Tools. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHADAG, Thermal Management & Heat Dissipation Solutions (TIMs, Lids, Heat Sinks). Its NAICS code is 334512 and its SIC code is 3564.