RTI Laboratories
RTI Laboratories is a Livonia, Michigan-based NELAP and DoD ELAP-accredited environmental, chemical, and materials testing laboratory serving U.S. federal agencies and automotive and industrial clients. Acquired by SGS S.A. in January 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersLivonia, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RTI Laboratories does
RTI Laboratories is a full-service environmental, chemical, and materials testing laboratory founded in 1986 and headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The company operates two divisions: an Environmental Sciences Division conducting water, soil, sediment, air, hazardous materials, PFAS, and waste characterization testing under NELAP and DoD ELAP (QSM 6.0) accreditations, and a Materials Testing Division providing metallurgical analysis, mechanical testing, failure analysis, surface analysis, corrosion testing, and product compliance testing (RoHS, VOC, brake friction, parts cleanliness) primarily for automotive OEMs and tier-one suppliers. Lab operations are supported by GC/MS, ICP, HPLC, SEM/EDS, and FTIR instrumentation, the internally-owned Khemia Omega Laboratory Information Management System (acquired 2006), and a proprietary Flashpoint online reporting portal that delivers chain-of-custody, invoicing, and Level I-IV CLP-like data packages with electronic data deliverables in industry-standard formats.
Revenue is generated primarily through project-based, transaction-fee quotes per sample or test, supplemented by fixed-price and cost-reimbursement federal contracts. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct phone and email engagement, an online quote request workflow, and government contracting through GSA Schedule GS-07F-5705R. Customer concentration spans two primary verticals: U.S. federal agencies (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense programs including radioactive waste testing and CPSIA-certified lead analysis) and the automotive and industrial manufacturing base (named customers include John Deere, Caterpillar, and Detroit Diesel alongside unnamed major automotive OEMs and tier-one suppliers). The company also pursues industrial and wastewater/NPDES testing as a third segment under Clean Water Act compliance work.
Following a roll-up phase in which RTI acquired AAC Trinity Laboratories (2004), Huron Valley Laboratories (2005), and the Khemia Company (2006), the company achieved DoD ELAP accreditation in 2010, expanded air testing capacity in 2011, and gained recognition via four Inc. 5000 listings and Michigan 50 Companies to Watch honors. In January 2025, SGS S.A. signed an agreement to acquire RTI Laboratories, integrating the company into SGS's global testing, inspection, and certification network to expand its North American footprint and PFAS testing capabilities.
RTI Laboratories firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RTI Laboratories
- Legal name
- RTI Laboratories, Inc.
- Website
- https://rtilab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- RTI Laboratories is a Livonia, Michigan-based NELAP and DoD ELAP-accredited environmental, chemical, and materials testing laboratory serving U.S. federal agencies and automotive and industrial clients. Acquired by SGS S.A. in January 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RTI Laboratories industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental & Materials Testing Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)
Keywords
Where RTI Laboratories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Livonia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
RTI Laboratories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Environmental Testing Services: One-time testing services for environmental samples including water, soil, sediment, air and hazardous materials. Revenue generated per project based on sample analysis requirements and data package levels.
- Materials Testing Services: Metallurgical analysis, mechanical testing, failure analysis, and product compliance testing for automotive and industrial clients. Testing services billed per test type or project.
- Government Contracts: Federal contract work including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers testing services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security contracts. Revenue from fixed-price or cost-reimbursement government contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based custom quotes |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
RTI Laboratories product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RTI Laboratories is a full-service environmental, chemical, and materials testing laboratory providing analytical testing services across two divisions: the Environmental Sciences Division (water, soil, sediment, air, hazardous waste, PFAS, NPDES/wastewater, and ambient air testing) and the Materials Testing Division (metallurgical analysis, mechanical testing, failure analysis, surface analysis, corrosion testing, and product compliance testing for automotive and industrial clients). Services are delivered through advanced instrumentation (GC/MS, ICP, HPLC, SEM/EDS, FTIR) and proprietary LIMS and Flashpoint reporting platforms, producing legally defensible Level I–IV data packages and electronic data deliverables.
Product overview
RTI Laboratories is a full-service environmental, chemical, and materials testing laboratory providing a comprehensive portfolio of analytical services. The company operates two divisions: the Environmental Sciences Division (offering environmental chemistry testing for soil, water, air, and hazardous materials) and the Materials Testing Division (providing metallurgical analysis, mechanical testing, and product compliance testing for automotive and industrial clients). Core services include PFAS testing, waste characterization, corrosion testing, and failure analysis, supported by proprietary LIMS technology and the Flashpoint online reporting portal for data delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Environmental Chemistry Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% acceptable results in proficiency testing programs
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use RTI Laboratories
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RTI Laboratories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
RTI Laboratories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SGS S.A.coreSGS signed agreement to acquire RTI Laboratories in January 2025. The acquisition expands SGS's footprint in North America and strengthens its PFAS analysis and other testing capabilities. RTI now operates as part of SGS with 30 employees and increased Midwest capacity.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RTI Laboratories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pace Analytical Services: Major US environmental testing laboratory network providing water, soil, air, and PFAS analytical services to government and industrial clients — directly comparable in scope and customer mix to RTI's Environmental Sciences Division.
- Eurofins Environment Testing (US): Operates a dense US footprint of environmental testing laboratories serving municipal, industrial, and federal clients with NPDES, PFAS, and hazardous waste characterization — overlapping with RTI's full environmental chemistry book.
- ALS Global (Environmental): Global testing services provider with strong US environmental laboratory operations competing for water, soil, sediment, and air testing contracts — directly comparable in environmental chemistry scope and federal/state government service orientation.
- Element Materials Testing: Provider of materials testing, failure analysis, and metallurgical services to the automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors — directly comparable to RTI's Materials Testing Division serving John Deere, Caterpillar, and major automotive OEMs.
- Smithers (formerly IMR Test Labs): Independent testing laboratory specializing in materials testing, mechanical testing, and failure analysis for automotive, industrial, and consumer products — directly comparable to RTI's metallurgical and mechanical testing capabilities for OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers.
- EMSL Analytical: US environmental testing laboratory network specializing in microbiology, mold, asbestos, PFAS, lead, and indoor air quality analysis — directly comparable to RTI's air, microbiology, and emerging-contaminant service lines.
- RJ Lee Group: Mid-sized US laboratory providing materials characterization, failure analysis, SEM/TEM imaging, and industrial forensics — directly comparable to RTI's Materials Testing Division for advanced analytical work and root-cause failure investigations.
- Applied Technical Services (ATS): Independent US testing firm providing mechanical testing, metallurgical analysis, NDT, and calibration services to industrial and aerospace clients — closely comparable to RTI's materials, failure analysis, and automotive qualification work.
Broad incumbents
- Bureau Veritas North America: Global TIC conglomerate with Material Testing, Commodity, and Industry & Facility divisions in the US — provides environmental and materials testing as part of a broader certification-focused portfolio, overlapping with RTI's regulated testing work but at much greater scale.
- Intertek North America: Global TIC leader operating industry, environmental, and product assurance labs across the US — competes with RTI in materials testing, RoHS/product compliance, and environmental chemistry as part of a much wider testing portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RTI Laboratories social profiles
Digital presenceRTI Laboratories compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
RTI Laboratories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RTI Laboratories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
RTI Laboratories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RTI Laboratories 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 RTI Laboratories
What does RTI Laboratories do?
RTI Laboratories is a full-service environmental, chemical, and materials testing laboratory providing analytical testing services across two divisions: the Environmental Sciences Division (water, soil, sediment, air, hazardous waste, PFAS, NPDES/wastewater, and ambient air testing) and the Materials Testing Division (metallurgical analysis, mechanical testing, failure analysis, surface analysis, corrosion testing, and product compliance testing for automotive and industrial clients). Services are delivered through advanced instrumentation (GC/MS, ICP, HPLC, SEM/EDS, FTIR) and proprietary LIMS and Flashpoint reporting platforms, producing legally defensible Level I–IV data packages and electronic data deliverables.
Is RTI Laboratories a public or private company?
RTI Laboratories is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was RTI Laboratories founded?
RTI Laboratories was founded in 1986. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is RTI Laboratories based?
RTI Laboratories is headquartered in Livonia, United States, in the North America region.
How does RTI Laboratories make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Environmental Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are materials Testing Services and government Contracts.
Who are RTI Laboratories's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pace Analytical Services, Eurofins Environment Testing (US), ALS Global (Environmental), Element Materials Testing, Smithers (formerly IMR Test Labs), EMSL Analytical, RJ Lee Group and Applied Technical Services (ATS). Broad incumbents are Bureau Veritas North America and Intertek North America.
Does RTI Laboratories have an API?
No public API is recorded for RTI Laboratories.
What industry is RTI Laboratories in?
RTI Laboratories's product category is Environmental & Materials Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAJAB, Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics), with a secondary code of EUAEAHAN, Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO). Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.