What YSI Incorporated does

YSI Incorporated, founded in 1948 in Yellow Springs, Ohio, is a wholly-owned subsidiary and brand of Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), the $7B global water technology company. YSI designs, manufactures, and sells water quality monitoring instruments, software, and data collection platforms. Its core product architecture is a tightly integrated platform-plus-modules stack: the EXO multiparameter sonde platform (with swappable sensors and a central wiper for long-term deployment), the Pro Series portable handhelds (ProDSS, ProSolo, ProQuatro) for field sampling, the IQ SensorNet continuous process monitoring system, SonTek acoustic Doppler current profilers for flow and discharge, MultiLab Pro IDS benchtop instruments, and the HydroSphere cloud-based data visualization platform. The technology base rests on proprietary sensor IP, including the Clark polarographic oxygen electrode originally co-developed with Dr. Leland Clark in the 1950s, and is reinforced by sub-brands Aanderaa (oceanographic), OI Analytical (lab), Bellingham + Stanley (refractometers/polarimeters), Global Water Instruments, and Gerhardt Lab Instruments.

YSI's business model is anchored in hardware sales of instruments priced from roughly $1,100 (ProSolo) to $8,500+ (EXO2) plus an aftermarket stream of reagents, membranes, calibration solutions, replacement parts, and accessories. Enterprise and government customers transact through a quote-based direct sales motion supported by regional integration centers, while smaller buyers purchase through an e-commerce storefront and a global distributor network. The company serves eight primary segments — environmental monitoring and research, drinking water utilities, wastewater treatment, aquaculture, ocean and coastal, laboratory and life sciences, mining and petroleum, and hydrology and flow — with named accounts including the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Defense, Sellafield Ltd, Orange County Water District, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, and several municipal WWTFs.

YSI operates globally with offices and field presence in North America, Europe (Ireland, Spain), the Middle East (Bahrain), and Asia-Pacific (Japan, Hong Kong, Beijing, India, Australia). Marketing emphasizes technical education and thought leadership via the Water Blogged blog, Mission: Water Magazine, the YSI Video Hub, EXO University on-demand training, and trade show participation. Recent strategic activity has extended the platform into autonomous and software-defined monitoring, including the Surfbee ASV (2025), HydroSphere update and Kor Mobile app (2022), and the EXO NitraLED UV nitrate sensor (2020).

Name

YSI Incorporated

Legal name

YSI Incorporated

Website

https://ysi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

YSI Incorporated, a Xylem brand founded in 1948, manufactures water quality monitoring instruments, sondes, handhelds, ADCPs, and cloud data platforms. It serves environmental, municipal, industrial, and research customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Quality Monitoring Instruments

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distribution System Water Quality & Integrity Monitoring (residuals, DBPs, nitrification, corrosion) (EUANAJAI), Data Management, LIMS & Compliance Software (ELN, eDMS, reporting automation) (EUANAJAE)

Keywords

• Water quality monitoring
• Multiparameter sondes
• Dissolved oxygen sensors
• Acoustic doppler profilers
• Process monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Yellow Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Water Quality Instrumentation Sales: Sale of water quality monitoring instruments including multiparameter sondes, handheld meters, process monitors, and sensors. Products are sold with various pricing tiers based on configuration and capability.
2. Accessories and Consumables: Ongoing sales of replacement parts, reagents, membranes, calibration solutions, and other consumables required for instrument maintenance and operation.
3. Water Monitoring Services: Consulting and professional services for environmental, laboratory, and municipal water projects including project consulting and system integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

YSI Incorporated designs, develops, and manufactures water quality monitoring instruments and systems. Its portfolio includes multiparameter water quality sondes (EXO platform), portable handheld sampling meters (Pro Series), continuous process monitoring systems (IQ SensorNet), acoustic Doppler current profilers for flow measurement (SonTek), benchtop laboratory instruments (MultiLab Pro), and supporting software platforms (HydroSphere cloud visualization, Kor Mobile app). The company also provides accessories, consumables, reagents, calibration solutions, and consulting/project services for environmental, municipal, and industrial water applications.

Product overview

YSI Incorporated, a Xylem brand founded in 1948 and headquartered in Yellow Springs, Ohio, offers a comprehensive portfolio of water quality sampling and monitoring instruments. The product architecture is organized as an integrated platform-plus-modules system. The core offerings include the EXO Multiparameter Water Quality Platform (modular sondes with swappable sensors and automated wiping systems), the Pro Series portable sampling handhelds (ProDSS, ProSolo, ProQuatro), the IQ SensorNet continuous process monitoring system, SonTek water velocity and flow instruments (ADCPs), MultiLab laboratory benchtop instruments, and the HydroSphere cloud-based data visualization platform. Supporting products include autonomous platforms (EcoMapper Nano AUV, Surfbee ASV), the HydroRIG data gateway, specialized sensors (EXO NitraLED for nitrate, TOC analyzers), and water monitoring buoys. YSI also offers branded sub-products through its Xylem Analytics siblings including Aanderaa ocean instruments and OI Analytical laboratory equipment. The ecosystem is tied together through the Kor Mobile app, EXO University training, and integrated consulting services for environmental, laboratory, and municipal water applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SonTek: Water velocity and flow measurement instruments including Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs), FlowTracker, and RS5/M9 systems for river, stream, and canal discharge data collection.
• HydroSphere
• EXO
• Pro Series
• IQ SensorNet
• Kor Mobile
• MultiLab

Products and services

• EXO Multiparameter Water Quality Platform Modular multiparameter water quality monitoring platform with customizable sensor configurations including EXO1s, EXO2s, and EXO3s sondes. Features multiple sensor ports and a central wiper port for extended, unattended deployments measuring dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrate, chloride, ammonia, and more. Sold to environmental, municipal, and industrial water professionals.
• Pro Series Portable Water Quality Meters

Quantifiable outcome

• Real-time phosphorus monitoring enabled Oconomowoc WWTF to meet tight phosphorus limits while reducing chemical use
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hach: Hach (a Danaher company) is the leading global manufacturer of water quality analysis instruments, including portable meters, lab instruments, and online process analyzers, directly competing with YSI across sondes, handhelds, and reagents for drinking water and wastewater.
• Horiba: Horiba's Water Quality & Environmental division produces laboratory and process analyzers, multiparameter meters, and online sensors for drinking water and wastewater, directly overlapping with YSI's MultiLab and IQ SensorNet lines.
• Sea-Bird Scientific: Sea-Bird Scientific (a Veralto/Danaher brand) produces oceanographic CTDs, water quality sensors, and autonomous platforms for ocean and coastal monitoring, competing with YSI's Aanderaa sub-brand and EcoMapper/Surfbee autonomous platforms.
• In-Situ Inc. In-Situ manufactures multiparameter water quality sondes (Aqua TROLL, RDO), handheld instruments, and telemetry systems for environmental and industrial monitoring, making it a closely comparable niche competitor to YSI's EXO and Pro Series portfolio.
• OTT HydroMet: OTT HydroMet (a Veralto/Danaher brand) supplies hydrology, meteorology, and water quality monitoring systems including multiparameter sondes and discharge measurement instruments, directly overlapping with YSI's SonTek flow and EXO monitoring offerings.
• Eureka Water Probes: Eureka Water Probes manufactures the Manta and Trimeter multiparameter water quality sondes for surface water, drinking water, and aquaculture monitoring, competing directly with YSI's EXO sondes in environmental and municipal segments.

Broad incumbents

• Mettler-Toledo: Mettler-Toledo is a global leader in precision laboratory instruments (pH meters, conductivity, titrators, balances), competing with YSI's laboratory measurement portfolio and MultiLab IDS line for regulated and research labs.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher provides laboratory analytical instruments (spectrometers, chromatography, TOC analyzers) for water, environmental, and life sciences markets, competing with YSI's MultiLab, OI Analytical, and Bellingham + Stanley lab product lines.
• Endress+Hauser: Endress+Hauser is a global process instrumentation leader with strong water and wastewater analytical product lines (Liquiline, Memosens), competing with YSI's IQ SensorNet process monitoring and offering broader process-industry scale.

Emerging players

• Aquaread: Aquaread is a UK-based specialist in portable and multiparameter water quality instruments (AP-series sondes, handhelds), a smaller direct competitor to YSI's Pro Series in environmental and field-sampling applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/YSIinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/myysi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ysi
• Instagraminstagram.com/ysiinc
• Xx.com/ysiinc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

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 YSI Incorporated