Sentech

What Sentech does

Sentech, Inc. is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of position, motion, and proximity sensors founded in 1988 and headquartered in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, with a second facility in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (acquired December 2024 via Motion Sensors). The company designs and builds sensors based on inductive and magnetic technologies, with a core catalog spanning Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs), Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDTs), Hall Effect sensors, magnetic pickups, magnetoresistive sensors, inductive and capacitive proximity sensors, and rotary/angular Hall-effect position sensors. Its flagship proprietary lines are the FASTAR® fast-response linear displacement transducer (stroke-to-body-length ratio near 1:1, patented signal processing) and the HYDRASTAR® hydraulic cylinder displacement system (35 µS response, ±0.15% linearity, designed for in-cylinder mounting). Following the 2024 acquisitions of Xensor, LLC assets and Motion Sensors, Sentech has expanded into speed sensing technologies including Variable Reluctance, RF, and Hall Effect speed sensors.

Sentech sells primarily to aerospace & defense and industrial customers. Aerospace & defense applications include commercial planes (control surfaces, landing gear, flight controls), military aircraft, helicopters, naval vessels, aerospace turbines, space systems (defense satellites, launch systems, valve pitch actuators, thrust vector control), and emerging Advanced Air Mobility / eVTOL platforms. Industrial applications include gas, steam, and nuclear power generation turbines, wind turbines, oil & gas (including subsea), and medical devices. The business operates on a quote-based, one-time hardware sales model with no recurring revenue stream; pricing is determined per application, specification, and volume. Products are sold direct from the Willow Grove headquarters and through a network of territory-based sales representatives covering western US states (O. Miller Associates), Florida (Sunland Associates), and ten Southeast Asian markets plus Taiwan (Gas Turbine Valves Pte Ltd).

The company holds AS9100 Rev D (valid through 2028), ISO 9001:2015 with ANAB accreditation, and a broad set of hazardous-environment certifications (ATEX, IECEx, UL/CSA, Class 1/Division 2, TIIS Japan, KOSHA/KCA South Korea, UKCA), enabling sales into mission-critical aerospace, defense, oil & gas, and nuclear applications globally. Sentech is a portfolio company of Astor Place Holdings, the private investment arm of Select Equity Group, L.P., under the leadership of President & CEO Robert J. Irving (appointed March 2021). The company's stated differentiators are patented signal processing technology, miniaturized form factors for space-constrained applications, deep domain expertise across 35+ years, and best-in-industry lead times for prototypes and production units.

Name

Sentech

Legal name

Sentech, Inc.

Website

https://sentechsensors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sentech is a privately held U.S. manufacturer founded in 1988 that designs and produces inductive and magnetic position, motion, and proximity sensors (LVDTs, RVDTs, Hall Effect, magnetoresistive) for aerospace & defense and industrial customers, and is a portfolio company of Astor Place Holdings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Position and Motion Sensors

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing (335311)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677)

akta.pro primary industry

Sensors & Feedback Devices (Pressure, Flow, Position, Encoders, Transducers) (IMAHAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

Keywords

• Inductive position sensors
• LVDT sensors
• RVDT sensors
• Motion sensors
• Proximity sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Willow Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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. Position and Motion Sensor Sales: Sentech generates revenue primarily through the sale of position sensors (LVDTs, RVDTs), motion sensors (Hall Effect, Magnetic Pickups, Magnetoresistive), and proximity sensors. Products are sold as standard units or custom-designed to customer specifications. Revenue is one-time hardware sales with no recurring revenue model mentioned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sentech designs and manufactures a comprehensive line of position, motion, and proximity sensors using inductive, magnetic, Hall Effect, magnetoresistive, and capacitive technologies. Its flagship products are LVDTs (Linear Variable Differential Transformers), RVDTs (Rotary Variable Differential Transformers), and the proprietary FASTAR® fast-response linear displacement and HYDRASTAR® hydraulic cylinder displacement transducer lines. The company sells both standard catalog series and custom-engineered sensors to aerospace, defense, power generation, oil & gas, and medical customers.

Product overview

Sentech is a manufacturer of position, motion, and proximity sensors primarily based on inductive and magnetic technologies. The product portfolio centers on LVDTs (Linear Variable Differential Transformers) and RVDTs (Rotary Variable Differential Transformers) as core products, supplemented by proprietary branded sensors (FASTAR® fast-response linear transducers and HYDRASTAR® hydraulic cylinder displacement systems). The motion sensor lineup includes Hall Effect sensors, Magnetic Pickups, Magnetoresistive sensors, Inductive and Capacitive Proximity sensors, and Rotary/Angular Position sensors. The company offers standard product series (75 Series, 813 Series, 42DC, 75DC, 75S1DC, 75S2DC, 81STDC) in both AC/AC and DC/DC configurations, along with custom sensor design services. Recent acquisitions of Xensor LLC and Motion Sensors expanded the portfolio to include additional magnetic sensor technologies and VR/RF/Hall Effect speed sensing solutions. Products serve aerospace & defense (commercial planes, helicopters, military jets, navy/submarines, aerospace turbines, space, advanced air mobility) and industrial markets (power generation, wind turbines, oil & gas, medical).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FASTAR® Sensors: Fast response, linear displacement transducer with shock resistant and non-contact technology.
• HYDRASTAR® Sensors

Products and services

• 75 Series AC/AC LVDT AC-operated Linear Variable Differential Transformer with 0.750 inch (19.05 mm) diameter, magnetic stainless steel housing for shielding, linearity of ±0.25% of full range, and strokes up to 30 inches. Designed for cost-sensitive applications while maintaining performance and reliability, with rugged construction and high output sensitivity for industrial and aerospace position feedback.
• 813 Series AC/AC LVDT AC-operated LVDT with 0.813 inch (20.65 mm) diameter suitable for most industrial applications. Offers high performance, reliability, and resistance to shock and vibration with high output sensitivity and large core-to-bore clearance.
• 75PCAC and 75PCDC Series LVDT Pressure-sealed LVDTs for harsh, dirty environments capable of sustaining up to 1000 psi pressure and operating fully immersed in liquids. Available in AC-operated (75PCAC) and DC-operated (75PCDC) versions with measurement ranges from ±0.050 inch to ±10.000 inch; AC units operate to 300°F (150°C) and DC units connect directly to PLCs.
• 75DC Series DC/DC LVDT DC-operated LVDT with integrated electronics accepting ±15 V DC input and offering ±10 V DC output. Designed for feedback, monitoring, and test systems with rugged construction resistant to shock and vibration.
• 75S1DC Series DC/DC LVDT DC-operated LVDT with 0.750 inch diameter accepting ±15 V DC input and offering 0–10 V DC single-sided output. Includes integrated electronics with stable oscillator, precision demodulator, and state-of-the-art filter for PLC and data acquisition integration.
• 75S2DC Series DC/DC LVDT 24V DC-operated LVDT ideal for industrial automation and process applications with measurement ranges from 0.10 inch to 20.0 inch. Can be powered directly from PLCs with 24V DC supplies, providing +1 to +10V DC output with non-zero-based output for fault detection capability.
• 81STDC Series DC/DC LVDT Low-cost DC/DC LVDT with multiple linear ranges, accepting single-supply DC input and offering bipolar DC voltage output with total input/output isolation. Rugged construction with magnetic shielding for industrial and process applications.
• 42DC Series DC/DC LVDT LVDT with 0.750 inch (19.05 mm) diameter accepting 24V DC input and offering 4–20 mA current output. Useful for applications requiring long cable length with output unaffected by power supply variations, with rugged construction and magnetic shielding.
• RVDT Sensors AC/AC AC-operated Rotary Variable Differential Transformer for angular measurements with output linearly proportional to shaft angular position. Non-contact construction with stationary coil and rotating sensing element, linear measurement up to ±70°, and linearity better than ±0.5% within ±45°. Available in diameters from 0.81 inch to 1.5 inch with aluminum or stainless steel housings.
• RVDT Sensors DC/DC DC/DC RVDT sensor with integrated electronics combining AC/AC coil with DC converter. Features non-contact construction, precision ball bearings (ABEC class 7), stable oscillator, and precision demodulator. Offers ±15 V DC or 24 V DC input with DC voltage or 4–20 mA current output; linear measurement up to ±70° with ±0.5% linearity within ±45°.
• Custom RVDT Custom-designed RVDT sensors engineered to specific application requirements. Options include multi-channel RVDTs for redundancy, tandem RVDTs for single-shaft redundancy, multiple independent coils in one housing, intrinsically safe or Non-Incendive certification for hazardous environments, and aircraft-specific customization including Nose Wheel Steering, Cockpit Controls, Valves, Fly-by-Wire, and Brake-by-Wire.
• FASTAR® Sensors Fast-response, shock-resistant, non-contact linear displacement transducer with nearly 1:1 stroke-to-body length ratio (body length approximately half as short as typical LVDTs). Uses patented signal processor for high-speed displacement measuring with less error than other non-contact devices and excellent EMI immunity. Applications include cylinder feedback, roll position monitoring, automated production gauging, robotic motion control, and hydraulic presses.
• HYDRASTAR® Sensors Non-contact, fast-response, shock-resistant hydraulic cylinder displacement transducer system designed for mounting inside hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. Total length only 2.6 inches longer than measurement length. Features patented signal processing, 35 µS response, ±0.15% linearity (±0.10% optional), dynamic temperature compensation, and absolute continuous measurement.
• Hall Effect Sensors Solid-state Hall Effect sensors for speed and position sensing. Includes Single Hall Effect sensors (4.5–26.5 Vdc, digital sinking output, -40°C to 125°C operating temperature) for camshaft/crankshaft speed, transmission speed, and anti-skid/traction control; and Dual Hall Effect sensors (4.5–18 Vdc, quadrature output for direction detection) for hydraulics, turbines, compressors, and transmissions.
• Magnetic Pickups Self-powered magnetic speed sensors sensitive to ferrous metal targets. Available as Standard MPU (68 to 5000 OHMS coil resistance, 0 Hz to 15 kHz frequency range, -55°C to 180°C) and Digital MPU (5–15 Vdc supply, rise time max 1000 ns, fall time max 50 ns) for computing, synchronization, speed detection, and machine control applications.
• Magnetoresistive Sensors Solid-state magnetoresistive sensors including Digitrac® single magnetoresistive units with digital or analog output and true zero-speed capability for speed, position, and rotation detection; and Bitrac™ dual magnetoresistive units with bidirectional output indicating direction of target motion. Available in standard and high-resolution versions.
• Inductive Proximity Sensors Eddy current principle inductive proximity sensors detecting all metals without contact, watertight and dust-proof, sealed to NEMA 1,2,3,3r,3s,12,13 with ultrafast response times. Available as Inductive Proximity sensors for level control, mobile equipment, broken tool detection, and cylinder position; and Capacitive Proximity sensors for detecting both metal and non-metallic objects including liquid level and granular material sensing.
• Rotary/Angular Position Sensors Hall Effect rotary position sensors providing angular position information for control applications. Solid-state technology with 50 million cycle lifespan, eight operating ranges (50°, 60°, 70°, 90°, 120°, 180°, 270° and 360°), 2% or less linearity, and non-contact operation for throttle speed, pedal, lift, shuttle, tilt, and steering position controls.
• Special Applications Custom Sensors Custom-designed transducers and signal conditioners for special applications including hazardous environments, pressure-sealed units (up to 1000 psi), and special mounting configurations. Used when standard catalog sensors are inadequate for a customer application's environment or form factor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35+ years of sensor design and manufacturing experience
• +5 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Motion SensorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2024Leading provider of advanced speed sensing solutions based in Elizabeth City, NC, established in 1970. Provides expertise in Hall Effect and Variable Reluctance technologies. Acquisition reinforces Sentech's commitment to grow its industrial, aerospace and military portfolio. Motion Sensors brings nearly 50 years of expertise in magnetic product types for industrial, commercial aerospace, space, rail & transit and military industries.
• Xensor, LLCmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2024Assets acquisition to strengthen Sentech's sensor portfolio. Xensor products included magnetic pickups, magnetoresistive sensors, and other motion sensing technologies that complement Sentech's existing position sensor offerings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sensata Technologies: Large sensor and electrical protection manufacturer with position, pressure, and motion sensor lines serving aerospace, industrial, and heavy vehicle markets. Adjacent peer with overlapping aerospace/industrial customer base and broader product portfolio.
• TE Connectivity (Measurement Specialties): Through its Measurement Specialties heritage (formerly Schaevitz), TE Connectivity supplies LVDTs, RVDTs, and related position sensors globally across aerospace, defense, and industrial. Directly competes with Sentech on inductive sensors in many of the same program applications.
• Balluff: Global manufacturer of industrial sensors including inductive proximity sensors, position sensors, and IO-Link–based smart sensors used in factory automation. Competes with Sentech's Inductive Proximity and rotary position lines in industrial applications.
• Honeywell Sensing & Safety: Large incumbent offering a broad position sensor portfolio (LVDT, RVDT, Hall Effect) sold across aerospace, defense, and industrial. Competes with Sentech in aerospace/defense programs but as one of many product lines rather than a specialty focus.
• ifm Electronic: Industrial sensor manufacturer offering inductive proximity, position, and process sensors with strong factory automation presence. Competes with Sentech's industrial position and proximity sensor offerings in plant applications.
• MTS Sensors (MTS Systems): Leading manufacturer of magnetostrictive and Temposonics position sensors for industrial, mobile hydraulics, and process applications. Direct substitute to Sentech's HYDRASTAR/FASTAR hydraulic cylinder displacement systems and adjacent in industrial position sensing.
• Amphenol (including Piher Sensing Systems): Amphenol acquired Piher, a specialist in rotary and linear position sensors (including contactless/inductive technologies) used in off-highway, medical, and industrial markets. Competes in similar applications to Sentech's rotary position and proximity sensor lines.

Direct peers

• Penny & Giles (Curtiss-Wright): Curtiss-Wright's Penny & Giles division manufactures linear and rotary position sensors (LVDT, RVDT, Hall Effect) qualified for harsh aerospace, defense, and motorsport environments. Direct peer in flight-critical position sensing where Sentech also competes.
• Macro Sensors: Long-standing US specialist in LVDT and RVDT position sensors for industrial, aerospace, defense, and subsea applications. Most directly comparable competitor to Sentech in core inductive displacement sensing technology, custom design capability, and target end-markets.
• Novotechnik: German manufacturer of linear and rotary position sensors (including contactless/inductive technologies) serving industrial automation, medical, and aerospace markets. Direct peer in LVDT-style position sensing with overlapping aerospace and industrial customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sentech-inc-usa

Compliance18 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sentech