Spec Sensors
Spec Sensors manufactures printed electrochemical gas sensor elements and modules for IoT, industrial safety, and indoor air quality applications, serving OEMs, developers, and institutional buyers through direct sales and DigiKey distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNewark, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Spec Sensors does
Spec Sensors, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Newark, California, manufactures printed electrochemical gas sensors designed for IoT, indoor air quality, industrial safety, and connected device applications. The company operates as a division of Interlink Electronics (NASDAQ: LINK), with additional offices in Fremont and Camarillo, California, and a workforce of 11-50 employees.
Its core technology is screen-printed electrochemical sensor elements, a manufacturing approach that enables low-cost, compact gas detection modules with operational lifetimes exceeding 10 years. The product portfolio spans individual sensor elements priced from $20, AGS series gas sensor modules ($65-$102), DGS2 digital gas sensor modules ($99-$370), and complete instruments starting at $59, covering detection of gases including CO, NO2, H2S, SO2, and O3. Recent 2025 product launches include high-sensitivity sensor variants and a Total Breathing Module (TBM) targeting breath analysis applications. UL2034 certification and RoHS compliance support entry into regulated safety and environmental end markets.
Spec Sensors generates revenue through direct e-commerce, distribution via DigiKey, and historical crowdfunding via Indiegogo. The company has secured partnerships with Intel, The Weather Company, Seeed Studio, and Motorola, and received NSF funding support. Its customer base includes IoT developers, OEM integrators, and institutional deployments such as the Array of Things urban sensing initiative in Chicago.
Spec Sensors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spec Sensors
- Legal name
- SPEC Sensors, LLC
- Website
- https://spec-sensors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Spec Sensors manufactures printed electrochemical gas sensor elements and modules for IoT, industrial safety, and indoor air quality applications, serving OEMs, developers, and institutional buyers through direct sales and DigiKey distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spec Sensors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gas Sensors
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electronic Components, Nec (3679)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Environmental Monitoring (VOC/CO2/PM2.5) (HSAHAGAG), Gas Leak Detection (Natural Gas/Propane) & Combustible Gas Alarms (HSAHAGAI), Smart Air Quality Sensors, Purifiers & Humidifier/Dehumidifier Integration (HSAOANAH)
Keywords
Where Spec Sensors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newark
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Spec Sensors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Gas Sensor Hardware Sales: Sale of electrochemical gas sensor elements, digital modules (DGS2), analog modules (AGS), and complete gas sensor instruments. One-time hardware purchase model with sensors priced from $20 for elements to $370 for digital modules.
- Custom Engineering Services: Product design, testing, and custom gas sensor development services for specialized applications. Includes consulting, product development from concept through volume production.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gas Sensor Elements - Individual sensor elements for various gases |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AGS - Analog Gas Sensor Module Developer Kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DGS2 - Digital Gas Sensor Module Developer Kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gas Sensor Instruments - Complete sensor systems |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Spec Sensors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spec Sensors designs and manufactures printed-electronics electrochemical gas sensor elements, digital and analog sensor modules, and complete calibrated gas sensor instruments for detecting gases including CO, H2, O3, NO2, NO, H2S, SO2, EtOH, Cl2, C2H4, HCHO, and respiratory irritants. Its products target OEMs, system integrators, and IoT developers building air quality, safety, health, food, and smart-building applications, and are complemented by custom sensor design and engineering services.
Product overview
Spec Sensors is a division of Interlink Electronics (NASDAQ: LINK) that designs and manufactures high-performance printed-electronics gas sensors for the Internet of Things. The product portfolio consists of three core product lines: (1) Gas Sensor Elements – individual electrochemical sensing elements in three package configurations (Pin-PCB, Thin Castellation PCB, Thick Castellation PCB) for detecting 16+ different gases including CO, H2, O3, NO2, NO, H2S, SO2, EtOH, Cl2, C2H4, HCHO, RESP, IAQ, and TBM; (2) DGS2 Digital Gas Sensor Module – a digital UART module pre-configured with specific gas sensors including onboard temperature compensation and digital output; (3) AGS Analog Gas Sensor Module – an analog voltage-output module for easier system integration; and (4) Gas Sensor Instruments – complete calibrated sensor systems for consumer, commercial, and industrial applications. All products leverage proprietary screen-printed electrochemical sensor technology developed with NSF funding, enabling small size, ultra-low power consumption (<50 μW), long life (10+ years), and mass-market pricing for wireless, portable, and wearable IoT applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Eco Sensors: Premier designer, manufacturer, and worldwide supplier of affordable ozone gas sensing instruments
- SPARROW
- KWJ Engineering
Products and services
- Gas Sensor Elements Printed and plastic-laminated high-performance electrochemical gas sensor elements for accurate detection of gases including CO, H2, O3, NO2, NO, H2S, SO2, EtOH, Cl2, C2H4, HCHO, RESP, IAQ, and TBM. Available in three package configurations (Pin-PCB, Thin Castellation PCB, Thick Castellation PCB) starting from $20 per element.
- DGS2 Digital Gas Sensor Module Digital gas sensor module with UART communication interface, pre-configured with a specific gas sensor, onboard temperature compensation, and digital output. Supports CO, CO-HS, EtOH, H2S, O3, O3-HS, Cl2, NO2, NO2-HS, SO2, SO2-HS, C2H4, NO, IAQ, HCHO, HCHO-HS, RESP, H2, TBM, and a 14-Pack Multigas Kit option.
- AGS Analog Gas Sensor Module Analog gas sensor module providing voltage output proportional to gas concentration for CO, CO-HS, EtOH, H2S, O3, Cl2, NO2, SO2, C2H4, NO, IAQ, HCHO, RESP, and H2 sensors. Priced from $65 to $102.
- Gas Sensor Instruments Complete factory-integrated and calibrated sensor systems supporting specific consumer, commercial, and industrial applications, with custom design support available. Starting from $59.
- Custom Gas Sensor Engineering Services Custom gas sensor design, product design, testing, and development services from concept through volume production for specialized OEM and integrator applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% accuracy vs EPA reference monitors in urban air quality deployment
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Spec Sensors
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Spec Sensors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Spec Sensors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- IntelflagshipCooperation with Intel on environmental air quality system for makers using the Intel Edison platform. SPEC Sensors provided gas sensing components for the system alongside Seeed and The Weather Company.
- The Weather CompanyflagshipPartnership with The Weather Company for air quality data integration in the Intel Edison-based environmental monitoring system for makers.
- Seeed StudioflagshipCooperation with Seeed Studio as the hardware platform partner for the environmental AQ system using Intel Edison with SPEC Sensors gas sensors.
- Interlink ElectronicscoreSPEC Sensors is a division of Interlink Electronics, a NASDAQ-listed company (NASDAQ: LINK). Interlink Electronics is a established force-sensing solutions and human interface device company that provides the parent infrastructure and resources for SPEC Sensors operations.
- DigiKeycoreDigiKey is the primary distributor for SPEC Sensors products, offering online purchasing of sensor elements, developer kits, and modules. Available through DigiKey's supplier centers.
- Eco SensorsminorSister division under Interlink Electronics. Premier designer and manufacturer of affordable ozone gas sensing instruments. Related company within the Interlink family.
- SPARROWminorSister division under Interlink Electronics. Produces wearable environmental monitoring products for consumer health and safety applications.
- KWJ EngineeringminorSister company under Interlink Electronics focused on gas detection for medical and industrial human safety applications. Founders (including Dr. Joseph Stetter) have nearly 40 years of gas sensing experience.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Spec Sensors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sensirion: Swiss sensor specialist offering gas, humidity and temperature sensors in compact, low-power packages for consumer, automotive and industrial IoT. Competes head-to-head for OEM design wins in smart home and IAQ platforms.
- Alphasense: UK-based manufacturer of electrochemical and optical gas sensors used in air quality, safety and process monitoring. Closely comparable in sensor technology, gas coverage and target OEM/industrial customer segments.
- Figaro Engineering: Japanese pioneer in electrochemical gas sensors covering CO, H2S, NO2, O3 and many of the same target gases as SPEC Sensors. Direct competitor in the OEM sensor element market with comparable product form factors and target applications (safety, IAQ, industrial).
- SGX Sensortech: UK/Swiss manufacturer of electrochemical and NDIR gas sensors with a similar miniaturized, low-power product portfolio and the same target customer base of OEM/IoT integrators in air quality and safety.
- Winsen Sensor: Chinese manufacturer of a broad range of electrochemical and semiconductor gas sensors at competitive price points. Direct competitor in cost-sensitive consumer, IAQ and safety sensor elements globally.
Broad incumbents
- Honeywell Sensing: Industrial-grade gas detection incumbent with broader sensing portfolio, channel reach and regulatory certifications across safety, HVAC and process markets. Competes with SPEC on CO and industrial safety, but at much higher price/performance tiers and through a much larger commercial organization.
- Bosch Sensortec: Large MEMS sensor vendor with environmental/gas sensor products aimed at consumer electronics and IoT OEMs. Overlaps with SPEC on miniaturized, low-power sensing for smart home and wearables, but bundled into a much broader sensor portfolio.
- Drägerwerk: Global safety and medical gas detection company. Sister division KWJ Engineering already overlaps with Dräger in safety gas sensing; Dräger represents the scaled, commercially entrenched counterpart for industrial/human-safety segments.
- ams OSRAM: Sensor specialist with environmental/gas sensing products targeting consumer and IoT applications, including smart home and HVAC. Provides broader portfolio competition to embedded designers evaluating gas sensing suppliers.
Emerging players
- Membrapor: Swiss specialist in electrochemical gas sensors focused on industrial and environmental monitoring. Comparable technology base and gas coverage as SPEC but with stronger European industrial channel presence.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spec Sensors social profiles
Digital presenceSpec Sensors compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Spec Sensors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spec Sensors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Spec Sensors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spec Sensors 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 Spec Sensors
What does Spec Sensors do?
Spec Sensors designs and manufactures printed-electronics electrochemical gas sensor elements, digital and analog sensor modules, and complete calibrated gas sensor instruments for detecting gases including CO, H2, O3, NO2, NO, H2S, SO2, EtOH, Cl2, C2H4, HCHO, and respiratory irritants. Its products target OEMs, system integrators, and IoT developers building air quality, safety, health, food, and smart-building applications, and are complemented by custom sensor design and engineering services.
Is Spec Sensors a public or private company?
Spec Sensors is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Spec Sensors founded?
Spec Sensors was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Spec Sensors based?
Spec Sensors is headquartered in Newark, United States, in the North America region.
How does Spec Sensors make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Gas Sensor Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Engineering Services.
Who are Spec Sensors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sensirion, Alphasense, Figaro Engineering, SGX Sensortech and Winsen Sensor. Broad incumbents are Honeywell Sensing, Bosch Sensortec, Drägerwerk and ams OSRAM. Membrapor is listed as an emerging player.
Does Spec Sensors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spec Sensors.
What industry is Spec Sensors in?
Spec Sensors's product category is Gas Sensors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAD, Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality), with a secondary code of HSAHAGAG, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Environmental Monitoring (VOC/CO2/PM2.5). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3823.