Clean Air Engineering
CleanAir Engineering is a 50-year-old, Illinois-based environmental testing and consulting firm serving industrial, power generation, medical sterilization, and oil & gas customers with proprietary emissions monitoring systems, stack testing services, and a $14M+ equipment rental business across four U.S. technical centers and one European facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersPalatine, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Clean Air Engineering does
Clean Air Engineering, Inc. (CleanAir) is a privately held environmental testing, consulting, and equipment services firm founded in 1972 and headquartered in Palatine, Illinois, operating four U.S. technical centers (Chicago, Houston, Pittsburgh, Seattle/Sumner) plus a Montoursville, PA office and a European technical center in Marseille, France. The company provides source emissions testing (stack testing, CEMS RATAs), ambient air and fugitive emissions monitoring, ethylene oxide (EtO) and mercury monitoring, cooling tower performance testing, and power plant performance verification, alongside a $14M+ equipment rental, sales, and calibration business with 51-100 employees.
Its core technology portfolio includes proprietary systems such as the MET-44 family of Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) ethylene oxide monitors (250 ppt detection limit, sub-10-second response, 48-point sampling in under 24 minutes), the MET-80 sorbent-trap mercury monitoring system backed by U.S. Patent No. 7,802,485 B2 and the in-house METRIC software platform, the proprietary AutoCEMS automated EPA reference method testing system, and the CleanAir KODIAK differential pressure monitor. Third-party OEM equipment (Thermo Fisher, FLIR, Teledyne, Aeroqual, Picarro-based analyzers) is also distributed through the CleanAir Store alongside branded offerings.
CleanAir generates revenue through equipment rental (usage-based), equipment sales (one-time), repair and calibration services, and project-based professional services across compliance testing, performance verification, ambient air network design, and regulatory consulting. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; distribution relies on direct enterprise sales, an e-commerce storefront, four regional technical centers, and industry tradeshow presence. Accreditations held include ISO/IEC 17025, NELAP, LELAP, STAC (ASTM D7036), A2LA, MCERTS (UK), CTI testing agency licensing, and EPA 40 CFR 82 certification, which collectively support data defensibility required by EPA NESHAP, MACT, MATS, and state/local air quality regulations.
Clean Air Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clean Air Engineering
- Legal name
- Clean Air Engineering, Inc.
- Website
- https://cleanair.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CleanAir Engineering is a 50-year-old, Illinois-based environmental testing and consulting firm serving industrial, power generation, medical sterilization, and oil & gas customers with proprietary emissions monitoring systems, stack testing services, and a $14M+ equipment rental business across four U.S. technical centers and one European facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Clean Air Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Testing & Compliance Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) & Stack Testing (EUAHADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stack/Source Emissions Testing & CEMS Support (EUAHACAB), Leak Detection, Emissions & LDAR Testing (OGI, methane, fugitive emissions) (EUAEAHAL), Airborne Chemical Exposure Monitoring (VOCs, Solvents, Gases) (EUAHAGAA), Air Quality & Emissions Management (BPAHAJAI), Environmental & Safety Monitoring Instruments (Air quality, emissions, radiation, noise, gas detection) (IMAGAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Clean Air Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palatine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Clean Air Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Rental of air and gas monitoring equipment including CEMS, ambient samplers, analyzers, cameras, calibration equipment. Equipment is inspected and calibrated before shipping from technical centers.
- Equipment Sales: Sale of air measurement equipment, monitors, analyzers, and accessories from the CleanAir Store. Includes products from major manufacturers like Thermo Fisher, FLIR, Teledyne, and CleanAir's own branded equipment.
- Equipment Repair and Calibration: Calibration, maintenance, and repair services with over 35 years of experience. Includes 30-day labor warranty and certified refrigerant component repairs compliant with EPA 40 CFR 82.
- Ambient Air Monitoring Services: Design and implementation of ambient air and fugitive emissions monitoring solutions including network design, QAPP development, incident response, and data quality assurance.
- Cooling Tower Testing Services: CTI-licensed thermal performance testing, drift emissions testing, sound testing, thermal certification, and plume-abatement testing for cooling towers.
- Stack Testing Services: Source emissions testing using EPA, ASTM, NCASI methods. Includes wet methods, CEMS, RATA testing, compliance testing, and performance guarantee testing for power plants and industrial facilities.
- Ethylene Oxide Monitoring Services: Comprehensive EtO monitoring including CEMS installation, indoor air quality monitoring, fenceline monitoring, mobile monitoring surveys, and LDAR applications.
- Power Plant Performance Testing: Thermal performance testing and consulting for combustion turbines, steam turbines, condensers, cooling towers, heat exchangers, pumps, and boilers using ASME PTC test codes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Equipment rental available with pricing ranging from $0 to $30,999+ depending on equipment type and duration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Clean Air Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clean Air Engineering provides environmental testing, consulting, and emissions monitoring services to industrial clients, including stack emissions testing, cooling tower performance testing, and continuous emissions monitoring. The company also designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary monitoring instruments such as the MET-44 ethylene oxide monitor and MET-80 mercury monitor, and rents related emissions measurement equipment.
Product overview
Clean Air Engineering is a full-service environmental consulting company that provides data-driven air quality measurement and monitoring solutions. The core offering consists of a portfolio of proprietary monitoring systems and testing services centered around continuous emissions monitoring (CEMS), stack testing, ambient air monitoring, and specialized testing for ethylene oxide and mercury. Key proprietary products include the MET-44 CRDS-based EtO monitoring system family (CEMS, indoor, fenceline, and mobile configurations), the MET-80 sorbent trap mercury monitoring system with METRIC software, AutoCEMS automated testing, and the KODIAK differential pressure monitor. These products are complemented by extensive testing services including stack testing, cooling tower testing, power plant performance testing, and water flow rate measurements. The company also operates a major equipment rental, sales, and calibration business with over $14MM in inventory across four technical centers. The ecosystem is rounded out by digital services enabling remote monitoring and reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MET-44 Ethylene Oxide Monitor
Quantifiable outcome
- 250 ppt ultra-low EtO detection limit with <10 second response time
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Clean Air Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Clean Air Engineering technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
Clean Air Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, supporting and core.
- VIM TechnologiesstrategicCleanAir announced new partnership with VIM Technologies for enhanced monitoring solutions and technology integration.
- Steri-TechstrategicCleanAir to install Picarro-based EtO monitor at Steri-Tech commercial facility for emissions monitoring and regulatory compliance.
- Oxford LasersupportingOxford Laser's VisiSize D30 laser-based particle sizing technology is used by CleanAir for cooling tower drift emissions testing. The technology measures droplet size distribution between 10 and 50 microns for PM10 and PM2.5 fraction determination.
- Cooling Technology Institute (CTI)coreCTI is the governing body that licenses CleanAir to perform independent cooling tower testing. CleanAir is one of few agencies globally licensed to conduct thermal performance, drift emissions, thermal certification, and sound certification testing.
- Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA)supportingIndustry association partnership for air quality professional development, knowledge sharing, and industry standards advancement. CleanAir participates in A&WMA conferences and events.
- Source Evaluation SocietysupportingProfessional organization partnership supporting source evaluation methodologies and standards development for emissions testing.
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI)supportingNCASI provides research and technical support for environmental issues affecting forest products industry. Partnership supports CleanAir's pulp and paper industry testing services.
- Marcellus Shale CoalitionsupportingIndustry coalition partnership supporting natural gas industry environmental compliance and best practices for shale development operations.
- EnvirosuitesupportingEnvirosuite provides environmental monitoring platform used by CDPH to track PM10 readings alongside meteorological data. CleanAir's monitoring data integrates with Envirosuite platform for real-time compliance monitoring.
- PicarrocoreCleanAir has partnered with Picarro to install EtO monitors at commercial sterilization facilities. Picarro-based technology underlies parts of CleanAir's EtO monitoring solutions.
- Acuren Premium InspectionssupportingInspection services partnership providing complementary non-destructive testing and inspection capabilities for industrial facilities.
- CignasupportingCleanAir offers employees health insurance through three Cigna healthcare plan options with five tiers of coverage to meet employee needs.
- Credit Union 1supportingPartnership providing employees access to financial services including savings, loans, and investment products through credit union membership.
- Fidelity InvestmentssupportingCleanAir's 401k retirement plan is administered through Fidelity, with CleanAir matching eligible employee contributions to retirement savings.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Clean Air Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ALS Environmental: ALS Limited's environmental testing division offering air emissions, stack, and ambient testing services; another global TIC competitor in the same compliance testing end markets.
- Eurofins Environment Testing (US): Division of Eurofins Scientific providing environmental analytical testing and stack sampling services; broader scale and lab network compete with CleanAir on EPA-method testing and CEMS projects.
- SGS: Global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) giant with an air quality and emissions testing practice that competes with CleanAir on stack testing, ambient monitoring, and power plant performance testing.
- Bureau Veritas: International TIC firm offering air emissions testing, environmental compliance, and industrial asset services — a broader incumbent in the same regulatory-driven compliance testing category.
- Intertek: Global TIC provider with environmental and air quality testing services for refineries, power, and industrial clients — competes on large-scale EPA reference method testing engagements.
Direct peers
- Montrose Environmental Group: Public environmental services firm providing stack testing, ambient air monitoring, CEMS, and environmental consulting — the closest direct peer to CleanAir across testing services, equipment, and multi-vertical compliance work.
- Apex Companies: National environmental consulting and testing firm offering source emissions testing, ambient air monitoring, LDAR, and EHS consulting — competes with CleanAir for the same industrial compliance testing RFPs.
- Pace Analytical Services: Major US environmental testing laboratory network providing stack emissions, ambient air, and source sampling services; competes directly with CleanAir on EPA method testing and ambient monitoring.
Emerging players
- Picarro: CRDS-based gas analyzer manufacturer that supplies the technology underlying parts of CleanAir's MET-44 EtO solution; a technology partner as well as an indirect competitor as Picarro expands direct monitoring service offerings.
- Aeroqual: Manufacturer of compact air quality monitors (PM2.5, O3, NOx) — CleanAir distributes Aeroqual's AQS1 product while also building its own ambient monitoring fleet; an adjacent technology and channel counterpart rather than direct service competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clean Air Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceClean Air Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Clean Air Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clean Air Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Clean Air Engineering subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Clean Air Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clean Air Engineering 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 Clean Air Engineering
What does Clean Air Engineering do?
Clean Air Engineering provides environmental testing, consulting, and emissions monitoring services to industrial clients, including stack emissions testing, cooling tower performance testing, and continuous emissions monitoring. The company also designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary monitoring instruments such as the MET-44 ethylene oxide monitor and MET-80 mercury monitor, and rents related emissions measurement equipment.
Is Clean Air Engineering a public or private company?
Clean Air Engineering is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Clean Air Engineering founded?
Clean Air Engineering was founded in 1972. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Clean Air Engineering based?
Clean Air Engineering is headquartered in Palatine, United States, in the North America region.
How does Clean Air Engineering make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales, equipment Repair and Calibration, ambient Air Monitoring Services, cooling Tower Testing Services, stack Testing Services, ethylene Oxide Monitoring Services and power Plant Performance Testing.
Who are Clean Air Engineering's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ALS Environmental, Eurofins Environment Testing (US), SGS, Bureau Veritas and Intertek. Direct peers are Montrose Environmental Group, Apex Companies and Pace Analytical Services. Emerging players are Picarro and Aeroqual.
Does Clean Air Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clean Air Engineering.
What industry is Clean Air Engineering in?
Clean Air Engineering's product category is Environmental Testing & Compliance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHADAA, Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) & Stack Testing, with a secondary code of EUAHACAB, Stack/Source Emissions Testing & CEMS Support. Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.