Clean Air Engineering

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.

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

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

• Emissions monitoring services
• Stack testing services
• Air quality consulting
• Cooling tower testing
• Environmental compliance testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Palatine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Cooling Tower Testing Services: CTI-licensed thermal performance testing, drift emissions testing, sound testing, thermal certification, and plume-abatement testing for cooling towers.
6. 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.
7. Ethylene Oxide Monitoring Services: Comprehensive EtO monitoring including CEMS installation, indoor air quality monitoring, fenceline monitoring, mobile monitoring surveys, and LDAR applications.
8. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, supporting and core.

• VIM TechnologiesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CleanAir announced new partnership with VIM Technologies for enhanced monitoring solutions and technology integration.
• Steri-TechstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CleanAir to install Picarro-based EtO monitor at Steri-Tech commercial facility for emissions monitoring and regulatory compliance.
• Oxford LasersupportingTechnology or IntegrationOxford 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTI 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partnership for air quality professional development, knowledge sharing, and industry standards advancement. CleanAir participates in A&WMA conferences and events.
• Source Evaluation SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization partnership supporting source evaluation methodologies and standards development for emissions testing.
• National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCASI provides research and technical support for environmental issues affecting forest products industry. Partnership supports CleanAir's pulp and paper industry testing services.
• Marcellus Shale CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry coalition partnership supporting natural gas industry environmental compliance and best practices for shale development operations.
• EnvirosuitesupportingTechnology or IntegrationEnvirosuite 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.
• PicarrocoreTechnology or IntegrationCleanAir 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 InspectionssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInspection services partnership providing complementary non-destructive testing and inspection capabilities for industrial facilities.
• CignasupportingOthersCleanAir offers employees health insurance through three Cigna healthcare plan options with five tiers of coverage to meet employee needs.
• Credit Union 1supportingOthersPartnership providing employees access to financial services including savings, loans, and investment products through credit union membership.
• Fidelity InvestmentssupportingOthersCleanAir'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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/cleanairstore
• Facebookfacebook.com/clean-air-engineering-102961128896
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clean-air-engineering

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Clean Air Engineering