What LECO does

LECO Corporation is a privately held manufacturer of analytical, laboratory, and scientific instruments headquartered in St. Joseph, Michigan, founded in 1936. The company operates across four core instrument categories — elemental analysis, thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, and metallography — producing combustion and inert gas fusion analyzers (736, 744, 828, 832, 836, 844, 928 series, FP828, FP928), glow discharge spectrometers (GDS900, GDS950), thermogravimetric and calorimetric instruments (TGM800, TGA801, AF700, AC500, AC600), time-of-flight mass spectrometers under the Pegasus brand (BTX, GC-HRT, GC-HRT 4D), and a complete metallography workflow line from sectioning to microscopy and automated hardness testing (AMH6, AMH55, LR/LCR). Underlying technologies include proprietary Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) modulation, ChromaTOF data processing software with peak deconvolution, the StayClean ion source, and the Cornerstone instrument-control platform.

The company monetizes through a hybrid model: one-time capital equipment sales to enterprise and academic laboratories, recurring consumables (crucibles, reagents, replacement parts) tied to instrument utilization, and service, training, and application support delivered through regional offices and dedicated training centers in St. Joseph MI, Berlin, and Alderley Park UK. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supplemented by 25+ wholly-owned regional offices and authorized distributors covering more than 75 countries, with a unique mobile laboratory fleet operating in North America for hands-on demonstrations. Customers span twelve or more verticals including battery manufacturing and recycling, environmental testing, food and beverage production, food safety, metabolomics, petrochemicals, metals and mining, building materials, aroma/flavor/fragrance, protein and agricultural analysis, and high-performance materials, with named enterprise users including Givaudan, SGS Institut Fresenius, and ALS Global, and academic users including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, UC Davis, University of Liverpool, and Helmholtz Zentrum München. LECO was founded by Carl Schultz; current commercial leadership includes Vice Presidents Christopher Warren and Matthew Most, and Farai Rukunda as Director of Separation Science.

Name

LECO

Legal name

LECO Corporation

Website

https://leco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

LECO Corporation, founded in 1936 and headquartered in St. Joseph, Michigan, manufactures analytical laboratory instruments — elemental analyzers, mass spectrometers, thermal analyzers, and metallography systems — sold globally through 25+ offices to enterprise, academic, and government laboratories across battery, food, environmental, petrochemical, and life sciences markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Analytical Laboratory Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems (HLAGAIAA), Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Analytical laboratory instruments
• Elemental analysis systems
• Mass spectrometry equipment
• Thermal analysis instruments
• Metallography equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Hazel Grove

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices28 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Analytical Instruments (Capital Equipment): LECO manufactures and sells high-value analytical laboratory instruments including elemental analyzers, mass spectrometers (GC-TOFMS, GCxGC-TOFMS), thermal analyzers, and metallography equipment. These are capital equipment purchases with typical enterprise sales cycles involving direct sales engagement, demonstrations, and installation. Revenue is primarily one-time capital with associated service contracts.
2. Consumables: LECO sells a complete range of high-quality consumables specifically designed for compatibility with their instruments, including crucibles, reagents, and replacement parts. Consumables provide recurring revenue tied to instrument utilization rates.
3. Service, Support, and Training: LECO provides after-sale support including instrument service (repairs, maintenance), application support, and instrument training. Training is offered in-person at global training centers (St. Joseph MI, Berlin, Alderley Park UK), virtually, and through LECOLearn online resources.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

LECO Corporation manufactures and sells analytical laboratory instruments for elemental analysis, thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, and metallography, supported by proprietary software (ChromaTOF, Cornerstone, PAX-it), application-specific consumables, mobile laboratory demonstration services, and global after-sales service, application support, and training programs.

Product overview

LECO Corporation offers a comprehensive portfolio of analytical laboratory instruments and solutions established in 1936. The product ecosystem comprises four core instrument categories: (1) Mass Spectrometry solutions featuring the Pegasus BTX, Pegasus GC-HRT, and Pegasus GC-HRT 4D time-of-flight mass spectrometers, along with supporting modulators (Paradigm Flow Modulator, Thermal Modulator), ion sources (Multi-Mode Source), detectors (QuadJet SD), and ChromaTOF software suite including ChromaTOF, ChromaTOF Sync, ChromaTOF Tile, and Identification Grading System; (2) Elemental Analysis instruments including combustion analyzers (744, 832, 844, 928 Series), inert gas fusion systems (736, 836 Series), glow discharge spectrometers (GDS900, GDS950), specialized determinators (DH603, RC612, TruSpec Micro), and protein analyzers (FP828, FP928); (3) Thermal Analysis equipment comprising thermogravimetric analyzers (TGM800, TGA801), ash fusion analyzers (AF700), and calorimeters (AC500, AC600); (4) Complete Metallography solutions covering sectioning (CX300), mounting (MX series), grinding/polishing (PX series), hardness testing (AMH6, AMH55, LR/LCR Series), microscopy (VX Series, 4K Microscope), and image analysis (PAX-it). These instruments are unified through Cornerstone software and supported by Mobile Laboratories, Consumables, and comprehensive Service & Training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pegasus: Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOFMS) product line including Pegasus BTX, Pegasus GC-HRT, Pegasus BTX 4D, and Pegasus GC-HRT 4D for GC-MS and GCxGC applications
• ChromaTOF
• Cornerstone
• LECOLearn

Products and services

• Pegasus BTX Benchtop GC-TOFMS High-sensitivity time-of-flight mass spectrometer for GC and GCxGC, providing high-resolution, high-sensitivity performance for both targeted and untargeted analysis in research and industrial laboratories.
• Pegasus GC-HRT High-resolution GC-TOFMS with Folded Flight Path technology for enhanced mass resolution and sensitivity in complex sample analysis.
• Pegasus GC-HRT 4D High-resolution GC-MS with high-performance GCxGC modulation for comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography applications.
• 736 Series Oxygen/Nitrogen Analyzer Oxygen and Nitrogen analyzer using Inert Gas Fusion technique for elemental determination in metals and inorganic materials.
• 744 Series Carbon/Sulfur Combustion Analyzer Carbon and Sulfur combustion analyzer for elemental determination in organic and inorganic sample matrices.
• 828 Series CHN/Protein Analyzer Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Protein determinator by combustion for organic sample matrices.
• 832 Series Carbon/Sulfur Analyzer Sulfur and Carbon analyzer by combustion technique for elemental determination.
• 836 Series O/N/H Analyzer Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen detection analyzer by inert gas fusion.
• 844 Series Carbon/Sulfur Analyzer Carbon and Sulfur analyzer by combustion for various sample matrices.
• 928 Series CNS/Nitrogen/Protein Analyzer Carbon/Nitrogen/Sulfur and Nitrogen/Protein analyzer by combustion for food, feed, and agricultural sample matrices.
• FP828 Protein/Nitrogen Analyzer Rapid Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Protein determinator using Dumas combustion method for food, feed, and agricultural QA.
• FP928 Protein/Nitrogen Analyzer Rapid nitrogen/protein determinator with 2.8 minute analysis time and up to 2 gram sample masses, using Dumas combustion for food, feed, and soil analysis.
• TruSpec Micro CHN/CHNS/O Analyzer CHN/CHNS/O micro analyzer for trace-level elemental analysis of small sample masses.
• DH603 Hydrogen Determinator Residual and Diffusible Hydrogen determination by Hot Extraction for metals QC.
• RC612 Multiphase Quantifier Multiphase quantifier for Carbon and Water determination in coal and related materials.
• GDS900 Glow Discharge Spectrometer Glow Discharge Atomic Emission Spectrometer for elemental surface and bulk analysis of solid metallic samples.
• GDS950 Glow Discharge Spectrometer Glow Discharge Spectrometer with Compositional Depth Profiling for analyzing coating layers from surface to substrate.
• TGM800 Thermogravimetric Moisture Determinator Thermogravimetric moisture determinator for precise moisture measurement, replacing traditional oven methods in half the time.
• TGA801 Thermogravimetric Analyzer Thermogravimetric analyzer for moisture, ash, volatile content, and loss-on-ignition determination, capable of running multiple samples simultaneously.
• AF700 Ash Fusion Analyzer Coal and coke ash fusibility determinator for thermal analysis applications.
• AC600 Automated Isoperibol Calorimeter Automated isoperibol calorimeter for gross calorific content determination in coal, coke, and other fuels.
• AC500 Semiautomated Isoperibol Calorimeter Semiautomated isoperibol calorimeter for gross calorific content determination in fuels.
• Sectioning Equipment (CX300 Series) Sample sectioning equipment for metallographic preparation, including the CX300 series of precision cutting machines.
• Mounting Equipment (MX Series) Automated compression mounting systems, including the MX series, for metallographic specimen preparation.
• Grinding and Polishing Equipment (PX Series, CX300) Manual and automated grinding and polishing systems including the PX series and CX300 for metallographic sample preparation.
• AMH6 Automated Hardness Testing System Automated Vickers and Knoop hardness testing system for materials and metallographic laboratories, featuring wide test force range (1 gf-10 kgf), six-position turret, self-leveling sample holder, and configurable deadweight or load cell force application.
• AMH55 Hardness Testing Software Software for automated hardness testing with Vickers, Knoop, and Rockwell testers.
• LR/LCR Series Rockwell Hardness Testers Automated load cell Rockwell hardness testing instruments.
• VX Series Metallurgical Microscopes Precision metallurgical microscopes for optical analysis of prepared specimens.
• 4K Digital Microscope High-resolution digital microscope for detailed metallographic analysis.
• Paradigm Flow Modulator and Shift Flow Splitter Reverse Fill-Flush Modulator and Flow Splitter for GCxGC applications, enabling expanded chromatographic peak capacity.
• Multi-Mode Source GC-MS ion source supporting EI, PCI, NCI, and ECNI modes in a single source configuration.
• QuadJet SD Modulation System GCxGC modulation system with Flame Ionization Detection for comprehensive compound classification.
• Thermal Modulator Dual-stage thermal jet modulator for GCxGC systems.
• Mobile Laboratory Demonstration Service Fleet of mobile laboratories in North America featuring hands-on experience with LECO instrumentation, including Analytical Science, Metallography, and Mass Spectrometry mobile labs that travel to customer facilities for demonstrations.
• LECO Consumables Complete range of high-quality consumables designed to work seamlessly with LECO instruments, including crucibles, reagents, replacement parts, and consumable accessories that ensure reliable and precise results.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200,000 samples analyzed by UC Davis with LECO GC-TOF MS technology over 25 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Liverpool Training Centre for MetabolomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Liverpool Training Centre for Metabolomics, in partnership with LECO Corporation, provides metabolomics-based training to improve the impact of research and collaborations. The center offers courses from introductory to advanced levels, delivered both online and face-to-face, providing hands-on experience with metabolomics workflows. Dr. Cate Winder serves as the primary contact. This partnership leverages LECO GC-TOFMS technology in a structured educational context.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elementar: Direct peer focused on CHNS/O elemental analyzers and Dumas protein analysis, competing most directly with LECO's TruSpec, FP828/FP928, and 828/928 series.
• Waters Corporation: Direct peer in mass spectrometry and chromatography, particularly strong in metabolomics, food safety, and pharmaceutical QC — overlapping with LECO's Pegasus and elemental analyzer portfolios.
• JEOL: Direct peer in high-resolution mass spectrometry and analytical instrumentation, with overlapping applications in materials, environmental, and life science research.
• Sciex (Danaher): Direct peer in mass spectrometry serving food safety, environmental, and pharmaceutical markets — competing with LECO's Pegasus GC-TOFMS, particularly in regulated QC workflows.
• Agilent Technologies: Direct competitor in GC-MS, GC-TOFMS, and chromatography instrumentation serving overlapping food safety, environmental, metabolomics, and petrochemical customers. Competes head-to-head with LECO's Pegasus platform.
• Shimadzu: Direct competitor across mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and chromatography, with strong positions in food safety, environmental, and academic labs that overlap with LECO's customer base.
• Bruker: Direct peer in mass spectrometry (including TOF and high-resolution MS) and analytical instrumentation for life science, food, and materials markets — competes with LECO's Pegasus and elemental lines.
• Mettler Toledo: Direct peer in precision lab instruments including thermal analysis, elemental analyzers, and lab automation, competing with LECO's TGA, calorimeter, and Dumas combustion lines.

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Broad incumbent spanning mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, chromatography, and lab informatics — competes with LECO across all four of its core product platforms and can bundle enterprise-wide.
• PerkinElmer: Broad incumbent in analytical instruments and life sciences, overlapping with LECO in elemental analysis, food safety, and environmental applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LECOCorporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries28 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 LECO