Ronan Engineering

What Ronan Engineering does

Ronan Engineering Company is a privately held industrial automation firm founded in 1959, specializing in radiometric (non-contact) measurement systems for process control. The company designs and manufactures measurement hardware, including density gauges, continuous and point-level sensors, weight and mass-flow measurement systems, mold-level systems for steelmaking, and radiation monitoring equipment, alongside radiation-shielded source holders (GS-400 fireproof, GS-200/300 stainless steel, SA series). Its underlying technology relies on radioactive source-and-detector pairs that are mounted externally to process vessels and pipes, enabling measurement in environments where invasive sensors would corrode or fail. The product portfolio is anchored by the Ronan Measure platform and the X96/X96S microprocessor-based transmitter family.

The company serves industrial process operators across 13 verticals, including fossil-fuel power, mining and aggregates, oil and gas refining, steel production, ethanol and renewables, chemical and petrochemical, pulp and paper, dredging, food and beverage, glass, cement, and recycling. Customers are primarily enterprise-scale plants facing extreme heat, pressure, corrosives, or abrasive solids where traditional contact sensors are unreliable. Ronan monetizes through custom-quoted hardware sales and recurring technical services including start-up, preventative maintenance, repair, radiation safety training, and licensing assistance for radioactive source ownership. Distribution is via direct factory sales from Florence, Kentucky, a sales/service facility in Sunderland, UK, and a global representative network spanning the U.S. and international markets.

After the December 2019 passing of founder John A. Hewitson and the January 2021 divestiture of its California Division (alarm annunciation, leak detection, and I/P products sold to Ronan Systems LLC), Ronan has refocused on its core radiometric measurement franchise. The company continues to launch new detector hardware (June 2025 Rigid Scintillation Detector) and participates in industry events such as CoalProTec, with no public funding, M&A, or IPO activity disclosed in the source materials.

Name

Ronan Engineering

Legal name

Ronan Engineering Company

Website

https://ronan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ronan Engineering Company, founded in 1959 and privately held, designs and manufactures non-contact radiometric measurement systems (density, level, weight, mass flow) for industrial process operators in harsh environments across power, mining, refining, steel, chemical, food, and dredging verticals, selling through direct sales and a global representative network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Measurement Instruments

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Radiation Detection Instruments & Systems (Portal monitors, spectrometers, contamination monitors) (EUAKAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metrology, Inspection & Process Control Equipment (HDAHAEAH), Radiological & Hazardous Materials Monitoring (Radiation, Asbestos, Lead) (EUAHACAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial process measurement
• Radiometric measurement systems
• Density measurement gauges
• Level measurement instruments
• Weight and mass flow measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Radiometric Measurement Systems Sales: Sale of non-contact measurement systems including density gauges, level sensors, weight measurement systems, and associated source holders for industrial process measurement applications.
2. Technical Services and Support: On-site assistance, start-up services, preventative maintenance programs, repair services, radiation safety training, and service agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ronan Engineering manufactures and sells non-contact radiometric (nuclear) measurement systems for industrial process control, providing level, density, weight, point-level, mass flow, interface level, mold level, and radiation monitoring solutions. Systems are externally mounted on process vessels and pipes using radioactive sources and scintillation detectors, allowing accurate measurement in harsh environments with caustic, corrosive, high-temperature, pressurized, or abrasive materials. The portfolio is anchored by the Ronan Measure platform and X96 Series microprocessor-based transmitters, complemented by source holders, intrinsic safety barriers, and field service, licensing, and training offerings.

Product overview

Ronan Engineering Company provides radiometric (non-contact) measurement systems for industrial process control applications. The core product is the Ronan Measure platform, which encompasses multiple measurement types: Density Measurement System, Continuous Level Measurement, Weight Measurement, Point Level Measurement, Mass Flow Measurement, Interface Level, Mold Level System, and Radiation Monitoring Systems. These systems use radioactive sources and detectors mounted externally to process vessels to measure material properties without contacting the process media. The product portfolio includes the X96 Series microprocessor-based transmitters (X96S models for level, density, weight, mass flow, and mold level applications), X90 Series Point Level Monitors, XSD-1000 Gamma Radiation Detection Systems, X57 Intrinsic Safety Barriers, and various Source Holders. Supporting services include on-site measurements service, licensing support for radioactive materials compliance, and radiation safety training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ronan Measure: Product line for radiometric measurement systems including level, density, weight, and mass flow measurement solutions for industrial applications.

Products and services

• Ronan Measure Radiometric Measurement Platform Radiometric measurement system platform providing non-contact level, density, weight, and point-level measurement solutions for harsh industrial process environments using radioactive source technology.
• Density Measurement System Non-contact radiometric density measurement system for monitoring slurry, liquid, and solid densities in industrial processes.
• Continuous Level Measurement System Externally mounted system for continuous monitoring of material levels in tanks, vessels, and process containers without contacting the material.
• Weight Measurement System Radiometric weighing system for conveyor belt applications enabling non-contact mass flow measurement without mechanical wear or calibration drift.
• Point Level Measurement System Discrete point-level detection system for identifying material presence or absence at specific locations within process vessels.
• Mass Flow Measurement System Combined density and weight measurement system for calculating mass flow rates of materials on conveyor systems in dredging and mining applications.
• Interface Level Measurement System Measurement system for detecting and monitoring interface levels between different materials or fluids in process vessels.
• Mold Level System Specialized measurement system for steel production environments, monitoring level and density in molds under high-heat and high-vibration conditions.
• Radiation Monitoring Systems Gamma radiation detection systems for monitoring radiation levels and scrap metal contamination in industrial facilities.
• Radiation Source Holders Radioactive source containment housings including Radiation Low Level Source, GS-400 Fireproof Source, GS-200/300 Stainless Steel, and SA series general purpose holders used with Ronan measurement systems.
• Measurements Service Field service offering including start-up assistance, preventative maintenance, wipe tests, personalized training, service agreements, and radiation auditing for Ronan measurement installations.
• Licensing Support Services Customer support for licensing requirements related to radioactive source ownership, including assistance with license applications and amendments.
• Radiation Safety Training Training programs including 40-hour Radiation Safety Officer certification, 8-hour safety classes, 2-day safety courses, 4-hour basic awareness, and technical training for Ronan customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years of reliable service life demonstrated at customer facilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Endress+Hauser: Global leader in industrial process measurement (level, density, flow) with a broad portfolio including radiometric (Gamma Modulator) and non-contact alternatives. Directly comparable to Ronan across level and density measurement, with a much larger global footprint and IIoT-enabled instrumentation.
• VEGA Grieshaber: Specialist in level, density, and pressure measurement with strong positions in radar and radiometric gauges for harsh industrial applications. Directly competes with Ronan in continuous level and density measurement, particularly in water/wastewater, chemical, and mining.
• Berthold Technologies: Specialist in radiometric (nuclear) process measurement for level, density, and concentration, with a near-identical technology base to Ronan. A close niche competitor in harsh-service industrial measurement using radioactive sources and scintillation detectors.
• Magnetrol International: Specialist in level and flow instrumentation, including nuclear-rated and guided-wave radar products. Competes directly with Ronan in continuous and point-level measurement for chemical, power, and oil & gas applications.

Broad incumbents

• Emerson (Rosemount): Diversified industrial automation major with a Rosemount measurement portfolio spanning level, pressure, flow, and temperature. Competes with Ronan through non-radiometric alternatives in many of the same power, chemical, and refining accounts.
• Siemens (Process Automation): Large incumbent in process automation (Sitrans, Simatic) with broad level, density, and weighing instrumentation. Competes indirectly with Ronan in power, water, and process manufacturing through SITRANS radar and ultrasonic lines.
• AMETEK: Diversified electronic instruments group with process measurement and radiation-detection subsidiaries that overlap Ronan's density, level, and radiation monitoring portfolios. A potential strategic acquirer given its roll-up history in specialty instrumentation.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Major scientific and industrial instrumentation company with radiation detection and process measurement capabilities. Competes with Ronan's radiation monitoring systems and overlaps in process-level density and elemental measurement.

Emerging players

• Ohmart/VEGA (Ohmart Corporation): Legacy US specialist in nuclear/radiometric level and density gauges (now part of VEGA), historically a direct competitor to Ronan in harsh-service power, mining, and chemical applications across North America.
• Bin Master: Niche US vendor of level and inventory measurement for bulk solids and process industries, overlapping with Ronan's point-level and continuous level product lines in mining, aggregates, food, and ethanol.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ronan-engineering
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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ronan Engineering