What Fischer Custom Communications does

Fischer Custom Communications, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer founded in 1971 by Joe and Virginia Fischer, currently operating from a single facility in Torrance, California with roughly 23 employees and a catalog of more than 500 specialized products. The company designs and builds RF test and measurement instrumentation for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) compliance testing — bulk current injection probes, current monitor probes, coupling/decoupling networks (CDNs), LISNs, EM injection clamps, TEM cells, capacitive voltage probes, and surface monitor probes — together with EMP/HPM and lightning transient protection devices sold under the "Spikeguard" sub-brand, including the FCC-250B, FCC-350A/B, FCC-450B, FCC-550, and quarter-wave-stub series capable of dissipating 25,000-ampere transients. The portfolio also includes pulse generators, ranging from benchtop CS-115 trapezoidal pulsers to the portable P-2DC, used to drive current injection probes in immunity testing.

Underlying technology is anchored in classical RF and electromagnetic engineering rather than software or AI. Spikeguard protection relies on gas discharge tubes, discrete silicon components, and transmission-line (quarter-wave stub) architectures to achieve nanosecond response times and approximately 70 dB of lightning attenuation. Compliance is built around a dense stack of international standards: Mil-Std-461/462, RTCA/DO-160, CISPR 25/32, IEC 61000-4-x, and ISO 11452-4, supported by an in-house ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited calibration laboratory, AS9100C aerospace certification, ISO 9001 quality certification, and California Laboratory Accreditation #2393.01. The company does not disclose product pricing publicly; offerings are quote-based.

Fischer monetizes primarily through hardware sales (instruments and protection devices) plus a smaller recurring stream of calibration services, with no software, subscription, or licensing layer visible. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales routed through [email protected], with specialized EMP/lightning products handled personally by David Fischer. Channels are limited — primarily the company website and major-exhibitor presence at the IEEE EMC + SIPI Symposium — with no disclosed distributors, resellers, or digital marketing infrastructure. Primary customer segments are aerospace and defense contractors (Mil-Std-461, DO-160, EMP/HPM protection), electronics manufacturers needing global EMC compliance, automotive electronics suppliers (ISO 11452-4, CISPR 25), and telecommunications operators requiring surge protection per IEC 61000-4-5. Named customers include General Dynamics for EMC testing on defense systems including the Atlas Missile program. Following founder Joe Fischer's death in October 2022, operations are continued by his sons David and Allen Fischer; the company remains active, exhibiting at IEEE events in 2024 and 2025.

Name

Fischer Custom Communications

Legal name

Fischer Custom Communications, Inc.

Website

https://fischercc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fischer Custom Communications manufactures specialized RF EMC test and measurement instrumentation — including bulk current injection probes, CDNs, LISNs, and TEM cells — plus Spikeguard EMP and lightning transient protection devices, serving aerospace and defense, electronics, automotive, and telecom compliance markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

EMC Test and Measurement Instrumentation

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

EMI/EMC & Filtering Components (Common-mode chokes, filters, shielding materials) (IMAGAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

EMI/RFI Suppression Components (Ferrite Beads/Cores/Filters) (HDAHANAE), Passive Filters & RF Passives (LC Filters/Diplexers/Baluns/Attenuators) (HDAHANAG)

Keywords

• EMC test equipment
• RF test instruments
• EMP protection devices
• Transient suppression devices
• Calibration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Torrance

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. RF Test and Measurement Instruments: Sale of specialized instrumentation including bulk current injection probes, current monitor probes, LISNs, CDNs, EM injection clamps, and TEM cells for EMC compliance testing
2. Transient Protection Devices: Sale of Spikeguard suppressors including FCC-250B, FCC-350A/B, FCC-450B, FCC-550 series, and quarter wavelength stub protectors for lightning, EMP, and HPM protection
3. Calibration Services: ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration services for the company's own products and third-party test equipment, with two decision rules for conformity assessment
4. Pulse Generators: Sale of pulsers including F-170808-1033, FCC-TG-115A, FCC-TG-EFT, and customizable P-2DC suitcase-style generators for driving current injection probes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fischer Custom Communications manufactures RF test and measurement instrumentation and EMP/lightning transient protection devices used for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) compliance testing. Its product portfolio includes bulk current injection probes, current monitor probes, coupling/decoupling networks (CDN), LISNs, TEM cells, EM injection clamps, pulsers, and the proprietary Spikeguard family of gas discharge and quarter wavelength stub suppressors. The company also operates an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited calibration laboratory serving aerospace, defense, automotive, and telecommunications customers worldwide.

Product overview

Fischer Custom Communications is a specialized manufacturer of RF test and measurement instruments, transient protection devices, and EMP test systems founded in 1971. The product portfolio centers on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing equipment organized into three main categories: Instrumentation products for emissions and immunity testing including Bulk Current Injection Probes, Current Monitor Probes, Coupling Decoupling Networks (CDN), LISN, TEM Cells, EM Injection Clamps, Capacitive Voltage Probes, and Surface Monitor Probes; Transient Protection Devices branded as Spikeguard including FCC-250B, FCC-350A, FCC-350B, FCC-450B, and FCC-550 series plus Quarter Wavelength Stubs for lightning and EMP protection; and Pulsers including portable and fixed pulse generators. Calibration fixtures and adapters complement these core products. The company holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and AS9100 aerospace certification, serving aerospace, defense, automotive, and communications sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spikeguard: Nanosecond Lightning, EMP & Transient Protection devices that protect sensitive electronic systems, data communication systems, and RF transmitters/receivers from transients originating from switching, lightning, and electromagnetic pulses including high power microwave threats.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quarter wavelength stub provides approximately 70 dB lightning attenuation, reducing lightning power by 10 million times
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rohde & Schwarz: Global leader in test and measurement with broad EMC test portfolios (signal generators, receivers, CDN, immunity systems). Competes with Fischer at the high end but as a much broader T&M supplier.
• Teseq (AMETEK): AMETEK's Teseq brand is a leading supplier of EMC test and measurement instruments (immunity generators, CDN, LISN). Directly competes in Fischer's categories but as part of a much larger instrumentation portfolio.
• ETS-Lindgren: Large incumbent in EMC/EMI test and measurement, offering anechoic chambers, antennas, LISN, CDN, and turnkey test solutions. Overlaps Fischer's product lines but competes as a broader portfolio supplier with significantly greater scale.
• Keysight Technologies: Major electronic test and measurement company offering EMC-related instruments and software. Adjacent incumbent whose broader scale and software-defined instruments could pressure specialty suppliers like Fischer.

Direct peers

• Pearson Electronics: Long-standing US manufacturer of wideband current monitors and current transformers used in EMC and EMP test setups. Directly comparable to Fischer's current monitor probe and BCI probe lines serving the same defense/aerospace EMC test labs.
• Com-Power Corporation: US manufacturer of EMC test equipment including LISNs, antennas, CDN, and conducted/immunity test accessories. Competes head-to-head with Fischer in LISN and CDN product categories serving the same compliance testing customers.
• AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation: Manufactures RF amplifiers, antennas, and EMC test instrumentation including pulse generators and immunity test systems. Comparable to Fischer in EMP/EMC test signal sources and defense-grade RF hardware.
• Montena Technology: Swiss manufacturer of pulsed power equipment, EMP/HPM simulators, and EMC test systems. Closely comparable to Fischer's EMP engineering, pulser, and Spikeguard-style transient protection offerings.
• HV Technologies: US-based manufacturer of EMC test equipment including surge generators, CDN, EFT/Burst testers, and pulsed power instrumentation. Comparable to Fischer in transient/EMC immunity test hardware.
• Solar Electronics Company: Specialty maker of LISNs, RF current probes, and CDN for MIL-STD-461 and DO-160 testing. Closely overlaps Fischer's instrumentation portfolio and aerospace/defense customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Fischer Custom Communications