Smith-Emery
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1904
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Smith-Emery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smith-Emery
- Legal name
- Smith-Emery
- Website
- https://smithemery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1904
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smith-Emery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Testing and Inspection Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Building Inspection Services (541350), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forensic Engineering & Failure Analysis Consulting (BPAHAIAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Radon, Mold & Moisture Risk Assessment/Testing (EDAEAKAN)
Keywords
Where Smith-Emery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Smith-Emery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Construction Testing and Inspection Services: Professional services revenue generated through materials testing, special inspections, geotechnical services, environmental assessments, and structural testing for construction projects. Services are provided on a per-project basis for both private and public sector clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Smith-Emery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smith-Emery is an independent commercial testing laboratory that provides materials testing, special inspections, geotechnical and geological services, environmental site assessments, metallurgical engineering and failure analysis, and structural testing for the construction industry. Services cover concrete, steel, soil, asphalt, curtain wall systems, tile and stone, and indoor air/water quality, delivered through accredited laboratories and on-site inspectors across the United States, China, and Canada.
Product overview
Smith-Emery offers a comprehensive portfolio of construction testing and inspection services, functioning as a single-source provider for materials engineering and quality assurance across construction projects. The company operates multiple specialized service lines including Accredited Curtain Wall Testing (AAMA-accredited facilities for weather and seismic performance testing), Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I/II ESA for contamination identification), Geotechnical and Geological Services (subsurface investigations and foundation design), Metallurgical Engineering & Failure Analysis (metal component testing and forensic analysis), Physical & Geotechnical Laboratory Testing (materials integrity testing for concrete, steel, soils, and asphalt), Special Construction Inspections (on-site compliance verification), Structural Testing Lab (structural systems testing and data acquisition), Third Party Safety/Quality/Compliance Audits (independent assessments), and Tile and Stone Laboratory Tests (ASTM compliance testing). These services are delivered through the Smith-Emery family of companies including Smith-Emery Company, Smith-Emery San Francisco, and Smith-Emery Laboratories and Geoservices, with offices throughout California and international locations in China and Canada.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Accredited Curtain Wall Testing Testing of curtain wall systems using mockups or onsite testing to assess performance during heavy rain, wind, seismic activity, and extreme weather conditions. Accredited by AAMA (American Architectural Manufacturers Association) with two large facilities in California.
- Environmental Site Assessment Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments identifying actual or potential environmental contamination, including soil analysis, groundwater analysis, indoor air sampling, mold sampling, asbestos sampling, and lead sampling for property developers and owners.
- Geotechnical and Geological Services Comprehensive geotechnical and geological investigations into rock, soil, and water conditions to design foundations, earth structures, and pavement subgrades. Includes Cone Penetration Testing, down-hole logging, monitoring wells, borings, trenching, and fault investigations.
- Metallurgical Engineering and Failure Analysis Quality control through field and laboratory testing of metal components and forensic analysis to detect defects or failures. Includes Charpy Impact Tests, heat treatment, weld procedure qualifications, microscopic plating thickness measurement, and photomicrographs. Headed by a California-licensed metallurgical engineer.
- Physical and Geotechnical Laboratory Testing Full-service Caltrans- and AASHTO-accredited laboratory testing concrete, grout, mortar, cable, rebar, steel, metal, soils, asphalt, and aggregate. Includes sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, and consolidation tests.
- Special Construction Inspections On-site safety inspections during construction to verify compliance with approved plans, specifications, and processes. Includes concrete inspection, fireproofing and firestopping inspection, masonry inspection, and structural steel field and shop non-destructive testing and visual inspection.
- Structural Testing Lab Static and dynamic testing of structural systems and components, data acquisition, and calibration verification. Tests diaphragms, shear walls, moment frames, modular house systems, anchorage systems, and retaining systems. Includes code consulting for new products before market.
- Third Party Safety, Quality and Compliance Audits Independent unbiased third-party audits for global clients in private industry, governmental agencies, and certifying organizations. Assessments ensure manufacturers conform to standards of ASTM, ISO, ASNT, and other certification organizations.
- Tile and Stone Laboratory Tests Laboratory and field testing of ceramic tile, natural stone, and installation materials to ensure compliance with ASTM standards. Includes absorption, bond strength, warpage, friction, and chemical resistance testing.
- Indoor Air and Water Testing Services Testing services for indoor air quality and water safety to ensure clean air and clean water environments for building occupants and property owners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 projects completed since 1904
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Smith-Emery
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Smith-Emery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Smith-Emery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Operating Engineers, Local 12minorLabor union partnership for Smith-Emery Company's Los Angeles operations. Smith-Emery Company is a signatory to Operating Engineers, Local 12.
- Operating Engineers, Local 3minorLabor union partnership for Smith-Emery San Francisco operations. Smith-Emery San Francisco is a signatory to Operating Engineers, Local 3.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Smith-Emery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm that operates construction management and materials testing practices. Overlaps with Smith-Emery on transportation, water, and transit project QA but as part of a much broader design and program management portfolio.
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major. Comparable in independent third-party building materials testing and ISO/ASTM compliance auditing for construction clients, though operates at a different scale and ownership structure.
- WSP: Global engineering consultancy with materials testing and inspection practices serving transportation and building clients. Comparable capability set but delivers as one arm of a multi-disciplinary global firm.
Direct peers
- Terracon: Largest US employee-owned geotechnical, environmental, construction materials, and facilities engineering consulting firm. Direct overlap with Smith-Emery on geotechnical borings, materials testing, and special inspections, with a comparable multi-office delivery model across the western US.
- Atlas Technical Consultants: PE-backed US infrastructure consulting firm offering construction materials testing, geotechnical, and environmental services. Comparable service mix to Smith-Emery, with active acquisition strategy among mid-sized regional testing labs.
- Professional Service Industries (PSI): Intertek-owned construction materials testing, geotechnical, and environmental firm operating nationwide. Directly comparable service portfolio to Smith-Emery's special inspections, geotechnical, and environmental site assessment lines.
- Kleinfelder: Engineering, construction materials testing, and inspection firm with deep California presence. Directly comparable service mix (geotechnical, environmental, materials testing, special inspections) and competes head-to-head on the same Caltrans and municipal RFPs.
- NV5 Global: Public infrastructure, environmental, and construction quality assurance firm with substantial California operations. Overlaps on construction materials testing, special inspections, and geotechnical services for transportation and water clients.
- Ninyo & Moore: West Coast-based geotechnical, environmental, and materials testing firm founded in 1986. Closely comparable service portfolio and California footprint, often competing on the same Caltrans and municipal geotechnical and special inspection bids.
Emerging players
- Exponent: Engineering and scientific consulting firm with a Failure Analysis and Construction Consulting practice that closely mirrors Smith-Emery's metallurgical/forensic line. Comparable on failure-mode analysis and expert testimony for construction litigation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Smith-Emery social profiles
Digital presenceSmith-Emery compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance14 records
Smith-Emery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smith-Emery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Smith-Emery subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Smith-Emery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smith-Emery 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 Smith-Emery
What does Smith-Emery do?
Smith-Emery is an independent commercial testing laboratory that provides materials testing, special inspections, geotechnical and geological services, environmental site assessments, metallurgical engineering and failure analysis, and structural testing for the construction industry. Services cover concrete, steel, soil, asphalt, curtain wall systems, tile and stone, and indoor air/water quality, delivered through accredited laboratories and on-site inspectors across the United States, China, and Canada.
Is Smith-Emery a public or private company?
Smith-Emery is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Smith-Emery founded?
Smith-Emery was founded in 1904. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Smith-Emery based?
Smith-Emery is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Smith-Emery make money?
One revenue line is on record: construction Testing and Inspection Services.
Who are Smith-Emery's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AECOM, Bureau Veritas and WSP. Direct peers are Terracon, Atlas Technical Consultants, Professional Service Industries (PSI), Kleinfelder, NV5 Global and Ninyo & Moore. Exponent is listed as an emerging player.
Does Smith-Emery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smith-Emery.
What industry is Smith-Emery in?
Smith-Emery's product category is Construction Testing and Inspection Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAO, Forensic Engineering & Failure Analysis Consulting, with a secondary code of EDAEAKAN, Radon, Mold & Moisture Risk Assessment/Testing. Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.