KIC
KIC Thermal (Embedded Designs, Inc.), founded in 1977 and headquartered in San Diego, designs patented thermal profiling hardware and proprietary software for electronics assembly and semiconductor packaging manufacturers. The company sells profilers, automated inspection systems, and process optimization software globally through direct offices and an authorized representative network spanning 40+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What KIC does
KIC Thermal (legal entity Embedded Designs, Inc., incorporated in Delaware, headquartered in San Diego) is an electronic manufacturing-focused thermal process technology company founded in 1977. It designs and sells patented sensor hardware and proprietary software that monitor the temperature profile of products moving through reflow ovens, curing ovens, and wave soldering machines in electronics assembly (printed circuit board) and semiconductor packaging operations. Its product portfolio spans a tiered hardware range (KICstart2, K2, X5/X5 Pro, SPS/SPS Pro profilers; SRA Smart Reflow Analyzer; Wave Surfer), automated inspection systems (RPI, RPI i4.0, ProBot, WPI), oven monitoring software (HeatMap, Footprint, Vision), and process optimization applications (Navigator Power, Auto Focus Power, Vantage), supported by consumable accessories such as thermocouples and aluminum tape. The company markets its core offering as "Heat to Data™."
KIC monetizes through one-time hardware sales (profilers, analyzers, inspection systems) and recurring software licenses and subscriptions (Profiling Software 2G, TAS, RPI, ProBot, KIC 2000, KICstart2 applications). Pricing is quote-based and typically delivered through multi-year enterprise contracts, with no public list prices. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales: direct offices in San Diego, Singapore, Rome, Shenzhen, Suzhou, and Tlajomulco de Zúñiga (Mexico), augmented by an authorized representative and distributor network covering approximately 67 territories across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. The end-customer base spans Automotive, Medical, Aerospace, Network, and Defense electronics manufacturers that must satisfy ISO 9001, IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, ISO 13485, CAPA, and AS9100D quality and process compliance requirements.
KIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KIC
- Legal name
- Embedded Designs, Inc.
- Website
- https://kicthermal.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- KIC Thermal (Embedded Designs, Inc.), founded in 1977 and headquartered in San Diego, designs patented thermal profiling hardware and proprietary software for electronics assembly and semiconductor packaging manufacturers. The company sells profilers, automated inspection systems, and process optimization software globally through direct offices and an authorized representative network spanning 40+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Thermal Process Control Equipment
- NAICS
- Industrial Process Furnace and Oven Manufacturing (333994)
- SIC
- Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Thermal Processing Equipment (Furnaces/RTP/Anneal) (HDAHAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment (IMAHAEAE), Thermal Management & Heat Dissipation Solutions (TIMs, Lids, Heat Sinks) (HDAHADAG)
Keywords
Where KIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
KIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Hardware Products: Sale of thermal profiling equipment including profilers (SPS Smart Profiler, X5, K2, KICstart2), reflow analyzers (SRA), wave surfers, inspection systems (RPI, ProBot, WPI), and accessories (KIC Carrier, profiling tool kits, thermocouples, aluminum tape).
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Software products including Profiling Software 2G, Thermal Analysis System (TAS), RPI application, ProBot application, KIC 2000 application, and KICstart2 application. Software requires licenses that can be ordered through KIC.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise pricing based on product configuration and requirements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
KIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KIC provides customized thermal process solutions for Electronics Assembly Manufacturing (circuit boards) and Semiconductor packaging/manufacturing. The company sells patented sensor hardware (thermal profilers, reflow analyzers, wave surfers, inspection systems) combined with proprietary software that monitors product temperature profiles during production, turning heat into data (Heat to Data™) to optimize oven recipes, improve quality, and reduce cycle time.
Product overview
KIC provides a comprehensive portfolio of thermal process solutions for Electronics Assembly Manufacturing (circuit boards) and Semiconductor packaging/manufacturing. The offering follows a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of temperature profiling hardware (SPS Smart Profiler, SPS Pro, KIC Profiler X5, X5 Pro, KIC Profiler K2, KICstart2) combined with smart software solutions (KIC Navigator Power, KIC Auto Focus Power, KIC Vantage) for automated process optimization. The product line extends to automatic inspection systems (KIC RPI, RPI i4.0, ProBot, KIC WPI) for quality control, oven monitoring tools (KIC HeatMap, KIC Footprint, KIC Vision) for real-time visibility, and performance tracking fixtures (KIC SRA, KIC Wave Surfer). Accessories including KIC Carrier, Profiling Tool Kit, Thermocouples, and Aluminum Tape complete the ecosystem. KIC's core value proposition is turning heat into data by supplying patented sensor hardware and software to monitor product temperature profiles during production, making ovens smarter.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Heat to Data: Company tagline and technology philosophy: converting thermal data from ovens into actionable insights for electronics manufacturing.
Products and services
- SPS Smart Profiler Temperature profiling tool for setting up ovens or wave solder machines with state-of-the-art hardware technology and simplified setup and operation, targeted at electronics assembly manufacturers.
- SPS Pro
- KIC Profiler X5
- X5 Pro
- KIC Profiler K2
- KICstart2
- KIC SRA – Smart Reflow Analyzer
- KIC Wave Surfer
- KIC RPI
- RPI i4.0
- ProBot
- KIC WPI
- KIC Vantage
- KIC Navigator Power
- KIC Auto Focus Power
- KIC HeatMap
- KIC Footprint
- KIC Vision
- Thermocouples
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduce cycle time by minimizing time through reflow oven while maintaining quality
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use KIC
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
KIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
KIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heller Industries: Leading manufacturer of reflow ovens for SMT and semiconductor packaging; Heller increasingly embeds profiling and process monitoring into its equipment, making it both a customer-adjacent partner and a potential disintermediator for standalone profilers like KIC.
- ERSA (Kurtz Ersa): German-based global supplier of reflow, wave, and selective soldering equipment with embedded process monitoring — operates in the same thermal-process ecosystem that KIC's profiling tools serve, targeting automotive, aerospace, and medical electronics manufacturers.
- BTU International (Amtech Systems): Reflow and controlled-atmosphere soldering oven manufacturer serving SMT and semiconductor packaging; competes in the same thermal-process equipment segment and overlaps with KIC's customer base in automotive, medical, and industrial electronics.
- ECD (Electronic Controls Design): Closest direct competitor to KIC — supplies oven profiling hardware, software, and automated process inspection for reflow and wave soldering, addressing the same electronics manufacturing customers with comparable thermal-monitoring value propositions.
- Fluke Process Instruments (Datapaq): Specialist in thermal profiling and temperature data-logging systems for industrial processes, including electronics manufacturing and heat treatment — directly overlaps with KIC's hardware product line and core 'Heat to Data' proposition.
- Rehm Thermal Systems: German manufacturer of reflow, vacuum soldering, and condensation soldering ovens with integrated process monitoring; serves the same automotive, industrial, and semiconductor packaging customers as KIC, with growing embedded profiling functionality.
Broad incumbents
- ITW EAE (Illinois Tool Works Electronics Assembly Equipment): A division of ITW bundling multiple SMT equipment brands (Speedline, Electrovert, etc.) for soldering, dispensing, and selective soldering — broader incumbent serving overlapping customers but with a much wider product portfolio than KIC.
Emerging players
- Koh Young Technology: Korean leader in 3D SPI and AOI inspection for SMT lines; overlaps with KIC's automated process-inspection roadmap (RPI, ProBot) and competes for the same factory-floor MES-integrated quality data dollars, but in optical rather than thermal modalities.
Others
- Saki Corporation: Japanese AOI and 3D inspection specialist serving SMT and semiconductor back-end customers; adjacent competitor for factory-floor inspection budgets that overlap with KIC's RPI/ProBot automation products.
Regional players
- Test Research Inc. (TRI): Taiwan-based manufacturer of AOI, AXI, ICT, and functional test equipment for electronics assembly; comparable Asia-centric SMT customer base and competing for inspection/quality data spend in regions where KIC also has direct sales coverage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KIC social profiles
Digital presenceKIC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
KIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KIC 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 KIC
What does KIC do?
KIC provides customized thermal process solutions for Electronics Assembly Manufacturing (circuit boards) and Semiconductor packaging/manufacturing. The company sells patented sensor hardware (thermal profilers, reflow analyzers, wave surfers, inspection systems) combined with proprietary software that monitors product temperature profiles during production, turning heat into data (Heat to Data™) to optimize oven recipes, improve quality, and reduce cycle time.
Is KIC a public or private company?
KIC is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was KIC founded?
KIC was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is KIC based?
KIC is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does KIC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Products are the primary driver. The others are software Licenses and Subscriptions.
Who are KIC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heller Industries, ERSA (Kurtz Ersa), BTU International (Amtech Systems), ECD (Electronic Controls Design), Fluke Process Instruments (Datapaq) and Rehm Thermal Systems. ITW EAE (Illinois Tool Works Electronics Assembly Equipment) is listed as a broad incumbent. Koh Young Technology is listed as an emerging player. Saki Corporation is listed as an others. Test Research Inc. (TRI) is listed as a regional player.
Does KIC have an API?
Yes. KIC exposes a public API. Developer documentation is at portal.kicthermal.com.
What industry is KIC in?
KIC's product category is Thermal Process Control Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAEAE, Thermal Processing Equipment (Furnaces/RTP/Anneal), with a secondary code of IMAHAEAE, Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment. Its NAICS code is 333994 and its SIC code is 3567.