Sparling Instruments
Sparling Instruments, founded in 1919, manufactures electromagnetic, propeller, vortex, and positive displacement flowmeters from a vertically integrated facility in Azusa, California, selling direct to municipal water utilities, industrial facilities, and agricultural operations across the Americas, supplemented by factory and field calibration services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersEl Monte, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sparling Instruments does
Sparling Instruments, LLC is a privately held American manufacturer of flow measurement instruments, founded in 1919 and operating from a vertically integrated facility in Azusa, California (with a related mailing address in El Monte, CA). The company designs and builds a broad portfolio of flowmeters spanning four measurement technologies: electromagnetic (TigermagEP flanged and wafer models with NEMA 7 enclosures and proprietary Mag-Command programming), propeller (MainLine direct drive and electronic drive, Vertiflo, Waterworks open channel, Irriprop saddle), vortex (Oval Eggs Delta and Oval Ex Delta in PPS and stainless steel constructions), and positive displacement (the multi-SKU Oval family for low-flow and high-accuracy applications such as boiler feed, lubrication, and fuel oil). Supporting instrumentation includes Series 710 ratemeter/totalizer, Series 720 batcher, and Series 730 flow computer products. The TigermagEP line carries NSF/ANSI 61, FM Approvals, and CSA certifications relevant to municipal potable water and regulated industrial deployments.
Sparling serves three primary end markets: municipal water utilities (water distribution, wastewater treatment, and irrigation systems), industrial facilities (process flow measurement for conductive liquids, chemicals, slurries, pulp and paper, mining, and activated sludge), and agricultural operations (irrigation water measurement). Revenue is generated through direct sales of configured hardware (priced via quote request rather than public list pricing), factory send-in calibration and repair services with turnaround as short as one week, on-site field calibration by certified technicians, and replacement parts and rebuild kits tied to the installed base. Distribution is direct to end users via the company website, a toll-free sales line (800-800-FLOW), and email, with no disclosed third-party distributor or channel partner network.
The company operates as an LLC with no parent entity, no disclosed venture or private equity backing, and no recorded M&A, funding, or leadership-change events in the available data. The headcount range (11-50 employees) and 100+ year continuous operating history are consistent with a niche specialty industrial manufacturer that competes on customization, American-made quality, regulatory certifications, and aftermarket service rather than on scale or technology disruption. Geographic scope is limited to the Americas.
Sparling Instruments firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sparling Instruments
- Legal name
- Sparling Instruments, LLC
- Website
- https://sparlinginstruments.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sparling Instruments, founded in 1919, manufactures electromagnetic, propeller, vortex, and positive displacement flowmeters from a vertically integrated facility in Azusa, California, selling direct to municipal water utilities, industrial facilities, and agricultural operations across the Americas, supplemented by factory and field calibration services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sparling Instruments industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Flow Measurement Instruments
- NAICS
- Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)
- SIC
- Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sensors & Feedback Devices (Pressure, Flow, Position, Encoders, Transducers) (IMAHAGAK)
Keywords
Where Sparling Instruments is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- El Monte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sparling Instruments business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Flow Meter Hardware Sales: Sale of flow measurement instruments including electromagnetic, propeller, vortex, and positive displacement flow meters. Products are sold as complete units with various mounting styles, display options, and configuration choices.
- Factory Service & Calibration: Factory servicing and calibration of flow meters with turnaround times as quick as one week for most services. Customers can send meters to the California factory for scheduled servicing.
- Field Service & Calibration: On-site field servicing and calibration by certified Sparling technicians. Available when RMA/send-in process is not feasible.
- Replacement Parts & Rebuild Kits: Sale of rebuild kits and replacement parts for existing Sparling flow meters to maintain and extend equipment lifecycle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Request a Quote - Custom Configuration Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Sparling Instruments product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sparling Instruments designs, manufactures, and services a portfolio of flow measurement instruments for water, chemicals, and slurries, including electromagnetic (TigermagEP), propeller (MainLine, Vertiflo, Waterworks, Irriprop), vortex (Oval Eggs Delta, Oval Ex Delta), and positive displacement (Oval Flowmate, Oval Ultra, Oval Keromate, etc.) flow meters. The company also supplies supporting electronics (Series 710 ratemeter/totalizer, Series 720 batcher, Series 730 flow computer), replacement parts, rebuild kits, and factory-direct calibration and field service. Production is performed at a vertically integrated facility in Azusa/El Monte, California.
Product overview
Sparling Instruments manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of flow measurement instruments, all proudly made in the USA since 1919. The core product line spans four flow measurement technologies: electromagnetic flowmeters (TigermagEP in both flanged and wafer styles), propeller flowmeters (MainLine Direct Drive, MainLine Electronic Drive, Vertiflo vertical, Waterworks Open Channel, and Irriprop Saddle Meter), vortex flowmeters (Oval Eggs Delta, Oval Eggs Delta Pulse, and Oval Ex Delta), and positive displacement flowmeters (Oval Flowmate, Oval Flowmeter, Oval Flowpet-EG, Oval Flowpet-NX, Oval Keromate-RN, Oval Mini Meter, Oval Super Micro Flowmate, and Oval Ultra). Supporting instruments include the Series 710 Ratemeter and Totalizer, Series 720 Batcher, and Series 730 Flow Computer. The company also provides factory service, field calibration, and rebuild kits as complementary service offerings. All products are manufactured at the company's vertically integrated facility in Azusa, California.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TigermagEP: Electromagnetic flow meter line for measuring conductive liquids in full, closed pipes. Available in flanged and wafer mounting styles with various display configurations.
- MainLine
- Vertiflo
- Waterworks
- Irriprop
- Oval
Products and services
- TigermagEP (Flanged) Electromagnetic Flowmeter Flanged electromagnetic flowmeter (Model FM656) for measuring the flow of conductive liquids in full, closed pipes, available in a wide range of sizes, electrode materials, and liner materials. Designed for municipal water, industrial process, and chemical flow measurement applications.
- TigermagEP (Wafer) Electromagnetic Flowmeter Wafer-style electromagnetic flowmeter (Model FM626) without flanges for flow measurement of conductive liquids in full, closed pipes, available in multiple sizes, electrode materials, and liner materials.
- MainLine Direct Drive Propeller Flowmeter Rugged, continuous-duty propeller flowmeter (Models FM102 and FM182) requiring minimal maintenance for cold water measurement in agricultural and municipal environments.
- MainLine Electronic Drive Propeller Flowmeter Electronic propeller flowmeter (Models FM104 and FM184) featuring low-maintenance, long-life construction with premium materials and a rugged Sparling design to reduce maintenance costs.
- Vertiflo Vertical Propeller Flowmeter
Quantifiable outcome
- Factory service turnaround times as quick as one week for most calibration and servicing needs.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sparling Instruments
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sparling Instruments technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Sparling Instruments partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sparling Instruments competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KROHNE: KROHNE is a European-based specialist in industrial process instrumentation with a strong electromagnetic, vortex, and Coriolis flow meter portfolio. It is a broad incumbent whose OPTIFLEX/OPTIFLUX lines overlap with Sparling in chemical, water, and food applications.
- Endress+Hauser: Global instrumentation leader offering a comprehensive Promag/Picomag electromagnetic flow meter portfolio across process industries. While much larger than Sparling, it competes for the same industrial flow measurement wallet share and benefits from broader geographic and digital infrastructure.
- Emerson (Rosemount): Rosemount (Emerson) is a dominant industrial flow and level instrumentation provider with strong municipal water penetration. It is a broad incumbent whose Rosemount Magnetic and Micro Motion products compete directly with Sparling's electromagnetic offerings.
- Siemens (SITRANS): Siemens SITRANS family includes electromagnetic, vortex, and ultrasonic flow meters sold into water/wastewater and industrial process markets. As a broad incumbent automation vendor, it competes against Sparling for municipal and industrial flow measurement projects.
- ABB Measurement & Analytics: ABB provides electromagnetic, Coriolis, swirl, and vortex flow meters under its Measurement Products business serving water, oil & gas, and process industries globally. It is a broad incumbent whose ProcessMaster/HygienicMaster products compete for the same end users as Sparling.
- Yokogawa Electric: Yokogawa supplies a wide range of industrial flow meters including electromagnetic, vortex, and Coriolis technologies for oil and gas, chemical, and power markets. It competes against Sparling in industrial process flow applications beyond the municipal segment.
Direct peers
- McCrometer: McCrometer specializes in propeller and electromagnetic flow meters for municipal water, agricultural irrigation, and industrial applications. It directly overlaps with Sparling's MainLine propeller and TigermagEP electromagnetic product lines and shared focus on American manufacturing.
- Badger Meter: Badger Meter is a US-headquartered manufacturer of flow measurement and control products serving municipal water and industrial markets with electromagnetic, ultrasonic, and mechanical meters. It is a direct competitor to Sparling's water/industrial propeller and electromagnetic flow meter business, especially with municipal utilities.
Emerging players
- ONICON (Flow Measurement Division): ONICON manufactures insertion-type electromagnetic flow meters for HVAC, hydronic balancing, and institutional/industrial water applications. It is an emerging player with overlapping technology (mag meters) competing for HVAC and building-measurement customers where Sparling's industrial line also serves.
- Seametrics: Seametrics is a smaller US-based manufacturer of magnetic and mechanical flow meters focused on irrigation, water treatment, and light industrial customers. It is comparable in scale and channel (direct sales, OEM) and competes with Sparling at the lower-complexity end of the irrigation/water segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sparling Instruments social profiles
Digital presenceSparling Instruments compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Sparling Instruments financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sparling Instruments leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sparling Instruments funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sparling Instruments 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 Sparling Instruments
What does Sparling Instruments do?
Sparling Instruments designs, manufactures, and services a portfolio of flow measurement instruments for water, chemicals, and slurries, including electromagnetic (TigermagEP), propeller (MainLine, Vertiflo, Waterworks, Irriprop), vortex (Oval Eggs Delta, Oval Ex Delta), and positive displacement (Oval Flowmate, Oval Ultra, Oval Keromate, etc.) flow meters. The company also supplies supporting electronics (Series 710 ratemeter/totalizer, Series 720 batcher, Series 730 flow computer), replacement parts, rebuild kits, and factory-direct calibration and field service. Production is performed at a vertically integrated facility in Azusa/El Monte, California.
Is Sparling Instruments a public or private company?
Sparling Instruments is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Sparling Instruments founded?
Sparling Instruments was founded in 1919. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sparling Instruments based?
Sparling Instruments is headquartered in El Monte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sparling Instruments make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Flow Meter Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are factory Service & Calibration, field Service & Calibration and replacement Parts & Rebuild Kits.
Who are Sparling Instruments's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are KROHNE, Endress+Hauser, Emerson (Rosemount), Siemens (SITRANS), ABB Measurement & Analytics and Yokogawa Electric. Direct peers are McCrometer and Badger Meter. Emerging players are ONICON (Flow Measurement Division) and Seametrics.
Does Sparling Instruments have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sparling Instruments.
What industry is Sparling Instruments in?
Sparling Instruments's product category is Industrial Flow Measurement Instruments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAGAK, Sensors & Feedback Devices (Pressure, Flow, Position, Encoders, Transducers). Its NAICS code is 334514 and its SIC code is 3824.