What Liquid Controls does

Liquid Controls, founded in 1954 and headquartered at its manufacturing campus in Oklahoma City, OK, is a US-based manufacturer of positive displacement (PD) flow meters and electronic registration systems used in custody transfer of refined fuels, aviation fuels, LPG, anhydrous ammonia, and a range of industrial liquids. The company operates as an Advanced Flow Solutions (AFS) brand within IDEX Corporation (NYSE: IEX) and runs additional technical-support operations in Wheeling, IL. Its foundational technology is the patented tri-rotor meter design — three rotors turning in synchronized relationship inside precision-machined cylindrical bores with a capillary seal and no metal-to-metal contact — which delivers sustained measurement accuracy across a wide viscosity (30 to 1,500,000 SSU) and temperature (-40°F to 160°F) envelope. The product portfolio comprises M-Series and MSAA-Series meters for refined fuels and aviation fueling (including LC Class 2 aviation meters used by the U.S. Air Force since 1956), MA-Series and MSA-Series meters for LPG and anhydrous ammonia up to 350 psi, and a register family headlined by the LCR.iQ (configurable 7-inch display, wireless printing, TANKiQ inventory control, e-Tickets by QR, multi-point calibration, API Table 60B temperature compensation) plus the Zone 1-rated MASTERLOADx.iQ. A full accessories suite — preset valves, air eliminators, strainers, electronic temperature-volume compensation, pulse output devices, differential-pressure transducers, and XL LED remote displays — rounds out the system sold under the "When Accuracy Counts" positioning. Quality and environmental management are covered by ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications held at the AFS entity level.

Revenue is generated primarily from hardware sales of meters, electronic registers, accessories, and supporting documentation, with a modest layer of professional-services revenue from the LC University virtual-training program. Pricing is quote-based and routed through a global channel of 60+ factory-authorized distributors supplemented by direct customer service (toll-free 800-line, direct Oklahoma City office) and an online ordering portal. The customer base spans enterprise buyers in oil & gas refined-fuel distribution, commercial and military aviation fueling, LPG/NH3 distribution, chemicals (methanol, ethanol, acidic pH liquids), foods & beverages (sugar, vegetable oils), and regulated automotive DEF for SCR systems — a mix heavily weighted toward infrastructure and safety-critical use cases where measurement errors are economically or operationally consequential. Marketing reaches the market via LC University (100+ attendees per class), LinkedIn, YouTube, the "LC Salutes" content campaign, multi-language technical literature, and the authorized-distributor channel. The LCR.iQ received an iF Design Award in 2019, validating the user-interface design approach; two additional capabilities, TANKiQ auto-calibration and e-Ticket QR-code digital ticketing, are patent-pending.

Name

Liquid Controls

Legal name

Liquid Controls - Advanced Flow Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://lcmeter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Liquid Controls manufactures positive displacement flow meters and electronic registers for custody transfer of refined fuels, aviation fuels, LPG, and industrial liquids. Founded in 1954, the company serves B2B customers globally through 60+ distributors as an Advanced Flow Solutions brand within IDEX Corporation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Flow Meters

NAICS

Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914), Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912)

SIC

Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Metering Pumps (IMAHANAC)

Keywords

• Positive displacement flow meters
• Custody transfer measurement
• Electronic meter registers
• Flow measurement systems
• Industrial flow metering

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Bluff

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flow Meter Hardware Sales: Sale of positive displacement flow meters including M-Series, MA-Series, MSA-Series, and MSAA-Series meters for refined fuels, aviation, LPG, and other liquid custody transfer applications.
2. Electronic Register Sales: Sale of electronic registers including LCR.iQ, MASTERLOADx.iQ, LCR 600, and LCR-II systems for custody transfer control and monitoring.
3. Meter System Accessories: Sale of accessories including valves (V-Series, EP-Series, E-Series), air eliminators, strainers, temperature compensation devices, pulse output devices, LED displays, and printers.
4. Product Literature and Documentation: Technical documentation, manuals, and product specifications available for download and purchase.
5. LC University Training Services: Virtual training series hosted by technical service team covering PD meter principles, electronic registration, calibration, and applications with over 100 attendees per class.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Liquid Controls manufactures and sells positive displacement (PD) flow meters and electronic registration systems for custody transfer of refined fuels, aviation fuels, LPG, anhydrous ammonia, chemicals, and food-grade liquids. The portfolio includes M-Series, MA-Series, MSA-Series, and MSAA-Series flow meters, plus electronic registers (LCR.iQ, MASTERLOADx.iQ, LCR-II, LCR-600) and a full line of meter accessories such as valves, air eliminators, strainers, and temperature compensation devices.

Product overview

Liquid Controls provides a comprehensive flow measurement portfolio centered on positive displacement (PD) flow meters and electronic registers for custody transfer applications. The core product line includes M-Series and MSAA-Series meters for refined fuels and aviation applications, and MA-Series and MSA-Series meters for LPG and anhydrous ammonia transfer. These meters are complemented by electronic register systems: the advanced LCR.iQ with wireless connectivity and TANKiQ inventory control, the Zone 1-rated MASTERLOADx.iQ for hazardous locations, the widely-deployed LCR-II, and the discontinued LCR-600. A full suite of meter system accessories includes preset and electronic valves, air/vapor eliminators, strainers, temperature compensation devices, pulse output devices, differential pressure transducers, and remote LED displays. The ecosystem is supported by software for register configuration and calibration, plus LC University training programs. All products share the company's tri-rotor metering technology patented in 1954, providing sustained accuracy without metal-to-metal contact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M-Series Meters Positive displacement flow meters for custody transfer of refined fuels including gasoline, diesel, fuel oils, kerosene, aviation fuels, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. Models M-5 through M-80 with flow ratings from 60 to 1000 GPM.
• MA-Series Meters Positive displacement flow meters for safe and accurate transfer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and anhydrous ammonia (NH3). Class 10 meters rated to 350psi, available in MA-4, MA-5, MA-7, and MA-15 models.
• MSAA-Series Meters High-pressure positive displacement meters rated to 285psi for bulk measurement during loading and unloading of tanks, railcars, ships, and barges. Models include MSAA-30, MSAA-40, MSAA-75, and MSAA-120.
• MSA-Series Meters High flow LPG transfer meters for loading and unloading of tankers, storage tanks, and railcars. Models include MSA-30 and MSA-75 with aluminum construction and steel case.
• LCR.iQ Electronic Register Advanced configurable fueling register with 7-inch high-resolution display, wireless Bluetooth printing, TANKiQ inventory control, e-tickets by QR code, and multi-language support. Features temperature compensation, multi-point calibration, and Ethernet/4-20mA connectivity.
• MASTERLOADx.iQ Electronic Register Zone 1 rated version of the LCR.iQ register with explosion-proof enclosure for hazardous location use. Includes all LCR.iQ smart features with enhanced safety ratings for Class I, Division 1 environments.
• LCR-II Electronic Register Microprocessor-based electronic meter register with over 100,000 units in service. Performs custody transfer actions with four product calibrations, RS232/RS485 communication, and compatibility with PD, turbine, electromagnetic, and mass flowmeters.
• Meter System Valves Mechanical V-Series preset valves (V7, V15, V30), EP Series electro-pneumatic valves (EP7, EP15, EP30), electronic two-stage control valves (E-7, A2800 Series), and differential/air check valves for flow control and preset shut-down functionality.
• Air and Vapor Eliminators Optical air eliminators using refractive index detection, mechanical air eliminators, steel air eliminators for MSA/MSAA meters, and bulk plant air eliminators with single head and dual head options.
• Pulse Output Device (POD) Converts rotary motion from LC PD meters into high-resolution unscaled pulse stream. Glandless drive design with 316 stainless steel wetted parts, 9-30 VDC voltage range, and up to 5,000 feet pulse transmission distance.
• Electronic Temperature Volume Compensation (ETVC) Electronic temperature compensation kit for LCR registers that records and computes changes in product temperature. Features platinum RTD probe accurate to within 0.45 degrees F over -40 to 158 degrees F operating range.
• XL LED Remote Display Large-format LED display viewable from 250 feet with 6-digit 2.25-inch high characters. NEMA 4X rated, compatible with LCR.iQ, LCR 600, and LCR-II registers.
• LCR.iQ Software Firmware and configuration software for LCR.iQ electronic registers. Current version SR1000_v1.19.00 with upgrade paths from v1.17 to v1.18.
• LC University Training Virtual training series hosted by Liquid Controls technical service team covering PD meter fundamentals, electronic registration, accessories, calibration, and industry-specific applications. Classes average over 100 attendees per session.

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.02% or better repeatability at any flow rate over entire range
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IDEX CorporationcoreOthersLiquid Controls is an IDEX Energy, Advanced Flow Solutions (AFS) brand. IDEX Corporation (NYSE: IEX) is a $2+ billion global company with 7,000 employees and manufacturing operations in more than 20 countries. IDEX acquired and integrates Liquid Controls under its AFS business unit alongside other flow solutions brands including Corken, SAMPI, Toptech, and Flow MD.
• Factory-Authorized Distributors (Global Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal network of over 60 factory-authorized full-service distributors providing local sales, application support, installation, and service capabilities. Distributors include GAS EQUIPMENT (multiple US locations), MAX-QUIP (Canada), BERGQUIST (US), NATIONAL ENERGY (Canada), NORTHWEST PUMP (US), MEEDER EQUIPMENT (US), and international distributors across South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Emerson (Rosemount): Major process automation and measurement incumbent with the Rosemount flow and pressure portfolio. Comparable as a broader instrumentation player serving the same custody transfer, oil & gas, and chemical process customers with Coriolis, magnetic, and differential pressure flowmeters.
• Honeywell Process Solutions: Large process automation vendor offering flow, pressure, and level instrumentation as part of a broader control systems portfolio. Comparable to Liquid Controls for refinery, chemical, and pipeline operators requiring integrated measurement and control.
• Siemens Process Instrumentation: Major industrial automation vendor offering SITRANS flow, level, and pressure instrumentation. Comparable as a broad process measurement incumbent serving water/wastewater, chemical, and oil & gas markets that overlap with Liquid Controls' customer base.
• Yokogawa Electric: Process automation and measurement incumbent offering Coriolis, vortex, and magnetic flowmeters. Comparable for oil & gas, chemical, and refining customers with similar custody transfer and process measurement use cases.

Direct peers

• Endress+Hauser: Global leader in industrial process measurement instruments including flow, level, and analytical. Directly comparable as a comprehensive flow measurement vendor serving chemical, oil & gas, food & beverage, and water/wastewater with overlapping custody transfer and process flow solutions.
• Flow Technology Inc. Specialist flow meter manufacturer offering turbine, PD, and Coriolis meters for aerospace, defense, oil & gas, and process industries. Comparable to Liquid Controls as a niche flow measurement vendor with aerospace and industrial liquid measurement overlap.
• AW-Lake Company (TASI Group): Manufacturer of positive displacement, gear, and Coriolis flow meters for industrial liquids. Directly comparable to Liquid Controls in PD meter technology for refined fuels, lubrication, and chemical processing custody transfer and process measurement.
• KROHNE Group: Specialist flow and level measurement manufacturer with a strong industrial process focus. Directly comparable to Liquid Controls as a flow measurement specialist serving chemical, oil & gas, and water/wastewater with custody transfer meters and electronic registers.

Emerging players

• Bronkhorst: Specialist in low-flow mass flow meters and controllers for gases and liquids. Comparable as a precision flow measurement specialist with overlapping applications in chemical processing, laboratory, and industrial gas handling adjacent to LC's PD meter portfolio.

Others

• Corken (IDEX AFS): Sister brand within IDEX's Advanced Flow Solutions segment, specializing in LPG pumps and compressors. Directly relevant as a fellow IDEX AFS brand serving the same LPG and refined fuel customers, enabling cross-sell alongside Liquid Controls.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYszCaGQ-7ATbZcEmiCQ0zw
• Facebookfacebook.com/liquidcontrols
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liquid-controls-llc

Compliance2 records

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 Liquid Controls