What McLane Research Laboratories does

McLane Research Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held East Falmouth, Massachusetts-based manufacturer founded in 1983 that designs, builds, and supports time-series oceanographic profilers, samplers, and mooring flotation products. Its product portfolio spans three families: (1) Profilers—the McLane Moored Profiler (MMP), Prawler, and Ice Tethered Profiler, which autonomously traverse mooring wires to profile the water column; (2) Samplers—including the WHOI-licensed Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) for in-situ plankton imaging, the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP), the 6,000 m rated RoCSI eDNA sampler co-developed with the UK National Oceanography Centre, the WTS-LV large-volume pump, Remote Access Samplers, SuPR samplers, and sediment traps; and (3) Steel flotation for deep-ocean mooring systems. Several flagship products operate under exclusive manufacturing licenses from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and technology-transfer partnerships with NOAA PMEL and the National Oceanography Centre (UK), giving McLane proprietary product exclusivity in tightly defined scientific niches.

The company sells direct to oceanographic research institutions, national ocean observation programs (notably the NSF-funded Ocean Observatories Initiative, where ~28 MMPs are deployed), federal agencies (NOAA, NSF), and academic marine science departments worldwide. Approximately 11 countries are served through a combination of direct sales from East Falmouth and a network of in-country sales representatives in Portugal, Canada, China, Japan, France, Spain, and Germany. Pricing is quote-based; hands-on product training is included with each instrument sale and post-sale support, refurbishment, and repairs form an embedded recurring service stream. The business operates with a lean 1–10 person staff and has sustained 12 consecutive years (2014–2025) on the Marine Technology Reporter MTR100 list, reflecting a stable niche-market position rather than a high-growth profile.

McLane monetizes through one-time hardware sales augmented by included training, lifecycle support, refurbishment services, and technology transfer/royalty arrangements with research institutions. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales, presence at ocean science conferences (Oceans, Ocean Sciences, Oceanology International, ASLO, ArcticNet), and a channel partner network. The company's strategic posture since founder Dr. Susumu Honjo's passing in December 2020 has been continuity under existing management (General Manager Jon Mogul, Engineering Manager Tim Shanahan, Director of Special Projects Ivory Engstrom), with ongoing product extensions into the eDNA and HAB monitoring markets.

Name

McLane Research Laboratories

Legal name

McLane Research Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://mclanelabs.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

McLane Research Laboratories provide advanced time-series samplers and engineering design services & international oceanographic community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oceanographic Instrumentation

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK)

Keywords

• Oceanographic instrumentation
• Time-series profilers
• Water column samplers
• Marine research equipment
• Autonomous ocean sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

East Falmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Oceanographic Instrumentation Sales: McLane generates revenue through the sale of specialized oceanographic profiling instruments, automated samplers, and flotation products to research institutions, universities, government agencies, and ocean observation programs worldwide.
2. Product Training and Support Services: Included at no cost with new instrument purchases. Provides ongoing technical support, maintenance services, refurbishment, and repairs for existing instruments.
3. Custom Engineering and Technology Transfer: McLane engages in technology transfer partnerships including development of custom instrumentation and collaborative development with institutions like NOAA PMEL and National Oceanography Centre UK.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

McLane Research Laboratories manufactures time-series oceanographic profilers, automated water samplers, and mooring flotation products. The company provides specialized autonomous instruments that profile the water column, capture environmental samples, image plankton, and collect eDNA for marine research institutions, universities, and government agencies worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• McLane Moored Profiler (MMP) Autonomous wire-following profiler that profiles the water column in a time-series along a fixed tether, with user-defined profiling depths, time intervals, and pressure stops. Available in Coastal and Global configurations rated for different depths. Features optional underwater inductive modem for real-time communication.
• Ice Tethered Profiler Autonomous profiler designed to operate beneath sea ice, profiling the water column along a fixed tether for Arctic ocean research and polar observation programs.
• Prawler Low-cost, shallow profiling vehicle that collects and transmits sensor data from the surface to 500 m of the water column. Travels the mooring wire using wave-actuated motion, eliminating the need for electric propulsion.
• Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) In-situ automated submersible imaging flow cytometer that generates images of particles in-flow from the aquatic environment. Detects, photographs, and collects data on phytoplankton and zooplankton 24 hours a day, up to 6 months at a time. Used for harmful algal bloom (HAB) detection and automated plankton monitoring.
• Particle and Phytoplankton Sampler Particle and phytoplankton sampling instrument for capturing ocean and lake water samples while adapting to unique specimen needs for marine biological research.
• Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) Electromechanical fluidics system for in-situ collection and analysis of water samples from the subsurface ocean. Concentrates microorganisms or particles and automates application of molecular probes to identify microorganisms and their gene products for environmental DNA research.
• RoCSI eDNA Sampler 6,000 m rated in-situ eDNA collection system with integrated preservation and flexible sample capacities. Available in moored version. Designed for deep-ocean environmental DNA collection for biodiversity and ecosystem research.
• WTS-LV Large Volume Pump Sampler Large-volume water sampling system with dual filter option for simultaneous filtering using different porosities. Used for collecting sufficient sample volumes for trace chemical and biological analyses in deep-ocean deployments.
• SuPR Sampler Sample collection system supporting up to 14 samples with up to 2,000 L per sample for in-situ filtered high-volume water sampling.
• Sediment Traps Time-series sediment collection instruments for capturing sinking particulate matter in the water column. Used for paleoceanography and particle flux studies, including deployments at Southern Ocean Time Series Observatory.
• Remote Access Sampler Remotely controlled water sampler that enables sample collection from shore-based stations for ocean and lake environmental monitoring without requiring on-site personnel.
• Steel Flotation Mooring Products Cost-effective mooring flotation solutions with proven durability for oceanographic deployments, providing buoyancy for instrument platforms and mooring systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 consecutive years recognized in MTR100 top 100 marine technology companies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2011WHOI is McLane's primary technology licensing partner for key products including the IFCB, Environmental Sample Processor, and McLane Moored Profiler. McLane manufactures these instruments under WHOI license. Ongoing collaboration includes technology transfer for OOI program instruments and joint development of enhanced profiler capabilities including inductive charging systems.
• Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2011McLane awarded contract to provide Wire Following Profilers for OOI Coastal and Global Scale Nodes. Delivered first article profilers to WHOI and Scripps Institution of Oceanography for OOI arrays. OOI is funded by NSF and represents major long-term deployment opportunity with approximately 28 Coastal and Global MMPs deployed.
• NOAA PMEL (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer partnership for Prawler development. McLane manufactured first Prawler in collaboration with NOAA PMEL, with first deployment in Puget Sound at Shilshole Bay in October 2019. Ongoing collaboration for shallow profiling technology.
• National Oceanography Centre (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer partnership resulting in RoCSI eDNA sampler (2023). McLane and NOC collaboration developed the 6,000m rated Robotic Cartridge Sampling Instrument for in-situ eDNA collection with integrated preservation.
• Vortice Lda (Portugal)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distributor of McLane products in Portugal since founding in 1981. Provides local sales, support, and training for Portuguese customers.
• ROMOR Ocean Solutions (Canada)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian sales representative for McLane products. Represents McLane at ICOE and ArcticNet events in Canada.
• Shallow Sea Technology Ltd (China)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChina representative for McLane products including profilers, samplers, and flotation. Participated in Oceanology International China.
• 3S Ocean Networks (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese sales agent representing McLane products at Oceanographic Society of Japan meetings and local exhibitions.
• J. Bornhöft Industriegeräte GmbH (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman sales representative receiving product training and representing McLane at INMARTECH and European events.
• Anderson Lab (WHOI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative deployment of IFCB and prototype Short Puck ESP at Bowdoin College Schiller Coastal Studies Center.
• Roesler Lab (Bowdoin College)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint deployment with Anderson Lab (WHOI) of IFCB and ESP side by side in flowing seawater laboratory.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sea-Bird Scientific: Danaher-owned manufacturer of oceanographic CTDs, water sampling, and profiling instruments. Direct overlap with McLane's MMP customer base in ocean observatories; broader portfolio and significantly larger scale.
• Teledyne Marine: Teledyne's portfolio of marine instrumentation brands (RD Instruments, Oceanscience, etc.) covering acoustic doppler, profilers, and underwater vehicles. Broad incumbent competing for similar oceanographic and environmental monitoring customers.
• Aanderaa Data Instruments: Norwegian oceanographic instrument maker (now part of Xylem/Idronaut) producing CTDs, current meters, and oxygen sensors. Broad incumbent competing in ocean observation deployments that also use McLane profilers.

Direct peers

• Nortek: Norwegian manufacturer of oceanographic instruments including acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) and DVL systems. McLane integrates Nortek AquaDopp HR sensors into its MMP profiler, indicating deep overlap in customer deployments.
• RBR Ltd: Canadian manufacturer of high-precision oceanographic sensors (CTDs, tide gauges, multi-parameter loggers). Direct competitor in the ocean observation and profiling instrument space with comparable customer base in research institutions.
• AML Oceanographic: British Columbia-based manufacturer of CTD and oceanographic profiling instruments. Direct peer serving overlapping academic and government ocean monitoring customers with similar multi-parameter sensor integration.
• Sequoia Scientific: US-based manufacturer of in-situ optical and laser particle sizing instruments (LISST series) for sediment and plankton measurement. Directly comparable in deploying autonomous optical sampling instruments on ocean moorings.
• Turner Designs: Manufacturer of in-situ fluorometers and optical sensors for chlorophyll, CDOM, and harmful algal bloom detection. Direct competitor in autonomous phytoplankton monitoring, overlapping with IFCB applications.
• Chelsea Technologies Group: UK-based manufacturer of in-situ optical sensors and fluorometers for oceanographic research. Direct peer with comparable autonomous sensor products serving similar research and monitoring customers.
• Rockland Scientific: Canadian manufacturer of oceanographic turbulence and microstructure measurement instruments. Comparable niche specialist serving oceanographic research customers with autonomous moored profiling products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mclanelabs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mclane-research-laboratories

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 McLane Research Laboratories