Clippard Instrument Laboratory

What Clippard Instrument Laboratory does

Clippard Instrument Laboratory is a third-generation, family-owned industrial automation manufacturer founded in 1941 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializing in miniature pneumatic components. The company designs and produces electronic valves, manual valves, proportional valves, isolation valves, electronic controls, and custom-engineered pneumatic assemblies, serving analytical instrumentation, medical device, and miniature process equipment markets globally. The company holds a category-defining position in miniature pneumatics, having invented the first miniature air cylinder (MAC-385, now 3PS-1/2) and the industry-first #10-32 threaded port fitting in 1949, and continues to differentiate through its proprietary Spider Technology valve architecture, which has been tested to over 7 billion cycles at 32 Hz with bubble-tight seal performance. Additional technical differentiators include Zero Dead Volume fittings for analytical applications, DV Series high-flow 3-way electronic valves delivering 100 l/min at 100 psig with 1.9W power consumption, and the Cordis Series of precision pressure and flow controls.

Name

Clippard Instrument Laboratory

Legal name

Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc.

Website

https://clippard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Miniature Pneumatic Components

NAICS

Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Valves & Cartridge Valves (Directional, Pressure, Flow Control) (IMAHAGAE), Hoses, Tubing & Fittings (Hydraulic/Pneumatic Lines & Connectors) (IMAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Miniature pneumatic valves
• Pneumatic control components
• Proportional pressure controls
• Electronic flow controllers
• Isolation pinch valves

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Miniature Pneumatic Components: Sale of electronic valves, manual valves, proportional valves, isolation valves, electronic controls, and pneumatic cylinders to OEM and end-user customers
2. Custom Solutions: Custom-engineered assemblies and special modifications to standard products, developed in partnership with OEMs and design engineers
3. Precision Fluid Control Products: Advanced pressure and flow control solutions including Cordis series for medical and analytical instrumentation applications

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clippard Instrument Laboratory designs and manufactures miniature pneumatic components — electronic solenoid valves, manual/pneumatic valves, proportional valves, isolation/pinch valves, electronic controls/drivers, and miniature rolled-construction cylinders — plus custom-engineered pneumatic assemblies. Its Spider Technology valves are rated beyond 7 billion cycles, and the company serves analytical instrumentation, medical device, semiconductor, and general OEM/industrial-automation customers worldwide through authorized distributors and direct regional sales offices.

Product overview

Clippard Instrument Laboratory is a manufacturer of miniature pneumatic components with a diverse product portfolio organized around six primary product lines: Electronic Valves (solenoid-operated precision valves), Manual/Pneumatic Valves, Proportional Valves (variable flow control), Isolation Valves (media-separation valves), Electronic Controls (drivers and controllers), and Custom Solutions. The company is known for its proprietary Spider Technology valves featuring spider armature design achieving over 7 billion cycle life. Recent additions include the State Feedback Pinch Valve with integrated sensors for real-time diagnostics, the Cordis Series of pressure and flow controllers, DV Series high-flow electronic valves (100 l/min at 100 psig), and various specialized valve series (NPV pinch valves, PV8 micro proportional valves, E2S isolation valves). The products serve analytical instrumentation, medical device, and miniature process equipment markets worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electronic Valves Electronic solenoid-operated valves providing precise pneumatic control for industrial automation, medical instrumentation, analytical equipment, and OEM applications.
• Manual / Pneumatic Valves Manual pneumatic valves — including rotary, toggle/stem, and push/pull configurations — for controlling air flow in pneumatic systems.
• Proportional Valves Electronic proportional valves delivering variable flow control proportional to the input signal for precision pressure/flow regulation in medical, analytical, and OEM applications.
• Isolation / Pinch Valves Media-isolation valves (including pinch and panel-mounted designs) that prevent fluid carryover between cycles, essential for analytical, medical, and Clean-In-Place applications.
• Electronic Controls Electronic control modules, drivers, and proportional valve drivers used to operate Clippard valves and integrate them with automation systems.
• Custom Solutions Custom-engineered pneumatic assemblies and modified standard products developed jointly with OEMs and design engineers to address unique application requirements.
• PHV Series High Flow Booster Valve High-flow booster valve for high-flow pneumatic amplification applications.
• PV8 Series Micro Proportional Valves 8mm micro proportional valves providing precise flow control in space-constrained precision applications.
• Cordis Series Digital Proportional Pressure & Flow Controls Precision digital proportional pressure and flow controllers (Cordis Series) for medical and analytical instrumentation applications, including CP1 Dynamic Pressure Controls with CE Mark approval.
• DV Series High Flow 3-Way Electronic Valves High-flow 3-way electronic valves delivering up to 100 l/min at 100 psig with extremely low leakage rates and 1.9W power consumption.
• State Feedback Pinch Valve Pinch valve with integrated sensors providing real-time valve position feedback, LED diagnostics, and electrical signal outputs for closed-loop control without external sensors.
• EHS Series High Flow Electronic Valves High-flow electronic valves for industrial automation applications.
• E2S 10 mm Isolation Valves 10mm isolation valves for precision fluid control in compact installations.
• AIV Air-Piloted Isolation Valves Air-piloted isolation valves actuated by pneumatic pilot signals.
• MAR-1 Series Miniature Pressure Regulators Miniature pressure regulators for precision pressure control in pneumatic systems.
• PTFE Gradient Media Isolation / All-PTFE (NIV) Isolation Valves All-PTFE isolation valves designed for minimal dead volume, suitable for aggressive media and analytical applications.
• Stainless Steel Miniature Cylinders Pneumatic cylinders with polished 304 stainless steel tubes and precision-rolled construction for low friction and long life in miniature pneumatic actuators.
• Stainless Steel Push-Quick Fittings Push-to-connect pneumatic fittings, including stainless steel variants, for quick tube connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Spider valves tested to over 7 billion cycles with bubble-tight seal
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Ford Motor Company (via GE Healthcare and Airon)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Emergency ventilator production collaboration during COVID-19 pandemic. Clippard received phone call in early April 2020 to support Ford/GE/Airon ventilator program to produce 50,000 ventilators in 100 days. Clippard immediately jumped into action submitting quotes and supplying precision fluid control components.
• The Ohio State UniversitycoreOthers · 1 January 2019Mechanical Engineering building features lab space dedicated as the 'Clippard Laboratory' in honor of William L. Clippard, III, Class of 1963. Lab used for engineering design courses with prototype-producing machinery.
• SanwacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1971Japanese distributor founded in 1971 by Mr. Koji Yamada, based in Tokyo, Japan. Sanwa has over 30 years experience in fluid piping for medical and beverage equipment, expanding Clippard's presence in the Pacific region.
• FIRST RoboticscoreOthersTeam sponsor for over 17 years, engineers volunteer as mentors to help local teams prepare for competition, parts donated to robotics kits. FIRST teaches high school students real-world engineering skills.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Festo: Festo is a global leader in pneumatic and electric automation technology with a broad portfolio of valves, cylinders, and motion control components. Comparable to Clippard in miniature pneumatics offerings, but operates at much larger scale and serves a wider range of industrial automation end markets.
• SMC Corporation: SMC is the world's largest pneumatics manufacturer, offering an extensive catalog of valves, actuators, and air preparation equipment. Overlaps directly with Clippard in miniature pneumatic valves and cylinders but operates globally with far greater scale and broader product breadth.
• Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin's Motion & Control Technologies segment produces pneumatic valves, cylinders, and fittings used across industrial, medical, and analytical applications. Competes with Clippard in miniature pneumatics while also serving much broader fluid handling and motion control markets.
• Norgren (IMI plc): Norgren, part of IMI plc, manufactures pneumatic components including miniature valves, cylinders, and actuators used in industrial automation and medical/life sciences. Directly comparable product overlap with Clippard, supported by IMI's global distribution network.
• Emerson Electric (ASCO): Emerson's ASCO brand produces solenoid valves and fluid control solutions used in medical, analytical, and industrial applications. Competes with Clippard in precision pneumatic valves and flow control, with greater scale and broader product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Camozzi Automation: Camozzi Automation produces a comprehensive range of pneumatic components including miniature valves, cylinders, fittings, and proportional controls for industrial and process automation. Direct competitor to Clippard in miniature pneumatics with similar customer segments in OEM and analytical instrumentation.
• Metal Work Pneumatic: Metal Work manufactures pneumatic valves, cylinders, fittings, and actuators with a strong presence in Europe and growing global distribution. Closely comparable to Clippard in miniature pneumatic product lines and OEM-oriented business model.
• Bimba Manufacturing: Bimba Manufacturing specializes in pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders, valves, and motion control products including miniature and stainless-steel cylinders. Direct overlap with Clippard's miniature cylinder and pneumatic component portfolio.
• Aignep: Aignep manufactures pneumatic fittings, valves, cylinders, and fluid handling components for industrial automation, including miniature pneumatic applications. Comparable to Clippard's fittings and pneumatic component offerings, particularly in European markets.
• Bürkert Fluid Control Systems: Bürkert specializes in fluid control solutions including solenoid valves, process control valves, and pneumatic components for analytical, medical, and process industries. Highly comparable to Clippard's precision valve and fluid control offerings in medical and analytical instrumentation markets.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cilcom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ClippardMinimatic
• Facebookfacebook.com/clippard.instrument.laboratory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clippard-instrument-laboratory-inc-

Compliance1 record

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 Clippard Instrument Laboratory