Sunset Laboratory
Sunset Laboratory designs, manufactures, and sells thermal-optical carbon aerosol analysis instruments (OC-EC, black carbon) and provides sample analysis services. It serves federal and state government agencies, academic researchers, and industrial clients in mining, aviation, marine, and construction across 40+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersTigard, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sunset Laboratory does
Sunset Laboratory, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned scientific instrument manufacturer founded in 1984 and headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, with additional offices in Hillsborough, North Carolina and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The company designs, produces, and sells carbonaceous aerosol particulate analysis instruments and provides expert OC-EC (organic carbon / elemental carbon) sample analysis services to federal and state government agencies, academic researchers, and a broad industrial base spanning aviation, mining, marine, construction, and astronomy.
The company's core technology is a thermal-optical analysis method that quantifies OC, EC, and black carbon (BC) in aerosol particles collected on quartz-fiber filters. The Lab OC-EC Aerosol Analyzer applies controlled heating under inert helium followed by oxidizing atmosphere, with continuous laser transmission monitoring to correct for pyrolytic conversion of organics into elemental carbon — a technique adopted as NIOSH Method 5040. The Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC/BC Field Analyzer extends this to near real-time, in-situ measurement and reports absorbance at 660nm on a minute-by-minute basis, enabling BC/EC bridging. Supporting products include an Autoloader for unattended batch processing of up to 36 samples, Performance Evaluation Samples for QA/QC, parallel-plate carbon filter denuders for artifact prevention, and pre-cleaned quartz filters at $10 per filter.
Sunset Laboratory monetizes through one-time instrument sales (quote-based pricing, not publicly disclosed), recurring consumable revenue (filters, denuders, PES), and professional services revenue from in-house scientist-performed sample analyses using NIOSH 5040, EUSAAR 2, and IMPROVE A protocols. Go-to-market combines direct sales from US headquarters and the Dutch B.V. with an 11-partner global distributor network spanning the Americas, Asia, and Europe, supported by active participation in aerosol research conferences. Cumulative usage exceeds 250,000 filter samples analyzed on Sunset instruments deployed across more than 40 countries.
Sunset Laboratory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sunset Laboratory
- Legal name
- Sunset Laboratory, Inc.
- Website
- https://sunlab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sunset Laboratory designs, manufactures, and sells thermal-optical carbon aerosol analysis instruments (OC-EC, black carbon) and provides sample analysis services. It serves federal and state government agencies, academic researchers, and industrial clients in mining, aviation, marine, and construction across 40+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sunset Laboratory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Instrumentation — Carbon Aerosol Particulate Analysis
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (Criteria Pollutants & Air Toxics) (EUAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Airborne Chemical Exposure Monitoring (VOCs, Solvents, Gases) (EUAHAGAA)
Keywords
Where Sunset Laboratory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tigard
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Sunset Laboratory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Laboratory Instruments: Sale of Lab OC-EC Aerosol Analyzer (industry standard for environmental and workplace monitoring) and Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC/BC Field Analyzer for near real-time in-situ measurements. Instruments are sold globally with installation, maintenance, and quality assurance support.
- Sample Analysis Services: Expert analysis of OCEC samples collected on quartz-fiber or glass-fiber filters by company scientists. Samples analyzed with common protocols such as NIOSH Method 5040, EUSAAR 2, and IMPROVE A.
- Quartz Filters: Sale of pre-cleaned (sterilized and muffle-fired at 700C) quartz-fiber filters in various sizes (25mm, 37mm, 47mm) packaged in petri dishes or cassettes. Minimum quantity of 10 filters per order at $10 per filter.
- Performance Evaluation Samples (PES): Quartz filters with carbonaceous aerosol deposits prepared under controlled laboratory conditions for QA/QC evaluation of carbon analyzer performance and validation of OCEC results.
- Denuders: Parallel-plate carbon filter denuders that remove semi-volatile organic carbon vapors during sample collection to prevent absorption artifacts.
- Autoloader: Automation accessory for Lab Analyzer enabling full automation of OCEC analysis procedures with capacity for 36 sequential samples.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Quartz Filters - $10.00 per filter with minimum 10 filters per order |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sunset Laboratory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sunset Laboratory designs, manufactures, and sells thermal-optical carbon aerosol particulate analysis instruments and provides expert OC-EC sample analysis services. Its flagship Lab OC-EC Aerosol Analyzer is the industry standard for environmental and workplace monitoring (NIOSH Method 5040), and its Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC/BC Field Analyzer enables near real-time in-situ carbon aerosol measurement in the field. The portfolio is rounded out by automated sample handling, consumables, QA/QC standards, and contract expert analysis of customer-collected filter samples.
Product overview
Sunset Laboratory offers a portfolio of scientific instruments and testing services for carbonaceous aerosol particulate analysis. The core offerings include the Lab OC-EC Aerosol Analyzer (industry-standard lab instrument) and the Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC/BC Field Analyzer (rack-mountable field instrument), both supporting NIOSH Method 5040, IMPROVE, and EUSAAR 2 protocols. The product line is complemented by the Autoloader accessory for automated batch processing, Performance Evaluation Samples for QA/QC validation, Parallel-plate Carbon Filter Denuders for artifact prevention, and pre-cleaned Quartz Filters as consumables. The company also provides laboratory Sample Analysis services for customer-provided filter samples. The instruments utilize thermal-optical analysis methods with laser-based pyrolysis correction for measuring organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and black carbon (BC) in aerosol particles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Precision of 4-6% relative standard deviation for OC/EC speciation values and total carbon measurements
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Sunset Laboratory
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sunset Laboratory technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Sunset Laboratory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered regional.
- Periferios y Sistemas, S.A. De C.V.regionalExclusive distributor for Mexico and Central America, located at Av. Division del Norte 525-701, Col. Del Valle, 03100 Ciudad de Mexico. Contact: [email protected], Phone: (+52) 55-56-87-77-88
- Tokyo DylecregionalDistributor for Japan in the 1st Business Dept., Naito-cho Building, 1 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 151-0051 Japan. Phone: 81-3-3355-3632
- APM Engineering Co., LTD.regionalDistributor for South Korea at 202-808 Bucheon Techno-Park, 388 Songnae-daero, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea 14502. Phone: 82-32-219-7700
- Hebei Sailhero Environmental Protection Hi-tech Co., Ltd.regionalDistributor for China at No. 251, Xiangjiang Road, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei, People's Republic of China. Phone: +86 0311 8532 3965
- Sunway Environmental Tech. Co., LtdregionalDistributor for Hong Kong and Macau at Unit 1601-3, Chinachem Tsuen Wan Plaza, Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, N.T. Hong Kong. Contact: Winny Wong, Phone: +852 2951 4138
- JS E&E Co., Ltd.regionalDistributor for Taiwan at 7F.-18, NO.12, Fuxing 4th Rd., Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City 806, Taiwan(R.O.C.). Contact: Lance Chen, Phone: +886 (7) 3312152
- Tesscorn Systems India PVT LTDregionalDistributor for India at 50, 3rd floor, 100 Feet Road, Koramangala 2nd Block, Bangalore 560034, India. Contact: Anand Babu SK, Cell: +91 8105844333
- J.Aguirre, S.L.regionalDistributor for Spain at Belmonte de Tajo, 76G, 28019 Madrid, Spain. Phone: 34-915650257
- Orion SRLregionalDistributor for Italy at Via Alessandro Volta 25/B, 35030 - Veggiano(PD). Phone: 39 049 9006911
- ECM Processanalytic GmbHregionalDistributor for Germany at Oed Aigenstrasse 53b, A-2230 Gaenserndorf, Austria. Phone: 0043 2282 79951
- Enviro Technology Services Ltd.regionalDistributor for United Kingdom and Ireland at Unit B1 Kingfisher Business Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2BY, United Kingdom. Phone: +44 (0)1453 733200
- Sunset Laboratory Inc. (US & Canada)regionalMain US and Canada operations at 10180 SW Nimbus Ave., Suite J-5, Tigard, OR 97223. Phone: (503) 624-1100
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sunset Laboratory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Magee Scientific: Magee Scientific is the closest direct competitor to Sunset Laboratory, manufacturing the Aethalometer series for black carbon and UV-absorbing aerosol measurement. Both companies serve the same atmospheric and occupational aerosol measurement community, participate in the same scientific conferences, and target researchers using complementary (and sometimes competing) carbon measurement techniques.
- TSI Incorporated: TSI designs and manufactures aerosol and particulate measurement instruments (e.g., condensation particle counters, SMPS, DustTrak) used by the same research, government, and industrial hygiene customers as Sunset. They compete for share-of-wallet in aerosol monitoring budgets at research institutions and government labs.
- Droplet Measurement Technologies: Droplet Measurement Technologies, now part of Teledyne, produces single-particle soot photometers and other aerosol instrumentation for atmospheric research. They overlap with Sunset in serving atmospheric aerosol researchers and offering alternative methods (SP2) for black carbon measurement against Sunset's thermal-optical approach.
Emerging players
- AethLabs: AethLabs manufactures the microAeth and other portable aethalometer/black carbon monitors for personal and ambient exposure monitoring. They overlap with Sunset's Model-4 field analyzer in the real-time, portable black carbon monitoring niche and target similar occupational and environmental health applications.
- Cambustion: Cambustion is a UK-based specialist in fast aerosol instrumentation (DMS500, Catalytic Stripper) serving engine emissions and occupational hygiene research. They overlap with Sunset in occupational exposure and emissions source measurement use cases, particularly for diesel exhaust characterization.
Broad incumbents
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a broad portfolio of analytical laboratory instruments, environmental monitoring equipment, and consumables. They address the same end-customers (environmental and research labs) with adjacent capabilities, representing a broad incumbent that competes for analytical instrument budgets rather than for carbon-specific methods.
- Agilent Technologies: Agilent manufactures analytical laboratory instruments including GC/MS, ICP-MS, and spectroscopy systems used by environmental and industrial hygiene laboratories. While not a direct competitor in thermal-optical OC/EC, Agilent is the type of broad incumbent whose platforms could bundle alternative carbon characterization methods.
- PerkinElmer: PerkinElmer provides analytical instruments, consumables, and lab services used across environmental monitoring, food safety, and life sciences. They compete with Sunset indirectly for environmental analytical budgets at the same government and academic customers through their broader lab instrumentation portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sunset Laboratory social profiles
Digital presenceSunset Laboratory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sunset Laboratory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sunset Laboratory subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sunset Laboratory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sunset Laboratory 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 Sunset Laboratory
What does Sunset Laboratory do?
Sunset Laboratory designs, manufactures, and sells thermal-optical carbon aerosol particulate analysis instruments and provides expert OC-EC sample analysis services. Its flagship Lab OC-EC Aerosol Analyzer is the industry standard for environmental and workplace monitoring (NIOSH Method 5040), and its Model-4 Semi-Continuous OC/EC/BC Field Analyzer enables near real-time in-situ carbon aerosol measurement in the field. The portfolio is rounded out by automated sample handling, consumables, QA/QC standards, and contract expert analysis of customer-collected filter samples.
Is Sunset Laboratory a public or private company?
Sunset Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sunset Laboratory founded?
Sunset Laboratory was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sunset Laboratory based?
Sunset Laboratory is headquartered in Tigard, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sunset Laboratory make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Laboratory Instruments are the primary driver. The others are sample Analysis Services, quartz Filters, performance Evaluation Samples (PES), denuders and autoloader.
Who are Sunset Laboratory's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Magee Scientific, TSI Incorporated and Droplet Measurement Technologies. Emerging players are AethLabs and Cambustion. Broad incumbents are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent Technologies and PerkinElmer.
Does Sunset Laboratory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sunset Laboratory.
What industry is Sunset Laboratory in?
Sunset Laboratory's product category is Scientific Instrumentation — Carbon Aerosol Particulate Analysis. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHACAA, Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (Criteria Pollutants & Air Toxics), with a secondary code of EUAHAGAA, Airborne Chemical Exposure Monitoring (VOCs, Solvents, Gases). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.