Applied Physics Systems
Applied Physics Systems designs and manufactures high-accuracy magnetic, gravity, and directional sensors and complete Measurement While Drilling systems for oil and gas, aerospace, defense, HDD, navigation, and research customers, selling primarily through direct regional offices in the US, Canada, and China.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersMountain View, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Applied Physics Systems does
Applied Physics Systems is a privately held electronic instrumentation manufacturer founded in 1976 by Dr. Bill Goodman in Mountain View, California. The company designs and produces high-accuracy magnetic and gravity sensors and guidance systems — including fluxgate magnetometers, quartz hinge accelerometers, directional and heading sensors, gamma sensors, complete Measurement While Drilling (MWD) systems, Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) systems, and superconducting and optically pumped rock magnetometers — for customers in oil and gas, aerospace, defense, HDD, navigation/unmanned mobility, and scientific research. Underlying technology centers on proprietary fluxgate and quartz hinge designs, electromagnetic and mud-pulse telemetry for downhole data transmission, and Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM) architectures developed through a portfolio of more than 20 patents held by the founder.
The company operates a sales-led, direct go-to-market model through regional offices and service centers in Houston (Oak Ridge, Texas), Calgary (Canada), Beijing (via Beijing Hotan Star Technology Development Co., Ltd.), and Casper, Wyoming (acquired with Koltek Energy Services in December 2022). Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of sensors and complete MWD systems, an MWD equipment rental model adopted in 2014 to accommodate oil and gas customers shifting from capex to opex, and supporting repair, calibration, and custom design services. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year enterprise contracts, and the company complements direct sales with industry event participation (AGU, OTC, XPONENTIAL, SATELLITE), technical webinars, and digital content.
Applied Physics Systems is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, no public funding rounds, and no public revenue disclosure. The company is led by CEO Tim Koltek (joined October 2023 from acquired Koltek Energy Services), founder/President Dr. Bill Goodman, VP Marketing and Sales Maxwell Goodman, COO Bryan Fujii, and COO of Applied Physics CRYO Jonathan Trauner. Recent strategic activity centers on the Koltek acquisition, Texas facility expansion, the launch of the AP1250 Dual Telemetry MWD System, full in-house manufacturing of the Superconducting Rock Magnetometer (SRM) system announced in December 2024, and the Model 110 Optically Pumped Rock Magnetometer introduced in 2020.
Applied Physics Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Applied Physics Systems
- Legal name
- Applied Physics
- Website
- https://appliedphysics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Applied Physics Systems designs and manufactures high-accuracy magnetic, gravity, and directional sensors and complete Measurement While Drilling systems for oil and gas, aerospace, defense, HDD, navigation, and research customers, selling primarily through direct regional offices in the US, Canada, and China.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Applied Physics Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Magnetic Sensors and Measurement While Drilling Systems
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Magnetic Sensors (Hall/Magnetoresistive/Compass) (HDAHALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Directional Drilling & MWD/LWD Services (EUALABAB), Industrial Sensors (Pressure, Temperature, Flow, Level, Proximity, Vibration) (IMAGAFAA)
Keywords
Where Applied Physics Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mountain View
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Applied Physics Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
Revenue model
- Sensor Hardware Sales: Sale of magnetometers, accelerometers, directional sensors, gamma sensors, and heading sensors to OEM customers and end users in aerospace, defense, navigation, and research industries.
- MWD Systems Sales and Rentals: Complete MWD (Measurement While Drilling) systems including the AP250 EM MWD System and AP1250 Dual Telemetry MWD System. The company shifted to a rental model in 2014 due to market conditions, allowing customers to rent equipment rather than purchase.
- Repair, Maintenance and Calibration Services: Field service operations at regional offices including warranted repairs, routine service, expedited calibration, pickup and delivery services for MWD equipment.
- Custom Design and Engineering Services: Design services ranging from consultation to R&D to full system engineering and manufacturing for custom sensor and system solutions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Applied Physics Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Applied Physics Systems designs and manufactures highly accurate and robust magnetic and gravity sensors, directional and orientation instruments, and complete Measurement While Drilling (MWD) systems. Its products include fluxgate magnetometers, quartz hinge accelerometers, gamma sensors, heading sensors, electromagnetic and mud-pulse telemetry MWD systems, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) systems, and superconducting and optically pumped rock magnetometers used in oil & gas, aerospace, defense, navigation, HDD, and scientific research applications.
Product overview
Applied Physics Systems designs and manufactures highly accurate and robust magnetic and gravity sensors and guidance systems. The product portfolio includes magnetometer sensors (Model 536, 520/520C, 113D, 1540, 428E), accelerometer sensors (Model 60, 80), directional and logging sensors (Model 544, 760), heading sensors (Model 545C, 545TB, 545JH), MWD systems (Model AP250, AP1250), HDD systems (Model AP225), and rock magnetometer systems (Model 110, 165 series). The company also provides custom design services. Products utilize technologies including fluxgate magnetometers, quartz hinge accelerometers, electromagnetic telemetry, and optically pumped magnetometry to serve aerospace, defense, navigation, oil and gas, HDD, and research industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- MTBF over 2500 hours for MWD systems
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Applied Physics Systems
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Applied Physics Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Applied Physics Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Koltek, Inc. / Koltek Energy ServicescoreApplied Physics Systems acquired all MWD (Measurement While Drilling) assets from Koltek Energy Services (a division of Koltek, Inc.) in December 2022. This included the MWD service facility in Casper, Wyoming, expanding the MWD fleet and enabling more convenient customer coordination in the Rocky Mountain region. Tim Koltek, former CEO of Koltek Energy Services, joined Applied Physics as COO.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Applied Physics Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Geometrics (a Deep Imaging company): Manufacturer of magnetometers and geophysical survey instruments used in research, mineral exploration, and paleomagnetic studies, comparable to Applied Physics Systems' rock magnetometer and optically pumped magnetometer offerings.
- Scientific Drilling International: Independent directional drilling and MWD services company offering rental downhole tools and survey services, comparable to Applied Physics Systems' AP250/AP1250 MWD rental fleet and Houston/Calgary field offices.
- Gyrodata: Provider of gyroscopic surveying and MWD directional drilling services with global field operations, closely comparable to Applied Physics Systems' directional drilling sensor and service business model.
- Bartington Instruments: UK-based specialist manufacturer of fluxgate magnetometers and associated electronics, directly comparable to Applied Physics Systems' Mag-03/Model 520/Model 113D fluxgate magnetometer product family.
- VectorNav Technologies: Manufacturer of inertial navigation systems that integrate MEMS/fluxgate magnetometers and high-accuracy accelerometers for unmanned and autonomous platforms — directly comparable to Applied Physics Systems' Model 544/Model 60 navigation-grade sensor stack.
- Foerster Group: German manufacturer of high-precision magnetometers, eddy current testing equipment, and industrial sensors, with overlapping product categories to Applied Physics Systems' magnetometer and accelerometer portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- SLB (formerly Schlumberger): Largest global oilfield services company with a full MWD/LWD and directional drilling portfolio (PowerDrive, TeleScope) competing head-to-head with Applied Physics Systems' AP250 and AP1250 in the same drilling contractor accounts.
- Halliburton: Major oilfield services incumbent offering Sperry Drilling MWD/LWD systems and integrated directional drilling services that directly compete with Applied Physics Systems' EM and dual-telemetry MWD platforms.
- Baker Hughes: Integrated oilfield services provider with a Drilling Services division offering rotary steerables and LWD/MWD tools that overlap with Applied Physics Systems' directional drilling and MWD product lines.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Large-scale supplier of high-performance magnetometers, inertial measurement units, and navigation systems for aerospace and defense, competing with Applied Physics Systems' fluxgate magnetometer and accelerometer products in those verticals.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Applied Physics Systems social profiles
Digital presenceApplied Physics Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Applied Physics Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Applied Physics Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Applied Physics Systems 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 Applied Physics Systems
What does Applied Physics Systems do?
Applied Physics Systems designs and manufactures highly accurate and robust magnetic and gravity sensors, directional and orientation instruments, and complete Measurement While Drilling (MWD) systems. Its products include fluxgate magnetometers, quartz hinge accelerometers, gamma sensors, heading sensors, electromagnetic and mud-pulse telemetry MWD systems, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) systems, and superconducting and optically pumped rock magnetometers used in oil & gas, aerospace, defense, navigation, HDD, and scientific research applications.
Is Applied Physics Systems a public or private company?
Applied Physics Systems is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Applied Physics Systems founded?
Applied Physics Systems was founded in 1976. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Applied Physics Systems based?
Applied Physics Systems is headquartered in Mountain View, United States, in the North America region.
How does Applied Physics Systems make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sensor Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are MWD Systems Sales and Rentals, repair, Maintenance and Calibration Services and custom Design and Engineering Services.
Who are Applied Physics Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Geometrics (a Deep Imaging company), Scientific Drilling International, Gyrodata, Bartington Instruments, VectorNav Technologies and Foerster Group. Broad incumbents are SLB (formerly Schlumberger), Halliburton, Baker Hughes and Honeywell Aerospace.
Does Applied Physics Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Applied Physics Systems.
What industry is Applied Physics Systems in?
Applied Physics Systems's product category is Magnetic Sensors and Measurement While Drilling Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAC, Magnetic Sensors (Hall/Magnetoresistive/Compass), with a secondary code of EUALABAB, Directional Drilling & MWD/LWD Services. Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.