What CSE Corporation does

CSE Corporation, founded in 1969 by Sam Shearer and headquartered in Export, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures industrial safety equipment focused on respiratory protection and atmospheric monitoring for hazardous environments. The company's product portfolio centers on three pillars: closed-circuit SCBA rebreathers led by the BioPak 240R (a 4-hour rated unit for rescue operations); Self-Contained Self-Rescuers (SCSRs) including the SYB-30, SRLD, and ASR across 30- to 60-minute durations; and gas detection devices such as the 140B methane monitor, 202LD methanometer, and G4 multi-gas monitor. Supporting the core products are training devices, intrinsically safe cap lamps, anemometers for ventilation measurement, calibration accessories, and CSE Certified Repair services. Technical differentiation rests on proprietary QuickStart oxygen generation technology, catalytic bead sensors, the Acoustic Solid Movement Detector for non-destructive inspection, and a Load and Go factory-packed CO2 scrubber system.

CSE generates revenue primarily through hardware sales via a sales-led go-to-market motion that combines direct enterprise sales with a regional distributor network across global markets. Each customer is assigned a dedicated sales and customer service representative, and pricing is quote-based under multi-year contracts with no public disclosure of unit pricing. Complementary revenue streams include tiered professional training services (User, Benchman, and Factory Level Trainer certification levels) and certified repair services with flat-rate and repair/exchange options. The company serves four verticals — Mining, Tunneling, First Responders & Military, and General Industry — with mining as the historical core segment. CSE's products carry globally-validated certifications including NIOSH, MSHA, CE, IECEx, ATEX, India DGMS, and AS/NZS standards, supporting deployment across North America, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and India.

The company has remained privately held since founding with no disclosed external funding, and acquired Biomarine, Inc. in January 2020 to expand rebreather capabilities and consolidate manufacturing operations at the Export facility. Most recent strategic activity centers on the 2024 SYB-30 product launch, expansion into Indian and Australian markets via regulatory certifications, and investment in a new training facility with multiple Factory Level Training classes scheduled through 2026.

Name

CSE Corporation

Legal name

CSE Corporation

Website

https://csecorporation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CSE Corporation is a Pennsylvania-based, privately held manufacturer of industrial respiratory protection and gas detection equipment founded in 1969. It designs and produces closed-circuit SCBA rebreathers, self-contained self-rescuers, and methane/gas monitors for mining, tunneling, first responders, and industrial customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Safety Equipment

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Lab Safety, PPE & Contamination Control (Hoods, Biosafety Cabinets, Clean Air) (HLAGAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Smoke/CO Detector & Life-Safety Electrical Troubleshooting (HSAOAEAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial safety equipment
• Gas detection systems
• Breathing apparatus
• Mining safety products
• Air quality monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Export

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of industrial safety equipment including closed-circuit SCBA rebreathers (BioPak 240R), Self-Contained Self-Rescuers (SYB-30, SRLD, ASR), gas detection devices (202LD, 140B, G4), cap lamps, anemometers, and accessories.
2. Training Services: Factory-level training and certification programs for BioPak 240R, conducted at CSE's training facility or on-site. Tiered certification includes User, Benchman, and Factory Level Trainer levels.
3. Repair Services: CSE Certified Repair services for gas detection and SCBA products. Flat rate repairs and repair/exchange program for select products to minimize downtime.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CSE Corporation designs, manufactures, and services industrial safety equipment for hazardous environments, including closed-circuit SCBA rebreathers (BioPak 240R), Self-Contained Self-Rescuers (SYB-30, SRLD, ASR), gas detection devices (140B, 202LD, G4), cap lamps, and anemometers. The company produces all products at its Export, Pennsylvania facility and distributes globally through regional distributors and direct sales. CSE also offers factory and on-site training programs, a certified repair service center, and calibration consumables for its equipment.

Product overview

CSE Corporation is an industrial safety equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of life-saving safety products. The core product lines include Closed-Circuit SCBA rebreathers (BioPak 240R providing 4-hour protection), Self-Contained Self-Rescuers (SCSRs) including SYB-30 (30-minute), SRLD (60-minute), and ASR (45-minute), and gas detection devices (140B Methane Monitor, 202LD Methanometer, G4 Multi Gas Monitor). Supporting products include training devices (SR-D, SRXT 5, SR-T), cap lamps (Flare XM-2), ventilation equipment (Davis and MPS Anemometers), and accessories (SCSR pouches, extension probes, calibration gas/equipment). The company also provides CSE Certified Repair services. All products are designed and manufactured in Export, Pennsylvania, USA, with global approvals including NIOSH, MSHA, CE, IECEx, ATEX, and Australian standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BioPak 240R Closed-circuit SCBA rebreather providing 4-hour mission duration, used by rescue teams, fire departments, HazMat teams, and military for extended operations in IDLH environments. Features factory-packed CO2 scrubber for 'Load and Go' deployment, ergonomic body-contoured design, and dual monitoring system; holds NIOSH, MSHA, EN 145, IECEx, ATEX, and India DGMS certifications.
• SYB-30 Self-Contained Self-Rescuer Lightest, simplest, and most advanced 30-minute belt-wearable Self-Contained Self-Rescuer (SCSR). Features QuickStart technology for rapid oxygen production, 10-year service life carried or stored, maintenance-free design requiring only visual inspections, patent-pending technology, and AS/NZS 1716:2012 certification with global approvals.
• SRLD Emergency Escape Breathing Device Smallest and lightest NIOSH-approved 60-minute belt-wearable SCSR. Features QuickStart Technology delivering 40% faster oxygen generation in the first minutes, 10-year service life, and no hydrostatic testing required. NIOSH/MSHA certified (TC-13F-0645).
• ASR Escape Respirator Australian-approved 45-minute belt-wearable escape respirator SCSR. Utilizes chemical oxygen generation technology for oxygen supply and CO2 removal. Features QuickStart technology, 10-year service life, no hydrostatic testing required; certified to AS/NZS 1716:2012 and MDG 3609 (2015).
• 140B Methane Monitor Machine-mounted methane detector designed for installation on continuous miners, roof bolters, and longwall shearers. Shuts down machinery at customizable alarm settings when methane reaches unsafe levels. Uses proprietary catalytic bead sensor technology. MSHA-approved (32A-15/MS).
• 202LD Methanometer Next-generation portable methane detector succeeding the 102LD. Features impact-resistant polycarbonate case, faster calibration, integrated case seal for dust and water ingress resistance, and MSHA approval for underground mining (22-A230001-0).
• G4 Multi Gas Monitor Four-gas monitoring handheld device capable of monitoring oxygen, combustible gases (methane), and toxic gases. Features 24-25 hour battery runtime, simple sensor replacement, IP65 ingress protection, and MSHA approval (22-A110001-0).
• Flare XM-2 Cap Lamp Intrinsically safe LED cap lamp for industrial and confined space environments. Delivers 6000 lux light output with 14-hour runtime on high power and 36 hours on low power. MSHA approved, shock and water resistant (19-A230002-0).
• Davis Anemometers Intrinsically safe 4-inch vane anemometer for measuring air movement and speed in mining environments. Features ball bearings for sensitive operation; available in standard (30-5000 FPM) and high-speed (200-10000 FPM) models.
• MPS PMA-2008 Anemometer Digital intrinsically safe pocket anemometer for quick ventilation readings underground. Dustproof, waterproof, drop resistant, and floats. Features automatic 60-second counting mode and instantaneous FPM readout; MSHA approved (18-A070014-0).
• CSE Certified Repair Service In-house repair services for CSE gas detection and SCBA products. Offers flat-rate repairs for predictable costs and a repair/exchange program for select products to minimize customer downtime.
• BioPak 240R Training and Certification Programs Tiered training and certification programs for the BioPak 240R, delivered at CSE's state-of-the-art Training Facility in Export, PA or on-site at customer locations. Certification levels include User, Benchman, and Factory Level Trainer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-hour mission duration with BioPak 240R
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Biomarine, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2020CSE Corporation acquired Biomarine, Inc. in January 2020 and moved operations to its Export, PA facility. Biomarine's roots are in life support systems developed for space programs, exemplifying CSE's pioneering spirit. This acquisition enhanced CSE's capabilities in life support and breathing apparatus technology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dräger: Dräger is a major European manufacturer of closed-circuit SCBA rebreathers, gas detection, and HazMat/respiratory protection for mining, fire service, and industrial customers. Directly competes with CSE in long-duration SCBA and mining gas detection.
• Bullard: Bullard designs and manufactures respiratory protection, thermal imaging, and hard hats for industrial, fire, and military markets. Directly comparable on respiratory protection and cap lamp products.
• MSA Safety: MSA Safety is a global leader in mining and industrial safety, offering SCBA, gas detection, and respiratory protection products that directly overlap with CSE's BioPak, SCSR, and G4 monitor lines. Comparable across product, customer base, and end-market.
• Avon Protection: Avon Protection specializes in respiratory protection, SCBA, and CBRN/military breathing apparatus. Overlaps directly with CSE's first responder and military BioPak 240R use cases.
• Industrial Scientific: Industrial Scientific is a leading manufacturer of portable multi-gas detectors and monitoring solutions for confined space and industrial safety, directly competing with CSE's G4 multi-gas monitor and 202LD methanometer.
• Sensit Technologies: Sensit Technologies manufactures combustible gas detectors, including methane-specific instruments for utility and industrial applications. Overlaps with CSE's 140B and 202LD methane detection lines.

Others

• Scott Safety (legacy standalone reference): Originally an independent safety brand before 3M acquisition; legacy Scott Safety product lines (SCBA, SCSR) compete head-on with CSE's BioPak and SCSR portfolio, especially in fire service channels.

Emerging players

• RKI Instruments: RKI Instruments manufactures portable gas detectors and calibration equipment used in confined space and industrial safety, partially overlapping with CSE's G4 multi-gas monitor and calibration accessories.

Broad incumbents

• 3M Scott Fire & Safety: 3M's Scott Safety division provides SCBA, SCSR, and gas detection products overlapping with CSE's portfolio, particularly for fire service and military customers. 3M's much broader safety portfolio and global scale make it a broad incumbent competitor.
• Honeywell Safety Products: Honeywell's safety division (including BW gas detection and Miller fall protection) competes with CSE across gas detection and respiratory protection. Larger portfolio and global distribution make it a broad incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cse-corporation

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 CSE Corporation