SPEC

What SPEC does

SPEC Incorporated (formerly Stratton Park Engineering Company, rebranded in 2017) is a Boulder, Colorado-based private scientific instrumentation company founded in 1979 that designs and manufactures advanced airborne probes for cloud microphysics and atmospheric research. Its product portfolio spans the full hydrometeor size spectrum — the FCDP Fast Cloud Droplet Probe (1.5–50µm) using Mie scattering, the 2D-S Stereo and 2D-Gray Grayscale Optical Array Probes (10–1,280µm) with proprietary artifact-removal processing, the 3V-CPI 3-View Cloud Particle Imager combining CMOS photography at 2.3µm/pixel with dual optical arrays (7–2,000µm), and the HVPS-4 High Volume Precipitation Spectrometer covering 50–19,200µm — plus the integrated Hawkeye four-in-one combination instrument originally co-developed for NASA's Global Hawk.

The business sells primarily to U.S. and international government atmospheric research agencies (NASA, NSF, NCAR, US Navy, DOE, NCM) and academic institutions such as the University of North Dakota, through a quote-based, consultative sales process with multi-year contracts. Beyond equipment sales, SPEC generates revenue from factory calibration, retrofit and performance upgrades (e.g., IPCM communications modules), field campaign integration and flight support for manned and unmanned research aircraft, and custom data science interpretation and analysis services. The company operates from a single Boulder headquarters with 11–50 employees and supports deployments across six continents through more than 100 international field campaigns over its 45-year history; revenue, ownership, and external investor information are not publicly disclosed.

Name

SPEC

Legal name

SPEC Inc.

Website

https://specinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SPEC Incorporated is a Boulder, Colorado-based private scientific instrumentation company founded in 1979 that designs and manufactures advanced airborne probes and imagers for cloud microphysics research, serving government atmospheric research agencies (NASA, NSF, NCAR, US Navy, DOE), academic institutions, and international meteorological organizations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scientific Instrumentation Sales: Sale of advanced airborne cloud physics instruments including optical array probes, cloud particle imagers, and precipitation spectrometers. These are specialized research instruments with prices typically quoted based on configuration and customer requirements.
2. Calibration Services: Factory calibration services restoring instruments to peak performance. Includes full internal and external cleaning, performance testing, and quality assurance reports. Periodic maintenance service for data quality assurance.
3. Performance Upgrades: Retrofit kits and hardware/software upgrades extending functionality of existing instruments. Examples include IPCM communications modules with 1Gbps Ethernet and 1TB storage, and software/firmware improvements.
4. Atmospheric Research Services: Consulting and field campaign support services including instrument integration, flight support for manned and unmanned aircraft, design and consultation for measurement programs.
5. Data Science Interpretation and Analysis: Custom data processing pipelines, particle imagery classification and artifact filtering, drop/ice size distribution analysis, integration with radar, satellite and model validation studies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SPEC designs, manufactures, and sells precision airborne optical array probes and cloud particle imaging instruments used on research aircraft for atmospheric, cloud microphysics, and climate research. Its portfolio includes the 2D-S Stereo Probe, 3V-CPI, HVPS-4, FCDP, 2D-Gray, and Hawkeye combination instrument. The company also provides factory calibration, performance upgrades, field campaign integration support, and data science interpretation services to government research agencies and academic institutions worldwide.

Product overview

SPEC offers a suite of precision airborne atmospheric research instruments for cloud microphysics, precipitation, and climate research. The product portfolio centers on optical array probes (2D-S, 2D-Gray), high-volume precipitation spectrometers (HVPS-4), cloud droplet probes (FCDP), cloud particle imagers (3V-CPI), and combination instruments (Hawkeye). These instruments work together to capture particle size distributions, high-resolution imagery of hydrometeors, and detailed measurements from small cloud droplets to large precipitation particles. SPEC also provides complementary services including calibration, performance upgrades, atmospheric research field campaign support, and data science interpretation and analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 2D-S Stereo Probe: High-resolution stereo imaging probe for cloud and precipitation research
• 3V-CPI
• HVPS-4
• FCDP
• 2D-Gray
• Hawkeye

Products and services

• 2D-S Stereo Optical Array Probe High-resolution stereo imaging probe for cloud microphysics research, capturing dual optical array images of hydrometeors with 10–1280 µm size range and 10 µm resolution. Designed for research aircraft deployment and features advanced processing software that removes splashes and shatter artifacts and corrects out-of-focus images. Used by atmospheric research agencies and universities.
• 2D-Gray Grayscale Optical Array Probe Grayscale imaging optical array probe that delivers higher level of detail in particle habit discrimination than standard binary imaging, for cloud and precipitation research on research aircraft.
• HVPS-4 High Volume Precipitation Spectrometer Four optical array imagers integrated into a single system to capture the full spectrum of precipitation particles from small raindrops to large hail (50–19,200 µm size range), optimized for intense precipitation events and statistically significant large particle sampling.
• FCDP Fast Cloud Droplet Probe Cloud droplet probe utilizing Mie scattering theory for 100% particle-by-particle data collection to determine droplet size distributions, with 1.5–50 µm size range and anti-shattering tips that minimize shatter and particle bounce.
• 3V-CPI 3-View Cloud Particle Imager Combination instrument merging a high-resolution CMOS-based photographic imager (2.3 µm/pixel) with dual optical array probes to capture particle size, shape, and concentration from small ice crystals to rain, snow, and graupel. CPI channel: 7–2000 µm size range.
• Hawkeye Cloud Particle Combination Instrument Four-in-one combination instrument integrating the Fast Cloud Droplet Probe, Cloud Particle Imager, and dual OAP probes for comprehensive cloud sampling; originally developed for NASA's Global Hawk for high-altitude, long-duration missions.
• Factory Calibration Services Factory calibration service that restores instruments to peak performance through full internal and external cleaning, performance testing, and quality assurance reports. Provided to research aircraft operators and institutions to maintain data quality assurance.
• Performance Upgrades Retrofit kits and hardware/software upgrades that extend the functionality of existing SPEC instruments, including IPCM communications modules with 1 Gbps Ethernet and 1 TB onboard storage, and firmware/software improvements.
• Atmospheric Research & Field Campaign Support Services Consulting and field campaign support services including instrument integration, flight support for manned and unmanned research aircraft, and design/consultation for measurement programs tailored to specific research objectives.
• Data Science Interpretation and Analysis Custom data processing pipelines, particle imagery classification and artifact filtering, drop/ice size distribution analysis, and integration with radar, satellite, and model validation studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ international field campaigns supported
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA Global Hawk Campaigns partnership for development and deployment of the Hawkeye probe for high-altitude, long-duration missions. SPEC instruments are integral to NASA's atmospheric research aircraft platforms.
• NSF (National Science Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSF/NCAR field projects with extensive use of SPEC 2D-S and CPI instruments on Gulfstream V and C-130 research aircraft. Deep involvement in NSF-funded atmospheric research programs.
• NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCAR field projects utilizing SPEC instruments extensively. SPEC provides instrument integration and flight support for NCAR research aircraft operations.
• US NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Navy atmospheric research and precipitation measurement programs utilizing SPEC instrumentation for meteorological research.
• US Department of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE atmospheric and cloud physics research programs supported by SPEC instruments for environmental and climate research initiatives.
• University of North DakotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch aircraft operations with SPEC instrumentation for academic atmospheric research programs.
• NCM (National Center for Meteorology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational meteorological research collaborations with SPEC instrumentation deployed for regional weather and climate research.
• European Research Aircraft OperatorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborations with instruments on European research aircraft for Arctic, Tropics, and mid-latitude studies.
• Asian Research Aircraft ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborations with instruments deployed on Asian research aircraft for atmospheric studies.
• South American Research Aircraft ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborations with instruments deployed on South American research aircraft for tropical and atmospheric research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Droplet Measurement Technologies: Direct competitor based in Boulder, CO that manufactures airborne cloud, aerosol, and precipitation probes (CAS, CDP, PIP, SPP-100, CAPS) installed on the same research aircraft that carry SPEC's instruments. Overlaps head-to-head on droplet sizing and cloud particle imaging for atmospheric field campaigns.
• Artium Technologies: Developer of the original Cloud Particle Imager (CPI) that SPEC's 3V-CPI builds upon. Sells high-speed imaging systems for hydrometeor and spray characterization in atmospheric and industrial research, directly competing with SPEC's CPI/3V-CPI franchise.
• LaVision GmbH: German specialist in high-speed imaging and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) systems used in fluid dynamics, spray, and atmospheric research. Comparable to SPEC in deploying CMOS-based imaging and image-processing expertise for particle/flow characterization in research applications.
• Brechtel Manufacturing Inc. US aerosol instrument maker (aerosol mass spectrometers, humidified tandem nephelometers) used on DOE, NSF, and NASA atmospheric research aircraft. Competes with SPEC for slots on the same campaign aircraft and sells complementary, mission-critical hardware to overlapping federal customers.

Broad incumbents

• Particle Measuring Systems (Beckman Coulter Life Sciences): The historical originator of 2D-C and 2D-P optical array probes still in use on research aircraft; now sits inside a much larger life-sciences instrumentation business, making it a broad incumbent rather than a focused competitor. Its legacy probes overlap with SPEC's OAP product line in cloud microphysics research.
• TSI Incorporated: Large, diversified particle and aerosol instrument maker whose optical particle counters and aerosol sizers are used in atmospheric research, cleanroom monitoring, and industrial hygiene. Overlaps with SPEC on cloud-relevant particle sizing and serves some of the same university and government research customers.
• Sigma Space (a Planet Labs company): Acquired by Planet Labs; historically built the HSRL lidar and other atmospheric lidar instruments flown on NASA research aircraft. Now embedded inside a much larger Earth-observation company, it functions as a broad incumbent supplying atmospheric remote-sensing payloads alongside SPEC's in-situ probes.

Emerging players

• Metek Meteorologische Messtechnik GmbH: German manufacturer of sonic anemometers, ultrasonic wind sensors, and turbulence probes for atmospheric boundary-layer research. An adjacent emerging player that supplies complementary instrumentation to the same research aircraft and flux-measurement campaigns where SPEC probes are deployed.

Others

• Campbell Scientific, Inc. Major supplier of environmental data loggers, weather stations, and atmospheric measurement systems used widely in atmospheric and climate research. Not a direct probe competitor, but serves the same research customers and often rides on the same research platforms, making it an adjacent ecosystem participant.
• Avantes B.V. Dutch manufacturer of compact fiber-optic spectrometers and spectroscopic instrumentation used in atmospheric trace-gas, aerosol, and remote-sensing applications. Indirectly comparable as a component-level supplier to atmospheric researchers rather than a head-to-head probe competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spec-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 SPEC