What Kurz Instruments does

Kurz Instruments, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer founded in 1976 by Dr. Jerome Kurz and currently led by second-generation CEO Daniel Kurz. Headquartered in Monterey, California with 101–250 employees, the company designs and builds thermal mass flow meters, mass flow computers, and isokinetic sampling systems used to measure industrial gas flow in harsh environments. Its core technology exploits the cooling effect of a moving gas over a heated sensor element, supporting both Constant Temperature Anemometry and Constant Power Anemometry methods; the patent-pending Wet Gas Flow (WGF) variant uses the Leidenfrost Effect with a 300°C sensor overheat to deliver accurate dry-flow readings in condensing, moisture-laden gas streams.

The product portfolio spans single-point insertion meters (410FTB, 454FTB, 454FTB-WGF), multipoint insertion meters (K-BAR 2000B series, K-BAR 454), in-line meters (504FTB, 534FTB), portable meters (Series 2440), mass flow computers (Series 155 and 255), and integrated isokinetic sampling systems. Kurz sells primarily through a direct enterprise field-sales network with regional offices, inside sales support, and NIST-traceable field and laboratory calibration services; pricing is quote-based and configuration-dependent, with multi-year warranties (three years on B-Series, one year elsewhere). HART, PROFIBUS, and Modbus integrations connect Kurz devices into plant control systems.

Kurz targets eight regulated industrial verticals: coal-fired power generation, incinerators/waste-to-energy, landfills/biogas, metals, nuclear, petroleum & petrochemicals, pulp & paper, and wastewater treatment. The company has built a regulatory moat through QAL1, SIL1, ATEX, IECEx, PESO Zone 1/2, CSA, CRN, MCERTS, GOST, and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, allowing deployment in EU continuous emissions monitoring, nuclear safety, India and Russia/CIS hazardous areas, and other regulated markets. Named customers and partners include Saudi Aramco (13+ year flare-monitoring relationship), City of Chico, Dublin San Ramon Service District, Alliance Power, and Ekster and Associates.

Name

Kurz Instruments

Legal name

Kurz Instruments, Inc.

Website

https://kurzinstruments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kurz Instruments is a family-owned, Monterey-based manufacturer of thermal mass flow meters and isokinetic sampling systems serving coal power, wastewater, nuclear, petrochemical, pulp and paper, landfill/biogas, metals, and waste-to-energy operators worldwide. Founded in 1976, the company sells custom-configured industrial flow instruments with an extensive regulatory certification footprint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Flow Measurement Instrumentation

NAICS

Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gas Flow Measurement & Remote Metering Operations (Flow Computers, EFM) (EUAJAFAF), Advanced Leak Quantification & Emissions Measurement (Methane Quantification/OGI/Flux) (EUAJADAK), Metering Equipment Testing, Calibration & Certification (EUAJAKAA)

Keywords

• Thermal mass flow meters
• Industrial flow measurement
• Gas flow monitoring
• Emissions monitoring equipment
• Process flow instrumentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Thermal Mass Flow Meters: Sale of thermal mass flow measurement instruments including single-point, multipoint, in-line, and portable flow meters. Revenue generated from product hardware sales with various models targeting different industrial applications.
2. Mass Flow Computers: Series 155 and Series 255 mass flow computers that integrate flow measurement, temperature measurement, closed loop flow control, flow totalization, alarms, and data acquisition.
3. Field Service and Calibration: On-site device start-up, validation, customer training, duct/pipe velocity profiling, on-site calibration, and trace gas dilution flow calibration services.
4. Laboratory Calibration Services: NIST traceable wind tunnels and in-line flow standards for air calibration. Laboratory and gas correlation calibrations for specialty gases. Factory and on-site training programs.
5. Isokinetic Sampling Systems: Complete isokinetic sampling systems including KBAR-2000B multipoint insertion flow meter, Series 220 sampling system, in-line flow meters, Series 730 Rotary Ramp Valve, and Series 155 Mass Flow Computer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kurz Instruments designs and manufactures thermal mass flow meters, mass flow computers, and isokinetic sampling systems for industrial gas flow measurement. Its products include single-point insertion meters, multipoint insertion meters, in-line meters, portable flow meters, and mass flow computers used in stacks, ducts, flares, emissions, biogas, chemical processes, condensing gases, and pressurized gases. The portfolio includes both dry gas instruments and wet gas/condensing gas instruments based on patent-pending WGF technology.

Product overview

Kurz Instruments is a manufacturer of thermal mass flow meters and monitoring equipment for industrial gas flow measurement. The product portfolio includes multiple distinct product lines: Single-Point Insertion Meters (410FTB, 454FTB, 454FTB-WGF), Multipoint Insertion Meters (K-BAR 2000B, K-BAR 2000B-WGF, K-BAR 454), In-Line Meters (504FTB, 534FTB), Portable Meters (2443, 2444, 2445, 490-IS), Mass Flow Computers (Series 155, Series 255), and Isokinetic Sampling Systems. These products share a common thermal mass flow measurement technology platform based on the cooling effect of moving gas over a heated sensor element. The portfolio addresses both dry gas and wet gas/condensing gas environments, with the WGF (Wet Gas Flow) product line specifically engineered for condensing conditions using the Leidenfrost Effect. Products are used across industries including coal power, wastewater treatment, landfills, nuclear, petroleum/petrochemicals, pulp and paper, and metals processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 410FTB Aeration Air Flow Meter Single-point insertion thermal mass flow meter specifically designed to monitor aeration air flow in water and wastewater treatment facilities, with fast response to velocity changes and low-noise signal for control of dissolved oxygen (DO).
• 454FTB Single-Point Insertion Flow Meter Premier single-point insertion thermal mass flow meter for industrial gas flow measurements, supporting process temperatures from -40°C to 500°C, process pressure ratings up to 300 PSIG, and velocity range from 0 to 24,000 SFPM.
• 454FTB-WGF Wet Gas Flow Meter First thermal mass flow meter engineered specifically for wet gas, condensing gas, and biogas environments; patent-pending design processes dry flow signal independent of moisture effects; ideal for digesters, landfills, animal feeding operations, wet stacks, and mining.
• K-BAR 2000B Multipoint Flow Meter Multipoint insertion flow meter using up to four sensors for measurement redundancy and accuracy; rugged design withstands high stress and vibrations in large industrial stacks and ducts with wide-ranging velocity and temperature profiles, supporting process temperatures up to 260°C or 500°C.
• K-BAR 2000B-WGF Wet Gas Multipoint Flow Meter Multipoint insertion flow meter engineered specifically for wet stacks, condensing gas environments, and biogas applications; processes dry flow signal independent of moisture effects in the process gas stream.
• K-BAR 454 QAL1 Certified Flow Meter QAL1 certified insertion flow meter for automated measuring systems used in continuous emissions monitoring, providing flow measurement in stacks and ducts for combustion and emission applications.
• 534FTB In-Line Flow Meter In-line flow meter with built-in inlet and outlet piping reducers/expanders producing exceptional immunity to upstream and downstream flow disturbances; patented technology with low end-to-end pressure drop and fastest response to velocity and temperature changes.
• 504FTB In-Line Flow Meter In-line flow meter designed for applications where flow disturbances or line size changes are not an issue; available in 10 models for inline sizes from ½" to 4" pipes.
• 2445 High Temperature Portable Flow Meter Portable flow meter designed for very high temperatures (500°C) applications such as coal-fired power plant stacks and primary/secondary air ducts; available in five fixed lengths from 24" to 72" with 3/4" diameter sensor support.
• 2444 Heavy Industrial Portable Flow Meter Heavy industrial portable flow meter with multiple 16" sections that can connect up to 64.5" long; works with high temperatures up to 200°C.
• 2443 Portable Flow Meter Small, rugged portable flow meter designed for velocity and temperature traverses in small- to medium-sized pipes/ducts such as industrial ventilation systems; features 13" long probe shield with 3/8" sensor support.
• 490-IS Portable Air Velocity Meter Miniature thermal air velocity meter for velocity measurements for EPA and OSHA emission regulations for a variety of vapor emission sources.
• Series 255 Flow Averaging Transmitter Versatile flow averaging transmitter designed for measuring flow rates in very large ducts with non-uniform or unstable velocity profiles and wide temperature ranges; microprocessor-based system that powers and reads up to 16 independent sensing points, providing grand average of flow and temperature.
• Series 155 Mass Flow Computer Mass flow computer available in five models depending on number of flow meters and sensors; integrates temperature and flow measurement, closed loop flow control, flow totalization, alarms, input/output calibration, and data acquisition for up to 22 sensors.
• Isokinetic Sampling System Complete isokinetic sampling system ensuring true sample composition from stack flow monitoring and sample capture to sample flow control; includes K-BAR-2000B multipoint insertion flow meter, Series 220 Isokinetic Sampling System, 504FTB or 534FTB in-line flow meter, Series 730 Rotary Ramp Valve, and Series 155 Mass Flow Computer.

Quantifiable outcome

• >50% energy savings at wastewater treatment facility through improved DO control using Kurz 410FTB meters
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ekster and Associates, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Ekster and Associates developed the DO/Nmaster DO and ammonia control system utilizing Kurz 410FTB flow meters with machine learning and model predictive control. This collaboration achieved >50% energy savings for City of Chico wastewater treatment facility, demonstrating successful integration of Kurz instrumentation with advanced automation technology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brooks Instrument: Brooks Instrument makes thermal mass flow meters and controllers for industrial gas flow, including harsh-environment and high-purity applications. A direct competitor to Kurz in thermal mass flow technology, with overlap on semiconductor and process gas customers.
• Bronkhorst High-Tech: Bronkhorst is a specialist in thermal and Coriolis mass flow meters/controllers for gases and liquids, selling into similar industrial and lab markets as Kurz. Direct peer in thermal mass flow sensing technology, especially where low flow and specialty gases are concerned.
• Fox Thermal Instruments: Fox Thermal Instruments builds thermal mass flow meters for gas flow including combustion air, biogas, and flare gas, closely overlapping Kurz's application set. Direct niche competitor in thermal dispersion flow technology with similar emissions and process customers.
• Sierra Instruments (a Baker Hughes business): Sierra Instruments is a long-standing thermal mass flow meter specialist, now part of Baker Hughes' industrial sensor portfolio. Direct competitor to Kurz in thermal mass flow for stack, duct, and combustion-air measurement in the same industrial customer base.
• Fluid Components International (FCI): FCI is a direct competitor to Kurz in thermal dispersion mass flow meters for industrial gas, air, and steam flow, serving similar wastewater, power, and process customers. Both companies compete on wet-gas and harsh-environment flow measurement in regulated verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Endress+Hauser: Endress+Hauser is a broad industrial instrumentation incumbent with a thermal mass flow portfolio (t-mass) that overlaps Kurz's single-point and multipoint meters. Comparable because they sell into the same wastewater, power, and chemical plants, but as part of a much wider measurement portfolio.
• Emerson Rosemount: Emerson's Rosemount line includes thermal mass and vortex flow products aimed at the same process plants Kurz serves, often bundled with valve and control offerings. A larger, broader-automation incumbent competing for the same spec-in slots Kurz targets.
• MKS Instruments: MKS Instruments supplies mass flow controllers and analytical instrumentation for industrial and semiconductor gas processes that overlap with Kurz's flow measurement portfolio. Comparable as a multi-technology flow/measurement specialist with broader end-market reach.
• ABB Measurement & Analytics: ABB offers thermal mass flow (Sensyflow) and a broad process measurement portfolio for power, metals, and O&G customers that overlap with Kurz's vertical set. Comparable as a multi-product incumbent with similar industrial certifications.
• Yokogawa Electric: Yokogawa supplies thermal mass flow and digital sensing to power, petrochem, and wastewater customers globally. Comparable because it contests the same DCS-integrated flow measurement opportunities as Kurz, although it operates as part of a much larger automation portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kurzinstruments
• Facebookfacebook.com/kurzinstruments
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kurz-instruments

Compliance13 records

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 Kurz Instruments