Thermal Economy
Thermal Economy, founded in 1981 and based in Olive Branch, Mississippi, designs, fabricates, and commissions custom PLC-based burner management and boiler control systems for industrial, power, government, and institutional customers across North America, primarily through its Burner Sentry and Boiler Sentry product lines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersOlive Branch, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Thermal Economy does
Thermal Economy, founded in 1981 by Ed Cook and Mike Wilkinson and headquartered in Olive Branch, Mississippi, designs, fabricates, programs, tests, and commissions custom burner management and control systems for industrial, institutional, and government customers across the United States and Canada. The company's two flagship products — the Burner Sentry and Boiler Sentry systems, launched in 2008 — are PLC-based combustion safety and control platforms built on non-proprietary, off-the-shelf components (Allen Bradley, Siemens, Modicon, and Triconex PLCs paired with HMI software from Allen Bradley, FactoryTalk View SE, Phoenix Contact, and Wonderware). Systems exceed NFPA, CSD-1, CSA, and Factory Mutual safety requirements and integrate with plant DCS infrastructure via MODBUS, BACNET, Ethernet, and Medisys protocols.
The business operates an enterprise field-sales model with custom project quoting, factory-direct shipment from the Olive Branch facility, on-site commissioning, and post-installation operator training. Revenue is generated from one-time sales of custom control systems (both new equipment and retrofit applications) plus recurring-adjacent field service, testing, troubleshooting, and upgrade work on the installed base. Customers span power generation (TVA, NRG, Arizona Public Service, Covanta), steel and heavy manufacturing (US Steel, Nucor, ArcelorMittal, Michelin, Goodyear), food and agriculture (Bunge, Campbell's, Post Foods, Western Sugar), federal government and military (The Pentagon, West Point, Air Force Academy, Ft. Carson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, VA hospitals), and universities and healthcare systems (NYU Langone, 12+ major universities). The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding and operates as part of a CCS Family of companies alongside sister firm Ace Power Solutions.
Thermal Economy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thermal Economy
- Legal name
- Thermal Economy
- Website
- https://thermaleconomy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Thermal Economy, founded in 1981 and based in Olive Branch, Mississippi, designs, fabricates, and commissions custom PLC-based burner management and boiler control systems for industrial, power, government, and institutional customers across North America, primarily through its Burner Sentry and Boiler Sentry product lines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thermal Economy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Burner Management and Boiler Control Systems
- NAICS
- Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313)
- SIC
- Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Boilers, Furnaces & Process Heating Equipment (IMAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Boilers, HRSGs & Steam Generators (IMAHAFAF), Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)
Keywords
Where Thermal Economy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Olive Branch
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Thermal Economy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Control System Sales: Design, fabrication, testing, commissioning, and installation of custom burner management and control systems for boilers, burners, fired heaters, thermal oxidizers, dryers, furnaces, and other fuel-fired equipment. Both new equipment and retrofit applications.
- Field Service and Testing: Detailed testing, inspection, and troubleshooting of existing burner and boiler systems. Remote tech support available between site visits.
- Operator Training: Hands-on technical education provided after commissioning for plant engineers, maintenance personnel, and operators.
- Retrofit and Upgrade Services: PLC-based upgrades to improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of aging control systems without requiring full equipment replacement.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Thermal Economy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thermal Economy designs, fabricates, tests, commissions, and installs custom burner management and control systems for industrial boilers, burners, fired heaters, thermal oxidizers, dryers, and furnaces. Their flagship Burner Sentry and Boiler Sentry systems use PLC-based controls with off-the-shelf components, targeting industrial, institutional, commercial, educational, and government organizations. They also provide field service, testing, operator training, and retrofit/upgrade services.
Product overview
Thermal Economy provides custom burner management and control systems primarily through two flagship products: the Burner Sentry System and the Boiler Sentry. The Burner Sentry is the core flagship system for burner management and safety control, while the Boiler Sentry provides comprehensive boiler control and monitoring. Both systems can be installed on new equipment or retrofitted to existing systems, and are designed to work together to provide complete combustion equipment control. The company also offers custom process control systems for various applications including pumps, de-aerators, water softeners, fans, and other related equipment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Burner Sentry: Flagship burner management and control system - purpose-built to be the safest, most operator-friendly, and lowest cost-of-ownership solution in the industry. Uses off-the-shelf, non-proprietary components.
- Boiler Sentry
Products and services
- Burner Sentry System Flagship burner management and control system designed for industrial boilers, burners, fired heaters, thermal oxidizers, dryers, furnaces, and other fuel-fired equipment. Features off-the-shelf non-proprietary components, operator-friendly HMI with plain-language prompts, and safety features exceeding NFPA, CSD-1, CSA, and Factory Mutual requirements. Can be installed on new equipment or retrofitted to existing systems.
- Boiler Sentry System Comprehensive boiler control system that provides complete boiler control and monitoring via operator touch screen. Works in conjunction with the Burner Sentry system for full boiler management capabilities. Designed for new equipment or retrofit applications on existing systems.
- Custom Process Control Systems Custom-designed process control systems for pumps, de-aerators, water softeners, fans, and other related industrial equipment. Systems are designed, fabricated, tested, commissioned, and installed by Thermal Economy.
- Field Service and Testing Detailed testing, inspection, and functional testing of existing burner and boiler systems across an extensive range of applications. Identifies potential issues early and supports longevity and safe operation. Remote tech support available between site visits.
- Expert Installation and Project Management Skilled equipment installation and construction oversight delivered as expert project management tailored to site demands. Oversees all phases of the construction process to ensure smooth progress and compliance with specifications.
- Operator Training Hands-on technical education provided after commissioning for plant engineers, maintenance personnel, and operators. Detailed, up-to-date training to prepare operators to handle their equipment with confidence. Also available via the live online demo system.
- Retrofit and Upgrade Services PLC-based upgrades to improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of aging control systems without requiring full equipment replacement. Modernizes existing burner and boiler management systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% emissions reduction achieved for power gen customer in northern Mississippi
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Thermal Economy
Customer profileNamed customers28 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Thermal Economy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature5 records
Thermal Economy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.
- Rockwell AutomationcorePartnership for innovative machine solutions using Rockwell Automation content across the portfolio. Companies search for the most innovative solutions to suit customer needs, combining Thermal Economy's burner management expertise with Rockwell's automation platform capabilities.
- Ace Power SolutionscoreAce Power Solutions collaborates with Thermal Economy on power generation customer projects, allowing Thermal Economy to provide their burner control solutions. Ace Power Solutions President Rickard noted top-notch execution and professionalism of the Thermal Economy team.
- Combustion & Control SolutionsminorPart of the CCS Family of companies, working alongside Ace Power Solutions as sister companies providing complementary solutions in the boiler and burner control industry.
- Boiler System Design and Engineering FirmssupportingStrategic partnerships with specialized firms in boiler system design and engineering enable Thermal Economy to offer an integrated and robust suite of services tailored to customer needs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Thermal Economy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Siemens: Siemens offers burner management and combustion control solutions as part of its SIMATIC PCS 7 / BRAUMAT portfolio, addressing the same industrial and power generation customers as Thermal Economy.
- ABB: ABB delivers burner management and process automation through its 800xA platform, competing for the same power plant and industrial combustion control opportunities.
- Honeywell: Honeywell's Process Solutions division offers burner management systems (e.g., BMS/SMS) integrated with its Experion DCS, directly competing with Thermal Economy's Burner Sentry in large industrial and refining customers.
- Zeeco: Zeeco designs and manufactures combustion equipment including burners, flares, and thermal oxidizers with associated control systems, competing for the same fired heater and thermal oxidizer opportunities.
- Emerson: Emerson's DeltaV and Ovation control platforms include burner management functionality for power and process industries, overlapping with Thermal Economy's target accounts.
- Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric's Modicon PLCs and EcoStruxure platform are referenced by Thermal Economy as supported hardware; Schneider also markets broader combustion and process control capabilities.
- Cleaver-Brooks: Cleaver-Brooks is a major boiler OEM that offers packaged burner management and controls with its boiler systems, competing for similar facility-level combustion projects.
- Power Flame: Power Flame manufactures industrial burners and integrated combustion control systems, addressing overlapping industrial and institutional customers with factory-engineered packages.
Others
- Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation is a stated strategic partner supplying Allen Bradley PLCs and FactoryTalk software used in Burner Sentry; its ControlLogix-based burner management offerings also overlap with Thermal Economy's product line.
Direct peers
- Maxon (a subsidiary of Honeywell): Maxon specializes in industrial burners and combustion control valves/systems for process heating, closely paralleling Thermal Economy's burner management focus on fired heaters and process equipment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Thermal Economy social profiles
Digital presenceThermal Economy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Thermal Economy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thermal Economy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Thermal Economy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thermal Economy 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 Thermal Economy
What does Thermal Economy do?
Thermal Economy designs, fabricates, tests, commissions, and installs custom burner management and control systems for industrial boilers, burners, fired heaters, thermal oxidizers, dryers, and furnaces. Their flagship Burner Sentry and Boiler Sentry systems use PLC-based controls with off-the-shelf components, targeting industrial, institutional, commercial, educational, and government organizations. They also provide field service, testing, operator training, and retrofit/upgrade services.
Is Thermal Economy a public or private company?
Thermal Economy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Thermal Economy founded?
Thermal Economy was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Thermal Economy based?
Thermal Economy is headquartered in Olive Branch, United States, in the North America region.
How does Thermal Economy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Control System Sales are the primary driver. The others are field Service and Testing, operator Training and retrofit and Upgrade Services.
Who are Thermal Economy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Siemens, ABB, Honeywell, Zeeco, Emerson, Schneider Electric, Cleaver-Brooks and Power Flame. Rockwell Automation is listed as an others. Maxon (a subsidiary of Honeywell) is listed as a direct peer.
Does Thermal Economy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thermal Economy.
What industry is Thermal Economy in?
Thermal Economy's product category is Industrial Burner Management and Boiler Control Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAKAD, Boilers, Furnaces & Process Heating Equipment, with a secondary code of IMAHAFAF, Industrial Boilers, HRSGs & Steam Generators. Its NAICS code is 335314 and its SIC code is 3433.