Highland Engineering
Highland Engineering is a privately held, ISO 9001-certified Michigan manufacturer of ATTLA-certified Expeditionary Airlift Containers and integrated mission systems (field kitchens, water purification, power, medical isolation, SCIFs) serving the US Department of Defense, allied militaries via FMS, and federal civilian agencies since 1986.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersHowell, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Highland Engineering does
Highland Engineering, Inc. (HEI) is a privately held Michigan-based small business founded in 1986 that designs and manufactures specialty troop support systems for the US Department of Defense and allied militaries. The company operates from a 65,000+ sq ft ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facility in Howell, MI, employing 45+ people with full vertical integration spanning CNC machining, metal fabrication, welding across multiple alloys, electrical/controls design, painting (including CARC coatings), and final assembly/testing.
HEI's core technology platform is the Expeditionary Airlift Container (EAC) — a family of 20+ purpose-built, single-pallet-position containers that are ATTLA-certified for internal air transport on USAF aircraft and feature integral 463L-compatible base rails. The EAC platform serves as the chassis for an integrated mission system portfolio spanning field feeding (the fifth-generation JACK kitchen feeding 825 personnel on UGRs), medical isolation and transport (the USAF-certified NPC-L negatively pressurized container for infectious disease transport on C-130 and C-17), secure communications (the JAMS micro-SCIF with 100dB+ RF shielding and STC 50 acoustic protection), water purification (1500, 275, and JAWS ROWPU systems plus the EWPS squad-level purifier), power generation and distribution (100kW generator, 400A and 60A PDPs), hygiene (JETSS shower systems, PFSS, RATL laundry), refrigeration (JCAR), fuel storage (EFAS), and specialized applications such as MWD kennels and high-security armories (HSC with NIJ Level 3 armor).
Revenue is generated primarily through direct hardware sales via DoD prime contracts across all five US military service branches, supplemented by GSA schedule sales, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to allied militaries, and a marginal commercial segment. Secondary revenue streams include lifecycle sustainment services (spare parts, on-site repair, in-house reset-to-zero-hours) and training programs delivered on-site at military bases, virtually, or at the Howell facility. HEI holds a partnership with UTS Systems for the NPC family of patient transport solutions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and flows through standard B2G procurement vehicles with NSN-assigned products.
Highland Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Highland Engineering
- Legal name
- Highland Engineering, Inc.
- Website
- https://high-eng.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Highland Engineering is a privately held, ISO 9001-certified Michigan manufacturer of ATTLA-certified Expeditionary Airlift Containers and integrated mission systems (field kitchens, water purification, power, medical isolation, SCIFs) serving the US Department of Defense, allied militaries via FMS, and federal civilian agencies since 1986.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Highland Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defense Equipment Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing (336992), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Defense Infrastructure, Installations & Base Operations (BPAIAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK), Process Skids & Modular Process Systems (Packaged Units) (IMAHAEAH), Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls (E&I) Maintenance (IMAIACAE)
Keywords
Where Highland Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Howell
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Highland Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Defense Equipment Manufacturing: Design, manufacture, and supply of specialty troop support systems to Department of Defense. Products include Expeditionary Airlift Containers, power systems, water purification, medical systems, secure operations facilities, and field feeding/hygiene equipment. Revenue derived from prime contracts with defense agencies and FMS efforts.
- Sustainment and Lifecycle Support: Full lifecycle sustainment services including spare parts provisioning, on-site repair, and in-house reset to zero hours. Tailored programs keep fielded assets mission capable.
- GSA Contract Sales: Sales through GSA contract holder status, enabling streamlined procurement for government customers.
- Training Services: Comprehensive training programs for military personnel covering operation, troubleshooting, and repair. Conducted on-site at military bases worldwide, virtually, or at the Howell, Michigan facility.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Government/DoD contracts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Highland Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Highland Engineering, Inc. (HEI) designs, manufactures, and sustains air-transportable containerized troop support systems for the US Department of Defense and allied militaries. Its product portfolio includes expeditionary containerized kitchens (ECKs), sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs), expeditionary medical isolation containers (EMICs), reverse osmosis water purification units (ROWPUs), power generation and distribution systems, and field hygiene systems. The company operates a 65,000+ sq ft ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facility in Howell, Michigan, and supports customers with fielding, training, and sustainment services.
Product overview
Highland Engineering is a specialty design and build firm serving the DoD, manufacturing over 20 variants of Expeditionary Airlift Containers (EACs) and integrated mission support systems. The product portfolio centers on ATTLA-certified air-transportable containerized solutions including the JACK expeditionary kitchen (5th generation), NPC-L negatively pressurized medical transport, JAMS micro SCIF, and various ROWPU water purification systems (1500 GPH, 275 GPH, EWPS, JAWS). Complementary product lines include power solutions (100KW generator, 400A/60A PDPs), hygiene systems (JETSS 5/10 head showers, PFSS, PFSSS), field support systems (JCAR refrigerator, RATL laundry, EFAS fuel system, HSC armory), and MWD Kennels for military working dogs. All products are designed for interoperability within the EAC ecosystem and rapid deployment by military forces worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EAC (Expeditionary Airlift Container): Purpose-built air transportable containers with integral 463L-compatible base rails, certified for internal air transport on USAF aircraft.
- HEI
Products and services
- Expeditionary Containerized Kitchens (ECKs) / EAC Variants
Companies that use Highland Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Highland Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Highland Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- UTS Systemskey partnerKey partner in producing the Negatively Pressurized Container (NPC) family of patient transport systems for safe aeromedical transport of patients with highly infectious diseases. HEI provides manufacturing capability while UTS Systems contributes to the NPC system development. The NPC-L is now fully certified for broad infectious disease transport scenarios.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Highland Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HDT Global: HDT Global designs and manufactures expeditionary shelter systems, environmental control units, and integrated force protection for the U.S. military — a direct peer in air-transportable containerized shelters and troop-support equipment serving the same DoD buyers as HEI.
- AAR Mobility Systems: AAR Mobility Systems delivers aeromedical evacuation and expeditionary containerized systems, including air-transportable medical and troop support equipment — directly comparable to HEI's NPC-L and EAC-based mission systems.
- Alaska Structures: Alaska Structures manufactures deployable softwall and containerized shelter systems for military, disaster response, and remote operations — directly comparable to HEI's expeditionary shelter and basecamp offerings.
Broad incumbents
- JBT Corporation: JBT Corporation supplies specialized equipment and services for air transport, defense, and food processing — overlapping with HEI on ground support equipment and expeditionary food/handling systems for DoD.
- Leonardo DRS: Leonardo DRS is a mid-tier U.S. defense supplier with integrated sustainment, power, and tactical systems; comparable as a broader defense incumbent that competes with HEI on DoD troop-support and sustainment programs.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell Aerospace provides avionics, power, and environmental systems across military and commercial aviation; comparable as a broad incumbent supplying power and control subsystems into the same expeditionary/aerospace supply chains.
- General Dynamics Mission Systems: General Dynamics Mission Systems delivers integrated C4ISR and specialty mission solutions across DoD; overlaps with HEI where DoD buys larger, integrated secure-communications and expeditionary infrastructure programs.
- DHS Sustainment Systems (Parsons): DHS Sustainment Systems (acquired by Parsons) produces military shelters and integrated basecamp systems for DoD; a broader incumbent with overlap in expeditionary containers, environmental control, and lifecycle sustainment.
Others
- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC): SAIC is a large DoD systems integrator and services prime; comparable not as a direct product competitor but as a frequent teaming partner and prime on DoD programs where HEI serves as a subcontractor or specialty supplier.
Emerging players
- Survitec Group: Survitec supplies survival, immersion, and expeditionary equipment to naval, aviation, and military customers; comparable as an emerging player in expeditionary life-support categories adjacent to HEI's mission set.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Highland Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceHighland Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Highland Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Highland Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Highland Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Highland Engineering 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 Highland Engineering
What does Highland Engineering do?
Highland Engineering, Inc. (HEI) designs, manufactures, and sustains air-transportable containerized troop support systems for the US Department of Defense and allied militaries. Its product portfolio includes expeditionary containerized kitchens (ECKs), sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs), expeditionary medical isolation containers (EMICs), reverse osmosis water purification units (ROWPUs), power generation and distribution systems, and field hygiene systems. The company operates a 65,000+ sq ft ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facility in Howell, Michigan, and supports customers with fielding, training, and sustainment services.
Is Highland Engineering a public or private company?
Highland Engineering is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Highland Engineering founded?
Highland Engineering was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Highland Engineering based?
Highland Engineering is headquartered in Howell, United States, in the North America region.
How does Highland Engineering make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Defense Equipment Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are sustainment and Lifecycle Support, GSA Contract Sales and training Services.
Who are Highland Engineering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HDT Global, AAR Mobility Systems and Alaska Structures. Broad incumbents are JBT Corporation, Leonardo DRS, Honeywell Aerospace, General Dynamics Mission Systems and DHS Sustainment Systems (Parsons). Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is listed as an others. Survitec Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does Highland Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Highland Engineering.
What industry is Highland Engineering in?
Highland Engineering's product category is Defense Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAHAK, Defense Infrastructure, Installations & Base Operations, with a secondary code of IMAHAHAK, Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation). Its NAICS code is 336992 and its SIC code is 3620.