Meter Engineers

What Meter Engineers does

Meter Engineers is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer and service provider of meter proving equipment for the liquid hydrocarbon custody transfer industry, founded in 1976 in Kechi, Kansas and currently led by second-generation President and sole owner Brad Young. The company's core offering centers on meter proving systems — unidirectional, bidirectional, volumetric tank, and the patented MagnaProve small-volume piston prover (the world's first linear-actuator/electromagnet prover) — complemented by patented accessories including UniCast Spheres, MEI-SDS Detector Switches, Swivel Joints, Nitro Balance load-assist technology, and seal kits, as well as a Quality Control Monitoring Systems line acquired with APLI in 2010 (automated samplers, fast loops, haze analyzers, recovery/reinjection systems, RF3 rapid flash systems).

Revenue is generated through three mechanisms: (1) custom-built hardware sales quoted against customer specifications, with high-ticket prover projects and a steady aftermarket of consumables (spheres, seal kits, Petro Gone solvent); (2) recurring professional services including water draw calibration (6 portable trailers plus 2 stationary units, ~80% US market share, 500+ provers serviced annually at $1,500–$3,200 per unit), on-site prover inspections, full reconditioning, and preventative maintenance programs; and (3) a direct sales motion via the Kechi factory, the Baytown, TX service center opened in 2021, and a six-country international sales representative network covering Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Indonesia. End customers span pipeline operators, tanker/barge and rail loading terminals, refineries, petrochemical plants, offshore FSO/FPSO vessels, and power plants — all tied to API and NIST custody-transfer measurement standards.

Name

Meter Engineers

Legal name

Meter Engineers

Website

https://meterengineers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Meter Engineers designs, manufactures, and services patented meter proving equipment (provers, spheres, detector switches, samplers) and provides recurring water-draw calibration services for liquid hydrocarbon custody transfer to oil & gas midstream, refining, and petrochemical customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meter Proving Equipment and Measurement Services

NAICS

Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Metering, Calibration & Flow Measurement Verification (EUAEAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custody Transfer & Large-Volume/Industrial Metering Services (EUAJAKAI), Metering Equipment Testing, Calibration & Certification (EUAJAKAA), Gas Metering, AMI/AMR & Measurement Services (Distribution) (TLAGADAD), Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)

Keywords

• Meter proving equipment
• Flow meter calibration
• Custody transfer measurement
• Oil and gas instrumentation
• Hydrocarbon measurement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kechi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Meter Proving Equipment Sales: Sale of meter provers (unidirectional, bidirectional, volumetric tank, MagnaProve small-volume), spheres, detector switches, accessories (load arms, swivel joints, solvents), and quality control monitoring systems. Products are custom-built to customer specifications.
2. Water Draw Calibration Services: Volumetric and gravimetric water draw calibration services using portable trailers. Calibrates unidirectional, bidirectional, tank, and compact provers. Fleet of 6 portable units plus 2 stationary units.
3. Meter Prover Inspection Services: On-site detailed inspections using explosion-proof cameras for most prover sizes and configurations. Includes USB documentation of inspection findings.
4. Meter Prover Reconditioning: Full refurbishment services including dismantle, blast, internal recoating, exterior painting, 4-way valve reconditioning, hydraulic upgrades. Guaranteed to restore to like-new condition.
5. Preventative Maintenance Programs: Semi-annual and annual maintenance programs for auto-samplers, fast loops, haze trackers, rapid flash systems, and recovery/reinjection systems.
6. Petro Gone Solvent: Proprietary citrus-derived cleaning solvent for removing hydrocarbons prior to calibration. Available in 1 gallon, 5 gallon, and 55 gallon containers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Meter Engineers designs, manufactures, and services precision meter proving equipment used to calibrate flow meters during the custody transfer of liquid hydrocarbons. Its core offering spans custom-built portable and stationary provers (MagnaProve small-volume piston, unidirectional, bidirectional, and volumetric tank), patented UniCast proving spheres and MEI-SDS detector switches, and quality control monitoring systems (automated samplers, fast loops, haze analyzers, rapid flash systems, recovery/reinjection units), delivered alongside recurring measurement services such as water draw calibration, prover inspection, reconditioning, and preventative maintenance programs for the oil and gas midstream market.

Product overview

Meter Engineers offers a comprehensive portfolio of meter proving equipment and related services for the petroleum measurement industry. The core offering centers on Meter Proving Systems, including Small-Volume Piston Provers (MagnaProve), Bidirectional Provers, Unidirectional Provers, and Volumetric Tank Provers. These are complemented by Quality Control Monitoring Systems (Automated Sampler Systems, Fast Loop Systems, Pipeline Haze Analyzers, RF3 Rapid Flash Systems, Recovery/Reinjection Systems), Detector Switches (MEI-SDS), and UniCast Spheres. The company also provides a full range of accessories including Load Arms, Swivel Joints, Seal Kits, Solvents (Petro Gone), and custom Skids/Trailers. Services include Water Draw Calibration, Prover Inspection, Reconditioning, and Preventative Maintenance Programs. The MagnaProve Small-Volume Prover, utilizing proprietary electromagnet technology, is their flagship innovation, with MagnaProve Retro offering a universal drive replacement for existing provers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MagnaProve®: Patented small-volume captive displacement prover using a linear actuator powered by a high-strength electromagnet. The world's first-meter prover using this technology.
• MagnaProve® Retro
• UniCast Sphere
• MEI-SDS Detector Switch
• Petro Gone™
• Nitro Balance™

Products and services

• MagnaProve Small-Volume Piston Prover Captive displacement prover for calibrating flow meters on liquid hydrocarbon custody transfer lines, using a proprietary electromagnet-powered linear actuator with a 1200:1 turndown ratio and 5-second proving intervals for models ranging from 1,050 to 28,500 BPH; sold to midstream operators, refineries, and FPSO operators needing accurate small-volume prover measurement.
• Unidirectional Meter Prover High-volume sphere-type prover with a unique interchange design for positive sphere launch, epoxy-based ceramic coating, explosion-proof construction, and the patented MEI-SDS sphere detector switch for pipeline meter calibration in custody transfer operations.
• Bidirectional Meter Prover High-volume bidirectional sphere-type prover available in portable and stationary configurations, with a new four-way diverter valve, two launch chambers, and integrated MEI-SDS detector switches and UniCast spheres for bidirectional custody transfer measurement.
• Volumetric Tank Prover Atmospheric dry-bottom tank prover for calibrating oil flow meters in fiscal, allocation, or custody transfer measurements, built to API Chapter 4.4 and NIST 105-3 recommendations with ±0.05% accuracy or better; sold to refineries and pipeline operators requiring tank-based prover calibration.
• Automated Sampler System PLC-controlled PC-based sampling system that creates composite samples from pipeline batch streams with a Windows interface scheduling net barrel counts, end-of-batch indications, and customer-specific parameters; available in AS1-102, AS1-106, AS1-112, and AS1-206 models.
• Fast Loop Systems Sampling systems that deliver pipeline product to the instrument via an Additive Systems Inc. magnetic drive pump rated at 2800 PSIG with leak-free operation, a Baldor explosion-proof motor, and PLC control; targeted at oil and gas operators needing leak-free inline sampling.
• Pipeline Haze Analyzer Continuous quality control instrument that tracks pipeline product clarity by simulating ASTM D4176, providing 4-second haze rating updates with remote video transmission and a 4-20 mA output for SCADA systems; 1800 PSIG working pressure and stainless steel construction.
• RS-1/2 Recovery/Reinjection System Recovery and reinjection system designed to reinject sample product back into the pipeline, with a 15-gallon stainless steel tank, four-level float system, 2 HP/3 HP explosion-proof motor, and PLC; available in 1 GPM and 2 GPM models.
• RF3 Rapid Flash System Microprocessor-based flash point monitoring system delivering a 30-second flashpoint reading with redundant LEL sensors and autozero, a 4-20 mA output for SCADA, Ethernet/WiFi remote access, and pressure handling from 10 PSIG to 1500 psi; intended for pipeline and terminal product quality control.
• MagnaProve Retro Universal magnetic-drive retrofit assembly that lets existing captive displacement provers adopt MagnaProve technology without full system replacement; available in three sizes for flow rates 0-28,500 BPH; sold to operators with legacy small-volume provers seeking upgraded accuracy.
• Patented Swivel Joints High-performance swivel joints with proprietary leak detection, elastomeric seal technology, journal bearing design, backup seal, and thrust bearings; available in 2-24 inch pipe sizes up to 3000 PSI, with carbon steel, stainless steel, or aluminum bodies.
• Water Draw Calibration Services Volumetric and gravimetric water draw calibration of meter provers performed on-site via a fleet of six portable calibration trailers and two stationary units (Kechi, KS and Baytown, TX); accounts for roughly 80% of the U.S. market share and serves 500+ provers annually.
• Pipe and Prover Inspection Services On-site inspection service using push-type and tractor-driven cameras, including explosion-proof cameras for hazardous environments, with USB documentation of inspection findings and optional sphere seal checks; targets operators needing prover condition verification.
• Meter Prover Reconditioning Services Full refurbishment of meter proving equipment including dismantle, blast, internal dual color recoating, exterior repainting, 4-way valve reconditioning, and hydraulic upgrades, guaranteed to restore to like-new condition; available with fleet pickup and delivery.
• Preventative Maintenance Programs Semi-annual, annual, and combination preventative maintenance programs for auto-samplers, fast loops, haze trackers, rapid flash systems, and recovery/reinjection systems; annual coverage includes complete inspection, cleaning, and thorough inspection, with combination plans adding a limited warranty.
• MEI-SDS Detector Switch Patented detector switch combining a Teflon bushing, self-purging probe, self-cleaning wiper blade, and hermetically sealed electrical elements; detects sphere passages in pipelines and meter provers with 0.002 inch repeatability and 8 millisecond response, Class 1 Div 1 rated to 3000 PSI.
• UniCast Sphere Seamless, inflatable meter proving sphere with one-piece continuous polyurethane construction that eliminates seam splitting and delamination; available in Standard and Heavy weights, three durometer options (50, 60, 70 series), and 4-36 inch diameters with an optional low friction variant.
• Petro Gone Solvent Environmentally friendly citrus-derived cleaning solvent for removing hydrocarbons prior to calibration using a four-step cleaning process; available in 1 gallon jug, 5 gallon pail, and 55 gallon drum sizes.
• Skids, Trailers and Truck Beds Custom-built flatbed trailers for portable provers designed for rough lease road conditions, featuring Dexter axles, disc or drum brakes, LED lighting, high gloss acrylic polyurethane paint, and gooseneck or bumper pull configurations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1200:1 turndown ratio (API Chapter 4.2 compliant)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Automated Pipe Line Instruments (APLI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Meter Engineers acquired APLI in 2010, which introduced Quality Control Systems to the company's product portfolio. This acquisition expanded Meter Engineers' offerings to include analyzers and samplers beyond pure meter proving equipment.
• International Sales Representatives NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSix international sales representatives covering Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Indonesia as of 2021. These partners help expand Meter Engineers' reach in key global oil and gas markets. The company plans to have 10+ established sales representatives in strategic locations by 2025.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Endress+Hauser: Global leader in industrial process measurement instruments, including flowmeters and calibration services for oil & gas. Operates broadly across flow/level/pressure/temperature measurement rather than specializing in meter proving, but overlaps with Meter Engineers on calibration and custody-transfer measurement.
• Honeywell Process Solutions: Provides flow measurement, process control, and custody-transfer solutions to oil & gas operators. Meter Engineers explicitly supports Honeywell compact provers in its seal-kit line, signaling product-level overlap with Honeywell's installed prover base.
• KROHNE: Global manufacturer of industrial process instrumentation, including flowmeters used in oil & gas custody transfer. Competes with Meter Engineers on flow measurement and calibration for hydrocarbon applications, though KROHNE's portfolio spans many process industries beyond petroleum proving.
• Emerson (Rosemount): Major supplier of Rosemount flow and measurement instrumentation to oil & gas and process industries. Competes with Meter Engineers on flow measurement accuracy and adjacent calibration services, though Emerson is a broad industrial-automation incumbent rather than a meter-proving specialist.
• ABB Measurement & Analytics: Supplies flowmeters and process analytics to oil & gas and other process industries. The Sales Director of Meter Engineers (Gary Astle) previously held leadership roles at ABB, underscoring direct competition for flow-measurement accounts and overlapping talent pool.
• TechnipFMC (Schlumberger / Cameron): Provides measurement systems and integrated solutions for oil & gas production and midstream operations, including flow measurement and custody-transfer equipment. Competes with Meter Engineers on measurement instrumentation for upstream and midstream customers.
• Yokogawa Electric: Global supplier of industrial process measurement, control, and flowmeter solutions to oil & gas and petrochemical customers. Competes with Meter Engineers on flow measurement and calibration services for hydrocarbon custody transfer, though Yokogawa's portfolio spans many industries beyond meter proving.

Direct peers

• Brodie International: Manufacturer of small-volume piston provers and bidirectional meter provers used in petroleum custody transfer. Meter Engineers explicitly designs its Small-Volume Prover Seal Kits to be compatible with Brodie International provers, indicating direct head-to-head competition in the same product category.
• Brooks Instrument: Specialized manufacturer of flow measurement and control instruments, including custody-transfer and prover-related flow technologies for oil & gas. Overlaps directly with Meter Engineers on flow measurement accuracy and prover-related instrumentation for hydrocarbon applications.
• Flow MD: Manufacturer of compact provers and meter-proving equipment for oil & gas custody transfer. Meter Engineers' seal-kit compatibility list explicitly includes Flow MD provers, evidencing direct overlap in the small-volume prover market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Meter Engineers