Stern Laboratories
Stern Laboratories is an employee-owned, independent Canadian nuclear testing laboratory in Hamilton, Ontario, delivering critical heat flux testing, reactor safety experiments, CFD modeling, and custom fuel simulators and remote handling tools for utilities, vendors, and government agencies worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersHamilton, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Stern Laboratories does
Stern Laboratories Inc. is an employee-owned, independent Canadian nuclear testing laboratory headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario. Operating continuously in nuclear thermal-hydraulics since 1962 and incorporated under its current legal name in April 1988 after the spin-out of Westinghouse Canada's Systems Test Laboratory, the company conducts reliability and safety experiments for nuclear utilities, reactor and fuel vendors, government agencies, and nuclear equipment suppliers across CANDU, PWR, and BWR reactor types.
Its technical core is a 49,000+ square foot facility equipped with a 16 MW DC power supply featuring 13 individually controlled zones and modern computer data acquisition systems - positioned as one of the highest power and most versatile heat transfer facilities in the world. Service lines comprise Critical Heat Flux testing, reactor safety and reliability experiments (including LOCA simulations up to 900°C/30 bar), CFD/FEA modeling, custom design and manufacture of electrically heated nuclear fuel simulators, and remote handling and inspection tooling such as the ICFD Removal Tool (Chopper Tool) and shielded flasks. The simulator portfolio includes BWR units rated above 300 W/cm², PWR units rated above 400 W/cm², and CANDU bundles capable of temperatures above 1100°C.
Stern generates revenue through quote-based, project-based contracts and multi-year engagements covering both specialized laboratory testing (thermal-hydraulic and safety experiments) and custom equipment manufacturing. Anchor customers include Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation for CANDU refurbishment work, IRSN France for LOCA research, Lightbridge Corporation for U.S. fuel licensing, and CSMC for microreactor manufacturing. The firm holds a CNSC license for natural uranium fuel bundle possession, TSSA certification for pressure vessel and power piping manufacture, and QA programs aligned to 10CFR50 Appendix B, NQA-1, and CSA N286-05, enabling it to serve regulated nuclear customers across multiple jurisdictions.
Stern Laboratories firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stern Laboratories
- Legal name
- Stern Laboratories Inc.
- Website
- https://sternlab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Stern Laboratories is an employee-owned, independent Canadian nuclear testing laboratory in Hamilton, Ontario, delivering critical heat flux testing, reactor safety experiments, CFD modeling, and custom fuel simulators and remote handling tools for utilities, vendors, and government agencies worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stern Laboratories industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nuclear Engineering and Testing Services
- NAICS
- Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (33241)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reactor Core Design, Neutronics & Thermal-Hydraulics Engineering Tools (EUAKADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Component Qualification, Testing & Certification (Seismic, Environmental, EMI/EMC) (EUAKADAO), Reactor Refueling & Fuel Handling Systems (Cranes, Machines, Transfer Systems) (EUAKADAN), In-Core & Ex-Core Instrumentation (Neutron Flux, Temperature, Pressure, Vibration) (EUAKADAL)
Keywords
Where Stern Laboratories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamilton
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stern Laboratories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Specialized Laboratory Testing Services: Stern Laboratories conducts reliability and safety experiments for nuclear industry customers including utilities, reactor vendors, government agencies, and equipment suppliers. Services include thermal-hydraulic testing, component qualification tests, and safety scenario simulations. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts, often multi-year engagements with repeat business.
- Custom Equipment Manufacturing: Design and fabrication of specialized nuclear equipment including electrically heated fuel simulators, inspection tools, remote handling equipment, and shielded containers. Products are custom-engineered to customer specifications for specific nuclear applications.
- Engineering and Consulting Services: Engineering design, project management, and consulting services for nuclear experimental programs. Includes test program development, instrumentation design, and technical reporting.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Stern Laboratories product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stern Laboratories conducts reliability and safety experiments for the nuclear industry using one of the world's highest-power and most versatile heat transfer facilities (16 MW DC power supply, 13 individually controlled zones). The company designs and manufactures specialized nuclear equipment including electrically heated fuel simulators for CANDU/PWR/BWR, the ICFD Removal Tool System (Chopper Tool), shielded flasks and canisters, and provides computational fluid dynamics analysis.
Product overview
Stern Laboratories is a Canadian nuclear testing and research laboratory providing specialized experimental services and custom-engineered products for the nuclear industry. The company operates as a single unified offering combining laboratory testing services (Critical Heat Flux Tests, Reactor Safety Experiments, Computational Fluid Dynamics) with manufactured products (Fuel Simulators, Remote Handling Tools, ICFD Removal Tool System, Shielded Flasks). Services are supported by extensive facilities including a 16 MW DC power supply with 13 individually controlled zones, making it one of the highest power and most versatile heat transfer facilities in the world. The company serves utilities, nuclear reactor and fuel vendors, government agencies, and nuclear equipment suppliers worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Critical Heat Flux (CHF) Tests
- Reactor Safety and Reliability Experiments
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Remote Handling Tools, Fuel Handling and Inspection Services
- Electrically Heated Nuclear Fuel Simulators Custom-designed and built electrically heated fuel simulators representing BWR, PWR, and CANDU fuel designs for CHF experiments and safety testing. BWR simulators rated above 300 W/cm² with heated lengths up to 3810 mm; PWR simulators rated above 400 W/cm² with heated lengths up to 4267 mm; CANDU bundle simulators capable of temperatures above 1100°C. Sold to utilities, vendors, and research agencies requiring experimental fuel surrogates.
- ICFD Removal Tool System (Chopper Tool) Remotely operated system designed and fabricated by Stern Laboratories for removing irradiated Single Individually Replaceable In-Core Flux Detectors (SIR ICFDs) from CANDU reactors. The system pulls detectors out of the core, reduces their volume, and transports them safely to a shielded canister, with portable equipment that can be carried by two operators. Sold to nuclear utilities performing CANDU reactor refurbishment such as the Bruce Power Major Component Replacement project, with deliveries to Ontario, New Brunswick, China, Korea, and Argentina.
- Shielded Flasks and Canisters Custom-fabricated shielded containers for radioactive equipment, including lead-filled flasks and canister stacks for transport and storage of nuclear components. Sold to nuclear utilities as integral components of Stern's ICFD Removal Tool System and for standalone fuel handling applications, with documented deliveries to Bruce Power.
- LOCA Test Assembly (for IRSN) Custom simulated nuclear fuel test assembly designed and constructed for thermal-hydraulic experiments simulating Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCA), including the COAL (COolability of a fuel Assembly during LOCA) experiments for partially blocked fuel assemblies. Includes 60 electrically heated fuel simulators plus prototype, with operating capability using superheated steam up to 900°C at 30 bar pressure. Sold to IRSN France as a contracted research deliverable.
Quantifiable outcome
- ICFD Removal Tool Systems delivered to Ontario, New Brunswick, China, Korea, and Argentina
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Stern Laboratories
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Stern Laboratories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Stern Laboratories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AtkinsRéalis (Canadians for CANDU)coreStern Laboratories joined AtkinsRéalis's Canadians for CANDU campaign as an ambassador organization, which advocates for a sovereign Canadian nuclear industry. The campaign brings together labour, nuclear supply chain members, Indigenous organizations, academic institutions, and businesses to promote Canadian nuclear technology and energy security. Stern represents expertise in specialized nuclear engineering and reactor safety testing.
- Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation (CSMC)coreStern Laboratories is a partner in a $3-million manufacturing project led by CSMC to develop advanced manufacturing capacity for nuclear microreactors based on SLOWPOKE reactor technology. The project, funded by $1.2 million through NGen's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program, includes partners Samuel Automation and Stern Labs. Goal is to establish advanced manufacturing cell for in-factory production of CSMC's LEUNR microreactors for defence, sovereignty, and remote energy needs including potential lunar applications.
- Lightbridge CorporationcoreStern Laboratories entered into an engineering contract with Lightbridge Corporation to launch a multi-phase thermal-hydraulics test program for U.S. regulatory licensing of Lightbridge Fuel for Light Water Reactors. Phase 1 involves design/fabrication of electrically heated fuel simulator and single-rod CHF investigation. Phase 2 includes nine-rod CHF investigation at 600-2200 psia. Phase 3 is a multi-year TH test program to support licensing of Lightbridge Fuel for the U.S. domestic LWR fleet. Phase 1 is estimated to take approximately one year.
- Samuel AutomationminorPartner with CSMC and Stern Laboratories in the $3-million advanced manufacturing project for nuclear microreactor production. Samuel Automation provides manufacturing expertise alongside Stern Laboratories.
- E.S. Fox LimitedminorE.S. Fox contracted Stern Laboratories for delivery of ICFD Removal Tool System to Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. The delivery was the culmination of a year-long contract where Stern provided the complete chopper tool system for reactor refurbishment.
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN)coreIRSN in France contracted Stern Laboratories to design and construct a simulated nuclear fuel test assembly for thermal-hydraulic experiments simulating Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCA), including COAL experiments for partially blocked fuel assemblies. Project involved design of 60 electrically heated fuel simulators plus prototype, and full assembly operating with superheated steam up to 900°C at 30 bar pressure.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Stern Laboratories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI): South Korean government research institute performing nuclear fuel qualification, thermal-hydraulics experiments, and safety testing. Comparable technical scope to Stern Labs but serves primarily Korean and Asian utilities and is unlikely to bid into the same commercial contracts.
Broad incumbents
- Framatome: Major global nuclear reactor vendor and services provider with in-house thermal-hydraulics testing capability and a broad fuel-services portfolio. Overlaps with Stern Labs in fuel testing and CHF qualification, but as part of a much larger integrated offering rather than as an independent third-party lab.
- Westinghouse Electric Company: Direct predecessor to Stern Labs (originally Westinghouse Canada Systems Test Laboratory) and current global nuclear vendor offering fuel, services, and reactor design. Competes for some qualification programs but brings vendor-conflict baggage that Stern Labs explicitly avoids.
- AtkinsRéalis (Nuclear): Major Canadian nuclear engineering firm and CANDU reactor vendor; current GTM partner through the Canadians for CANDU campaign. Overlaps with Stern Labs on CANDU-related engineering services and could compete for some testing/qualification work, while also driving demand for Stern's independent capabilities.
Direct peers
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's state-owned RTO with thermal-hydraulics and nuclear safety test facilities serving European utilities and regulators. Comparable to Stern Labs in offering nuclear-component qualification testing and CFD/simulation capability, though operating at a larger institutional scale.
- Studsvik AB: Swedish nuclear-services company offering fuel testing, hot-cell examinations, and materials analysis for global nuclear utilities and vendors. Closest commercial analogue to Stern Labs — independent, services-led, with a comparable mix of laboratory testing and nuclear-fuel expertise serving international customers.
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL): Government-owned nuclear science and technology organization operating from Chalk River, Ontario. Performs thermal-hydraulics testing, fuel qualification, and reactor safety experiments at scale for Canadian and international clients; functionally the state-owned counterpart to Stern Labs' private independent services.
Emerging players
- Terrestrial Energy: Canadian SMR developer (Integral Molten Salt Reactor) requiring thermal-hydraulics validation and qualification testing. Represents an emerging customer category for independent nuclear testing labs like Stern Labs as the SMR market matures.
- NuScale Power: U.S. SMR developer with NRC-approved small modular reactor design. A potential long-tail customer for independent thermal-hydraulics and CHF testing services as it pursues deployment, licensing variations, and fuel qualification programs.
- Lightbridge Corporation: U.S.-based developer of advanced metallic nuclear fuel for light-water reactors; current Stern Labs customer and partner. Not a testing competitor but is the buyer of the kind of thermal-hydraulics services Stern Labs sells — a representative emerging-fuel customer segment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stern Laboratories social profiles
Digital presenceStern Laboratories compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Stern Laboratories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stern Laboratories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Stern Laboratories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stern Laboratories 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 Stern Laboratories
What does Stern Laboratories do?
Stern Laboratories conducts reliability and safety experiments for the nuclear industry using one of the world's highest-power and most versatile heat transfer facilities (16 MW DC power supply, 13 individually controlled zones). The company designs and manufactures specialized nuclear equipment including electrically heated fuel simulators for CANDU/PWR/BWR, the ICFD Removal Tool System (Chopper Tool), shielded flasks and canisters, and provides computational fluid dynamics analysis.
Is Stern Laboratories a public or private company?
Stern Laboratories is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Stern Laboratories founded?
Stern Laboratories was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Stern Laboratories based?
Stern Laboratories is headquartered in Hamilton, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Stern Laboratories make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Specialized Laboratory Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are custom Equipment Manufacturing and engineering and Consulting Services.
Who are Stern Laboratories's main competitors?
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Framatome, Westinghouse Electric Company and AtkinsRéalis (Nuclear). Direct peers are VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Studsvik AB and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). Emerging players are Terrestrial Energy, NuScale Power and Lightbridge Corporation.
Does Stern Laboratories have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stern Laboratories.
What industry is Stern Laboratories in?
Stern Laboratories's product category is Nuclear Engineering and Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAKADAD, Reactor Core Design, Neutronics & Thermal-Hydraulics Engineering Tools, with a secondary code of EUAKADAO, Component Qualification, Testing & Certification (Seismic, Environmental, EMI/EMC). Its NAICS code is 334517 and its SIC code is 3826.