South Fork Instruments

What South Fork Instruments does

South Fork Instruments is a privately held industrial measurement instrumentation distributor and solutions integrator headquartered in Auburn, California, serving customers across the Americas. Founded in 2004, the company maintains a 1-10 employee base and operates under a direct sales-led model, engaging manufacturing and research groups through expert sales engineers, phone outreach, and a consultative contact form process. The company does not manufacture its own instruments; instead, it distributes and configures measurement technologies from at least eight specialized partners, including Rheonik (Coriolis mass flow meters up to 20,000 psi), Exner (NIR turbidity and biomass sensors), Kemtrak (UV-VIS-NIR photometers, turbidimeters, oil-in-water analyzers), Bran+Luebbe (wet chemistry water quality analyzers), Hycontrol (foam detection and ultrasonic level), Refex (non-porous junction pH/ORP electrodes), ITPhotonics (NIR spectrophotometers), and LDI (oil-on-water and algal bloom detection). Pricing is quote-based and undisclosed; revenue derives from one-time hardware sales, custom solution configuration, and technical support and application engineering services.

The company's portfolio addresses hard measurement problems in industrial process control: pH and ORP in aggressive chemical and oil-contaminated environments, turbidity in high-solids streams, color and concentration in fouling-prone fluids, oil-in-water detection, foam control, real-time biomass monitoring for bioprocessing, and high-pressure mass flow. Notable technical features promoted include Kemtrak's dual wavelength referenced measurement for fouling compensation, fiber optic sensor connections enabling hazardous area deployment, Refex non-porous reference junctions claimed to last five times longer than porous alternatives in oil and gas service, NIR backscatter photometry for very high solids concentrations where traditional turbidity instruments become blinded, and Memosens digital sensor technology providing calibration data storage and audit trail for FDA cGMP environments.

South Fork Instruments serves five primary verticals (water and wastewater treatment, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, food and beverage, chemical and petrochemical, oil and gas) and five secondary verticals (pulp and paper, power generation, metal processing, aquaculture, automotive manufacturing including EV battery production). The value proposition rests on cross-industry application expertise accumulated over twenty years, the ability to configure tailored multi-vendor measurement solutions rather than supply one-size-fits-all products, and technical content marketing through data sheets, application notes, and a comprehensive guide to industrial pH probes. Revenue, funding, ownership structure, and management team beyond CEO Caryl Daly are not disclosed in available sources.

Name

South Fork Instruments

Legal name

South Fork Instruments

Website

https://southforkinst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Fork Instruments is a privately held Americas-focused distributor and solutions integrator of industrial measurement instrumentation, configuring pH, ORP, turbidity, flow, oil-in-water, biomass, and spectroscopic analyzers from partner brands like Kemtrak, Exner, Rheonik, and Refex for customers in water, pharma, food and beverage, chemical, and oil and gas industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Process Instrumentation

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Wastewater & Industrial Effluent Monitoring (NPDES/Permit Compliance) (EUAHACAD), Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC), Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems (HLAGAIAA), Sensors & Feedback Devices (Pressure, Flow, Position, Encoders, Transducers) (IMAHAGAK), Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services) (IMAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Industrial process sensors
• PH ORP measurement
• Inline turbidity measurement
• Coriolis mass flow meters
• Oil-in-water analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Measurement Instrumentation Sales: Sale of measurement instruments including turbidimeters, pH/ORP sensors, colorimeters, UV-VIS-NIR photometers, biomass sensors, Coriolis flow meters, and spectroscopic analyzers. Products are configured and supplied as complete measurement solutions with associated transmitters and installation hardware.
2. Custom Solution Configuration: Tailored measurement solutions configured to customer exact requirements, including sensor selection, installation hardware, automated cleaning systems, and calibration services for specific industrial applications.
3. Technical Support and Application Engineering: Expert technical consultation for measurement solution selection, application engineering, and process optimization support for challenging measurement problems across industries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

South Fork Instruments supplies and integrates industrial measurement instrumentation and analyzers, including pH/ORP sensors, turbidimeters, colorimeters, biomass monitors, UV-VIS-NIR photometers, oil-in-water analyzers, foam detection systems, water quality analyzers, and Coriolis mass flow meters. The company configures tailored measurement solutions by combining products from partner brands (Rheonik, Kemtrak, Exner, Refex, Bran+Luebbe, Hycontrol, ITPhotonics, LDI) with its own SFI-branded pH/ORP products for industrial process control applications.

Product overview

South Fork Instruments is a supplier and integrator of industrial measurement instrumentation and analyzers serving the Americas. The company offers a portfolio of branded products organized by technology type: Rheonik Coriolis mass flow meters for high-pressure flow measurement; Exner NIR process sensors including turbidity sensors (EXpect, EXpure 191) and biomass sensors (EXcell); Kemtrak photometers (UV-VIS-NIR) including the DCP007 platform for color, concentration, and UV absorbance measurement, plus turbidity, oil-in-water, and solids concentration analyzers; Hycontrol foam detection systems; Bran+Luebbe wet chemistry water quality analyzers; IT Photonics Polispec NIR spectrophotometers; and SFI/Refex pH/ORP sensors and transmitters. The company configures tailor-made measurement solutions by selecting and combining products from these ranges to match specific customer application requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SFI: Internal brand for pH/ORP sensors and transmitters distributed by South Fork Instruments.
• EXpect
• EXpure
• EXcell
• EXtract
• EXmatic

Products and services

• Rheonik Coriolis Mass Flow Meters High-precision Coriolis mass flow meters using Omega tube technology for thick wall tubes in wetted materials, capable of handling pressures up to 20,000psi in line sizes up to 1 inch. Designed for high-pressure hydrogen dispensing, offshore chemical injection, and hydraulic piping applications.
• Exner NIR Process Sensors NIR optical probes and process sensors including the EXpect turbidity sensor range for real-time turbidity measurement from clear water to dense suspensions, EXpure 191 for pure water systems (0-10 NTU range), and EXcell biomass sensors using absorbance-based measurement for biopharmaceutical applications.
• Kemtrak Photometers (UV-VIS-NIR) Industrial photometer platform offering UV-VIS-NIR absorbance measurement for color, concentration, turbidity, and composition analysis, with dual wavelength referenced measurement for drift-free operation. Includes DCP007 colorimeter, DCP007-UV for chromatography and protein concentration, and DCP007-NIR for moisture analysis.
• SFI pH/ORP Sensors and Refex pH/ORP Electrodes Industrial pH and ORP sensors designed for demanding process conditions across water treatment, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and chemical processing applications, featuring non-porous REFEX reference junction technology resistant to fouling, coating, and chemical poisoning.
• pH/ORP Transmitters Electronic transmitter units paired with pH/ORP sensors for signal processing, display, and process control system integration.
• Kemtrak Inline Turbidimeters Inline turbidity monitoring systems including the TC007 with flow-through cells for highly sensitive low-level turbidity measurement and backscatter probes for higher solids concentrations.
• Kemtrak Oil-in-Water Analyzers Fluorescence-based oil-in-water measurement instruments including the FL007 that uses both fluorescence and turbidity methods to measure a wide range of oils from crude oil to vegetable oil.
• Kemtrak Biomass Monitor Real-time biomass concentration monitoring using NIR backscatter measurement with wide dynamic range for monitoring cell density in fermentation and cell culture processes.
• Kemtrak NBP007 Solids Concentration Monitor High-resolution backscatter photometer that measures high-concentration suspended solids using proprietary NIR backscatter measurement method that continues to function at extremely high solids concentrations.
• Bran+Luebbe Water Quality Analyzers Wet chemistry analyzers for measuring hundreds of different substances including nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, ammonia), metals, and process chemicals using titration, colorimetric, and ion-selective electrode methods.
• Hycontrol Foam Detection and Control Systems SmartFoam and SureSense foam detection instruments using IMA (Inductive Membrane Actuation) sensing technology that ignores coating effects to prevent false indications in industrial processes, with multi-point and multi-vessel options for sanitary and standard applications.
• IT Photonics NIR Spectrophotometers Polispec NIR spectrophotometers for moisture and composition analysis in food and industrial applications, available in portable, laboratory, and inline configurations for granular, paste, and liquid samples.
• LDI Oil-on-Water and Algal Bloom Detection Oil-on-water detection systems and algal bloom detection systems from LDI (Laser Diagnostic Instruments) for environmental monitoring applications.
• Exner Retractable Probe Housings and Accessories EXtract retractable probe housings allowing probes to be withdrawn from processes while lines remain live, with EXmatic automated cleaning controller for extended electrode life and automated in-situ sterilization suitable for biopharmaceutical applications.
• Non-Contact Ultrasonic Level Measurement Non-contact ultrasonic level measurement instruments from Hycontrol for continuous level monitoring in industrial vessels and tanks.

Quantifiable outcome

• REFEX electrodes reported to last five times as long (or longer) in extreme oil & gas applications compared to porous junction electrodes
• +3 more outcomes

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• RheonikcoreTechnology or IntegrationRheonik provides Coriolis mass flow meters featuring omega tube technology for thick-wall tubes enabling high pressure ratings up to 20,000psi. SFI distributes Rheonik Coriolis meters for flow measurement applications including high pressure hydrogen dispensing, offshore chemical injection, and hydraulic piping.
• ExnercoreTechnology or IntegrationExner provides NIR process sensors including turbidity sensors (EXpect and EXplore), biomass sensors (EXcell), and sensor housings/accessories. EXner products feature retractable housings for automated cleaning and in-situ sterilization suitable for biopharmaceutical applications.
• KemtrakcoreTechnology or IntegrationKemtrak provides UV-VIS-NIR photometers including the DCP007 colorimeter platform, inline colorimeters, turbidimeters, oil-in-water analyzers, biomass analyzers, and inline optical flow cells. Kemtrak instruments feature dual wavelength referenced measurement for drift-free operation.
• Bran+LuebbesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationBran+Luebbe provides water quality analyzers for parameters including cyanide, nitrate, phosphate, chlorine, hardness, metals, and other substances using wet chemistry technology including titrometry and kolorimetry methods.
• HycontrolsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationHycontrol provides foam detection and control systems (SmartFoam and SureSense) using IMA sensing technology that ignores coating effects. Also provides non-contact ultrasonic level measurement. Multi-point and multi-vessel options available for sanitary and standard applications.
• RefexcoreTechnology or IntegrationRefex provides pH and ORP electrodes featuring non-porous polymeric reference junction technology that is highly resistant to fouling, coating, and chemical poisoning. Ideal for aggressive chemical and oil & gas applications where standard electrodes fail quickly.
• ITPhotonicssecondaryTechnology or IntegrationITPhotonics provides Polispec NIR spectrophotometer for inline, laboratory, and portable moisture and composition analysis. Applicable to granular, paste, and liquid applications in food processing, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Yokogawa Electric:
• Endress+Hauser: Global leader in industrial process instrumentation for flow, level, pressure, temperature, and liquid analysis. Competes with South Fork in pH/ORP, turbidity, flow, and water quality across overlapping verticals (water/wastewater, food/beverage, pharma, chemicals).
• Hach (a Danaher company): Major supplier of water quality analysis instruments and reagents serving municipal and industrial water/wastewater. Competes directly with South Fork's Bran+Luebbe-based water quality analyzers and Kemtrak turbidity/oil-in-water products in the water treatment segment.
• Emerson Automation Solutions (Rosemount): Dominant industrial process instrumentation supplier with strong positions in flow, pressure, level, and analytical measurement. Competes with South Fork's Coriolis flow offering and broader analytical portfolio across oil & gas, chemical, and power customers.
• Mettler-Toledo (Process Analytics): Leading supplier of in-line pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and turbidity sensors for pharmaceutical, biotech, and food/beverage applications. Direct overlap with South Fork's SFI/Refex pH/ORP sensors and Kemtrak biomass portfolio in regulated industries.

Direct peers

• Hawk Measurement Systems: Specialty industrial sensor manufacturer and distributor offering level, flow, and analytical instrumentation across process industries. Direct comparable in terms of being a smaller, specialized measurement instrumentation provider focused on hard-to-solve applications in water, mining, and process industries.
• Kemtrak AB: Manufacturer of industrial UV-VIS-NIR photometers, colorimeters, and oil-in-water analyzers — a core technology partner of South Fork. Highly comparable as the source of much of South Fork's differentiating measurement technology for color, turbidity, and concentration.
• RHEONIK Messtechnik: Manufacturer of Coriolis mass flow meters (omega tube technology) and one of South Fork's core distribution partners. Comparable as a direct upstream partner whose products South Fork sells, and whose distribution channel structure South Fork mirrors.

Emerging players

• Bronkhorst USA: Specialty manufacturer of low-flow Coriolis and thermal mass flow meters for chemical, pharma, and food/beverage applications. Comparable niche positioning in flow measurement for regulated process industries.
• Hamilton Company (Process Analytics): Provider of in-line pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and optical density sensors for bioprocessing. Overlaps with South Fork's pH/ORP, turbidity, and biomass offerings in pharmaceutical and biotech fermentation applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/southforkinstruments

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 South Fork Instruments