What KNUDSEN does

KNUDSEN (Knudsen Engineering Limited), founded in 1981 and headquartered in Perth, Ontario, Canada, designs and manufactures single-beam echosounders and sonar instruments for marine hydrography, oceanographic research, and naval defense applications. The company's product portfolio spans the Sounder Series, Chirp Series, Pinger Sub-Bottom Profiler, ROSP sediment profiling system, and UQN-10 (Next Generation Fathometer) qualified to U.S. Navy Mil-spec with Grade A Shock Certification. Underlying technology is built on proprietary Digital Signal Processing algorithms developed over four decades, with the DAISY technology licensed to a major U.S. defense contractor.

The firm operates from a single Canadian site with approximately 20 employees and is privately held by founders Donald and Judith Knudsen. Go-to-market combines direct sales, an exclusive U.S. distribution relationship with Knudsen Systems Inc. (KSI), and partnerships with unmanned-systems integrators such as International Submarine Engineering. Revenue mechanics are quote-based hardware sales plus integration, training, and lifecycle support; over 90% of production is exported, with 400+ installations across 70+ countries and a customer base anchored by the U.S. Navy, Canadian DND, U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, Canadian Hydrographic Service, UNOLS, and allied naval and research agencies. The business is ISO 9001:2015 certified and pursues long-cycle defense procurement vehicles, including the four-year, $16.8 million U.S. Navy IDIQ contract awarded in October 2019.

Name

KNUDSEN

Legal name

Knudsen Engineering Limited

Website

https://knudseneng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KNUDSEN designs and manufactures single-beam echosounders and sonar instruments for marine and defense applications, serving navies, hydrographic agencies, and ocean research institutions across 70+ countries from its Perth, Ontario headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Sonar Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems (IMABAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Naval Sensors & Sonar Systems (IMABAKAD), Submarine Navigation, Periscope/Optronics & Communications Manufacturing (IMAJAOAJ), Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS) (IMAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Single beam echosounders
• Marine sonar systems
• Hydroacoustic instruments
• Sub-bottom profilers
• Naval navigation fathometers

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Echosounder Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary single beam echosounders including Sounder Series (Sounder Rack, Sounder Portable, Mini Sounder, ROVer), Chirp Series (Chirp 3260, Chirp Rack, Chirp Portable, Pinger), and 320N Fleet Navigation Echosounder. Products are sold directly and through distributors with full wire transfer payment prior to factory release.
2. Transducer Sales: Sale of配套 transducers including Single Frequency (KEL-491, KEL-922, KELA-5701, KEL-945, KEL-835, KEL-015, KEL-291), Dual Frequency (KEL-551, KEL-771, KEL-571, KEL-361, KEL-671, KEL-24M, KEL-365), and Side Scan (KEL-28ss) models ranging 3.5kHz to 210kHz.
3. Software and Support Services: Software updates and technical support services. The company provides SounderSuite-USB as standard with systems, with software update support available through [email protected].
4. Training and Installation Services: On-site operation and maintenance training services provided to international customers, including trips to China for hydrographic organization training in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Qingdao.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KNUDSEN designs, manufactures, and sells single beam echosounders and sonar systems for marine survey, hydrographic charting, naval fleet navigation, sub-bottom profiling, and oceanographic research. The portfolio spans the Sounder Series (shallow to mid-depth), Chirp Series (deep water and high-resolution), and 320N Navigation Echosounder (UQN-10 mil-spec naval fathometer), supported by transducers, signal simulators, and proprietary SounderSuite-USB software.

Product overview

KNUDSEN is a Canadian manufacturer of single beam echosounders and sonar systems, founded in 1981 and ISO 9001:2015 certified. The product portfolio consists of two main echosounder series plus supporting accessories: (1) Sounder Series - shallow to mid-depth bathymetric sounders including Sounder Rack, Sounder Portable, Mini Sounder, and ROVer for autonomous vehicles; (2) Chirp Series - high-resolution systems with chirp and correlation processing including Chirp 3260 for full ocean depth research, Chirp Portable, Chirp Rack, and Pinger Sub-Bottom Profiler for shallow sediment profiling; (3) 320N Navigation Echosounder (UQN-10) - mil-spec naval fleet fathometer for surface ships and submarines; plus supporting accessories including EchoSim signal simulator, Remote Display, and various transducers. The SounderSuite-USB software controls all systems, supporting data formats including .keb binary, .kea ASCII, SEG-Y, and XTF, with Hypack integration for hydrographic survey workflows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sounder Series Family of marine depth sounders for shallow to mid-depth bathymetric survey and mapping, including Sounder Rack (3U rackmount, up to 4 channels), Sounder Portable (splash-proof case, 2-4 channels), Mini Sounder (cost-effective single channel), and ROVer (headless autonomous system for AUV/ROV integration). Sold to hydrographic surveyors, ocean researchers, and commercial survey operators worldwide.
• Chirp Series High-resolution frequency-agile echosounders offering chirp and correlation processing for sediment profiling, deep ocean seafloor mapping, and geophysical research. Includes Chirp 3260 (full ocean depth, 5U rack, 7000m+), Chirp Portable (splash-proof), Chirp Rack (3U rackmount), and Pinger Sub-Bottom Profiler (shallow water). Sold to ocean research institutions, hydrographic services, and geophysical exploration operators.
• 320N Navigation Echosounder (UQN-10 Next Generation Fathometer) Mil-spec qualified 'Next Generation Fathometer' (UQN-10) with LED backlit LCD touchscreen display, Grade A Shock Certification, and compatibility with legacy UQN-4 foundation. Designed for naval fleet navigation on DDG destroyers, Zumwalt class, Arleigh Burke class, Victoria Class submarines, and LSD vessels. Frequency range 3.5kHz-210kHz, max depth 7000m+. Sold primarily to U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian Department of National Defence, and allied navies.
• EchoSim Sonar Simulator

Quantifiable outcome

• Full ocean depth capability exceeding 7000m with Chirp 3260
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Knudsen Systems Inc. (KSI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 October 2019KSI serves as the U.S. distributor for KNUDSEN products, particularly for domestic U.S. customers including Federal and State agencies. KSI holds IDIQ contracts with NUWC Division Keyport for U.S. Navy procurement including the $16.8M Next Generation Fathometer contract.
• International Submarine Engineering (ISE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISE of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia awarded contract to KNUDSEN to supply arctic sensors for installation on two new ISE Explorer Class AUVs for Canada's Arctic sovereignty survey missions. KNUDSEN sonar systems chosen for critical arctic survey data collection.
• Healy-Oden Trans-Arctic Expedition (HoTrAX)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNUDSEN 320 series echosounder used aboard USCGC Healy during the 2005 HoTrAX expedition for critical Arctic ocean data collection, piston core retrieval, and climate research.
• UNOLS Research Vessel OrganizationcoreTechnology or IntegrationUNOLS Research Vessel Organization as a repeat customer has purchased 9 Chirp 3260 deep water units for installation across their research vessel fleet including Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole, and numerous universities.
• Canadian Hydrographic ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationRepeat customer relationship with Canadian Hydrographic Service, including volume order of nine Sounder 1600 systems including six quad-channel units and ongoing support for thru-ice survey operations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Valeport: U.K.-based manufacturer of oceanographic and hydrographic instruments including single-beam echosounders, CTDs, and sub-bottom profilers. Direct competitor in shallow-water hydrographic survey instrumentation with overlapping customer profiles.
• EdgeTech: U.S. manufacturer of side-scan sonars, sub-bottom profilers, and bathymetric systems used in hydrographic survey, marine research, and naval applications. Direct competitor to Knudsen in sub-bottom profiling and shallow-water sonar segments, with similar customer base.
• SyQwest: Manufacturer of single-beam echosounders (Hydrobox) and sub-bottom profilers for hydrographic survey and naval markets. A direct competitor in the same single-beam and sub-bottom profiling niches as Knudsen.

Emerging players

• Exail (formerly iXblue): French company offering high-performance inertial navigation, subsea positioning, and acoustic systems (e.g., Echoes series echosounders, sub-bottom profilers). Direct competitor in subsea acoustic sensors for naval hydrography and survey applications.
• Norbit: Norwegian provider of compact multibeam sonars (iWBMSe), echosounders, and subsea acoustic positioning systems. An emerging challenger in the hydrographic survey space with comparable form-factor AUV/USV-targeted sonars to Knudsen's ROVer and Sounder Series products.
• Sonardyne: U.K. provider of underwater acoustic positioning, inertial navigation, and sonar systems for offshore, naval, and survey applications. Adjacent peer with overlap in AUV/ROV navigation and subsea acoustic instrumentation markets where Knudsen competes.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Subsidiary of Kongsberg Gruppen, Kongsberg Maritime is a global leader in sonar, multibeam echosounders, and naval hydroacoustic systems. While Knudsen specializes in single-beam echosounders, Kongsberg is the dominant incumbent across broader hydrographic, naval, and AUV/ROV sonar markets that overlap with Knudsen's customer base.
• Furuno: Japanese marine electronics manufacturer with broad portfolio of echosounders, fish finders, sonar, and navigation systems serving commercial marine, naval, and hydrographic customers globally. Overlaps with Knudsen in marine depth-sounding and navigation product categories.
• Atlas Elektronik: A ThyssenKrupp marine systems company specializing in naval sonar, mine countermeasures, and submarine sensor systems. Comparable to Knudsen in naval sonar applications, particularly for surface-ship and submarine navigation echosounders, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Teledyne Technologies (Teledyne RD Instruments / Odom Hydrographic): Through Teledyne RD Instruments and Odom Hydrographic, Teledyne manufactures ADCPs, multibeam and single-beam echosounders, and sub-bottom profilers serving the same hydrographic survey, naval, and ocean research markets as Knudsen, with significantly broader product portfolios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/knudseneng
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0u3QiISxHAHw7pXoRNQZ-A
• Facebookfacebook.com/knudseneng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knudseneng
• Instagraminstagram.com/knudseneng

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 KNUDSEN