ISSC/Kanson Electronics

What ISSC/Kanson Electronics does

ISSC/Kanson Electronics is a US-based industrial electronics manufacturer specializing in timers, sensors, and counters used in industrial automation, power generation, and OEM equipment. The company traces its roots to the ISSC division established in 1963 and was incorporated as Kanson Electronics, Inc. in 1979; the two entities merged and today operate from a 30,000 square foot manufacturing and technical center in Hohenwald, Tennessee, where 100% of design, production, testing, and quality control is performed in-house. Its product portfolio spans industrial timers (On Delay, Off Delay, Interval, One Cycle, Repeat Cycle, Watchdog, and PLC Watchdog modes in base, block, DIN rail, and plug-in configurations with timing from 0.001 seconds to 9,999 hours), proximity sensors (inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, magnetic effect, motion, voltage, liquid, and resistance types in cylindrical form factors from 3mm to 18mm), and a contract manufacturing service for plastic enclosures and PC boards.

The business model is hardware sales through a nationwide authorized distributor network covering all US states plus Canada, supplemented by Brevan Electronics for New England and international reach, and direct sales for custom-engineered solutions. Notable specialty applications include high-voltage DC switching timing relays for hydropower facilities and power plant high-voltage circuit breakers. The company is a division of the diversified industrial group Kanson Modor Plastics and has been led by President Arthur Filson since 2013. All products carry a 100% pre-shipment burn-in and QC regimen, and the company holds Dodd-Frank Section 1502 conflict minerals compliance.

Name

ISSC/Kanson Electronics

Legal name

Kanson Electronics Inc.

Website

https://issc-kanson.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISSC/Kanson Electronics manufactures industrial timers, sensors, and counters in Hohenwald, Tennessee, serving industrial equipment OEMs, power generation utilities, and contract manufacturing customers through a nationwide authorized distributor network and direct custom-engineered sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electronic Components (Timers and Sensors)

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Ruggedized/Harsh-Environment Electronics Manufacturing (IP-rated, shock/vibration, wide-temp) (IMAGAGAF)

Keywords

• Industrial timers
• Proximity sensors
• Timing relays
• Electronic contract manufacturing
• Power utility controls

Headquarters

HQ city

Hohenwald

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Timers Sales: Sale of industrial timing relays and timers including On Delay, Off Delay, Interval, One Cycle, Repeat Cycle, Watchdog timers, and counters. Products available in various mounting configurations (Base, Plug-in, DIN Rail, Block).
2. Industrial Sensors Sales: Sale of proximity sensors including inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, magnetic effect, motion, voltage, liquid detectors, limit style sensors, and resistance detectors. Available in cylindrical and other form factors.
3. Contract Manufacturing Services: Contract manufacturing division focuses on plastic enclosures and PC boards for electrical and electro-mechanical subassembly and systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ISSC/Kanson Electronics designs and manufactures industrial timers, sensors, and counters in the USA for use in industrial equipment, process automation and power generation applications. Its timers cover On Delay, Off Delay, Interval, One Cycle, Repeat Cycle, Watchdog and Counter functions in Base, Block, DIN Rail and Plug-in configurations, while its sensors span inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, magnetic, motion, voltage, liquid and resistance detection in cylindrical form factors. The company also provides electronic contract manufacturing of plastic enclosures, PC boards and electro-mechanical subassemblies, all produced at its 30,000 square foot facility in Hohenwald, Tennessee.

Product overview

ISSC/Kanson Electronics manufactures industrial timers, sensors, and counters in the USA since 1963. Their core product portfolio consists of two main categories: (1) Industrial Timers including On Delay, Off Delay, Interval, One Cycle, Repeat Cycle, Watchdog, and PLC Watchdog timers available in Base, Block, Din Rail Mount, and Plug-in configurations; and (2) Industrial Sensors comprising inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, magnetic, motion, voltage, and resistance detection types with various form factors including cylindrical sensors in multiple sizes. The company also offers contract manufacturing services for electrical and electro-mechanical assemblies. All products undergo 100% testing, cycling and quality-checking prior to shipping. Manufacturing is performed at their 30,000 square foot facility in Hohenwald, Tennessee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Timers Wide range of industrial timers including On Delay, Off Delay, Interval, One Cycle, Repeat Cycle, Watchdog, and PLC Watchdog timers. Available in Base, Block, Din Rail Mount, and Plug-in configurations with various voltage options, serving industrial machinery and power utility applications.
• Industrial Sensors Impermeable, resin-filled proximity sensors including inductive, capacitive, photoelectric, magnetic effect, motion, voltage, liquid and resistance detection types. Designed for reliable object detection in harsh industrial environments.
• Model 1514 Din Rail Mount Timer On-delay pole disagreement timer built for continuous duty operation, capable of high voltage DC switching for electric utility applications. Features DIN-Rail mount housing with finger-safe connectors (IP20 rating) and reinforced isolation for sealed relays.
• Model 1510 Din Rail Mount Timer True off delay timer built for continuous duty operation, capable of high voltage DC switching for electric utility applications. No power required during off timing cycle. Features dual power supplies and DIN-Rail mount housing.
• Cylindrical Proximity Sensors Proximity sensors available in multiple diameters (3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6.5mm, 8mm, 12mm, 18mm) with options for AC 2-wire, DC 2-wire, short body, and extended distance configurations for varied industrial sensing applications.
• Inductive Proximity Switches Detect presence of metal objects without physical contact using a coil and high frequency oscillator to create an electromagnetic field, for industrial automation and manufacturing applications.
• Capacitive Proximity Sensors Detect both metallic and non-metallic objects (wood, plastic, liquid materials) by detecting variation of parasitic capacity between sensor and object, for material handling and process automation.
• Photoelectric Proximity Sensors Use modulated infrared light for detection across Diffused, Reflex, and Thrubeam sensor types for varying sensing ranges, for industrial automation and packaging lines.
• Magnetic Effect Electronic Proximity Sensors Use Hall effect to detect ferromagnetic actuators; feature two ferro-magnetic reeds enclosed in inert gas within a plastic housing strengthened with glass fibers for reliable actuation sensing.
• Motion Sensors Detect zero, underspeed or overspeed conditions of pumps, conveyors, blower fans and other equipment requiring proper machine speed, used in industrial process monitoring.
• Voltage and Resistance Detectors Voltage and resistance detection sensors that turn on output when input is below a set point, for electrical monitoring and protection applications.
• Timer Accessories Accessories for timer products including remote adjust potentiometers and other mounting/connection components for use with industrial timers.
• Contract Manufacturing Services Electronic contract manufacturing services focusing on plastic enclosures and PC boards, including electrical and electro-mechanical subassembly and systems for companies seeking outsourced US-based assembly with rigorous testing and QC.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products are 100% function and burn-in tested before shipping
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Brevan ElectronicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrevan Electronics is an authorized distributor for ISSC-Kanson Electronics covering New England region and international markets. Founded in 1983, Brevan Electronics distributes high technology electronic components to a wide variety of original equipment manufacturers.
• Modor PlasticscoreOthersISSC-Kanson Electronics is a division of Modor Plastics. This parent company relationship provides integrated manufacturing capabilities for plastic enclosures and contract manufacturing services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Banner Engineering: US manufacturer of photoelectric, ultrasonic, and inductive proximity sensors plus machine safety; directly competes with Kanson's photoelectric, magnetic, and motion sensor families serving US industrial OEMs.
• Carlo Gavazzi: Swiss manufacturer of industrial sensors, timers, and solid-state relays; closely comparable niche peer competing with Kanson in proximity sensors and timing products for panel builders and OEMs.
• Finder S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of industrial relays, timers, and switching components; closely comparable to Kanson in electromechanical and solid-state timing relay offerings to panel builders and OEMs.
• Macromatic: US-based manufacturer of industrial timers and control relays targeting OEMs and panel builders; competes directly with ISSC-Kanson in the same time-delay and interval relay category with overlapping distributor channels.
• Pepperl+Fuchs: German specialist in industrial sensors (inductive, capacitive, photoelectric) and hazardous-location electronics; directly overlaps with Kanson's proximity sensor portfolio and IP-rated harsh-environment product positioning.
• IDEC Corporation: Manufacturer of industrial timers, switches, and safety products with a strong US presence; directly overlaps with Kanson's DIN-rail timer and relay product lines serving industrial OEMs.

Broad incumbents

• Omron Automation: Global industrial automation giant offering timers, proximity sensors, vision systems, and PLCs; provides overlapping capabilities to Kanson but as part of a much wider portfolio targeting factory automation integrators.
• Eaton: US power management and industrial controls manufacturer with timing relays, sensors, and switchgear; overlaps with Kanson's utility-focused timing products but operates at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation company with timing relays, Zelio timers, and industrial sensors; competes with Kanson in DIN-rail timing products and power utility applications as part of a comprehensive automation portfolio.
• SICK AG: German manufacturer of factory, logistics, and process automation sensors; comparable to Kanson in proximity and detection sensors but spans a much broader industrial sensor portfolio globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISSCKanson

Compliance1 record

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 ISSC/Kanson Electronics