Design Controls
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Design Controls firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Design Controls
- Legal name
- Design Controls
- Website
- https://designcontrols.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Design Controls industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Water Treatment Equipment
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Treatment & Process Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAN), Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE), Process Automation Instrumentation & Control (DCS, Valves, Actuators, Analyzers) (IMAHAHAM), Chemical Processing Equipment (Reactors, Mixers, Agitators) (IMAHAEAA)
Keywords
Where Design Controls is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Design Controls business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales: Sale of chemical feed systems, pumps, controllers, analytical probes, static mixers, chlorination equipment, and custom skids/shelters. Products range from stand-alone controllers to complex ChemDACS™ units.
- Professional Services: Engineering/design services, fabrication, field service, systems integration, and FlowTeam thermal hydraulic audit services. Offered at hourly and daily rates with consultation fees potentially applied towards new system purchases.
- Parts and Replacement Components: Factory and aftermarket replacement parts, spare parts, and stocking spare parts for water treatment equipment from multiple manufacturers.
- Commodity Chemicals: Sourcing and supply of standardized commodity chemicals with manufacture direct delivery, stocking deliveries, volume breakdown to smaller totes/tubs/pails, inventory monitoring and management, service contracts, and remote monitoring services.
- Service Contracts: Customized service contracts adapted to customer needs, budget, and manpower requirements to maintain systems efficiently and reliably with extended equipment life benefits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Design Controls product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Design Controls designs, manufactures, and integrates chemical feed and automation systems for industrial water treatment applications. Its flagship ChemDACS™ platform combines programmable control, sensor conditioning, process monitoring, data logging, and remote access into integrated units, complemented by an extensive portfolio of analytical probes, pumps, static mixers, chlorination equipment, and custom skids. The company also provides engineering, fabrication, field service, FlowTeam thermal hydraulic audits, remote IIoT cloud monitoring, and systems integration to deliver turn-key water treatment solutions across North America and Canada.
Product overview
Design Controls is a water treatment equipment company and chemical feed system integrator offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for industrial water treatment. The core offering is the ChemDACS (Chemical Data Acquisition & Control System) product line, which provides automated monitoring, control and management solutions for chemical feed in cooling water, boiler, and process water applications. The product portfolio spans analytical probes (pH, ORP, conductivity, turbidity, corrosion, halogen sensors), chlorination equipment (on-site generation, gas, liquid, chlorine dioxide), pumping systems (Grundfos, Milton Roy, Neptune brand pumps), static mixers (Koflo brand for PVC, stainless steel, Teflon, sanitary applications), and auxiliary equipment including polymer feed systems, reverse osmosis, water softeners, storage tanks, and custom skids. Services include engineering/design, fabrication, field service, FlowTeam thermal hydraulic audits, remote IIoT cloud monitoring, systems integration with industrial protocols (Allen-Bradley, Modbus, BACnet), and commodity chemical supply. The company represents and distributes products from manufacturers including Grundfos, Neptune, Milton Roy, and Koflo, offering both standalone products and fully integrated turn-key systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ChemDACS™: Chemical Data Acquisition and Control System - automated monitoring, control and management solutions for optimum chemical feed under constantly changing conditions.
- FlowTeam
Products and services
- ChemDACS™ (Chemical Data Acquisition & Control System) Proprietary integrated chemical feed and monitoring system for industrial water treatment, combining IEC 61131-1 programmable control with sensor conditioning, process monitoring, data logging, and remote access in a single unit. Sold to industrial facilities, OEMs, and engineering firms across North America.
- Portable Monitoring System Real-time local and remote monitoring system for process variables including halogen ORP, conductivity, cycles of concentration, pH, temperature, DATS III deposit accumulation, LPR corrosion, and microbiological monitoring. Used by industrial water treatment operators.
- Toroidal Conductivity Sensor Loop-powered 4-20mA toroidal electrode for fouling-solution conductivity measurement, eliminating polarization for accurate readings in industrial water treatment.
- Conductivity Sensor In-line and submersible conductivity sensors for continuous monitoring in pipes or tanks, constructed of Ryton with 3/4 MNPT threaded ends.
- pH Sensor Low-maintenance pH sensors with flat surface membrane, gel-filled reference, and annular junction design for processes prone to fouling.
- ORP (Redox) Sensor Oxidation-Reduction Potential sensors with flat surface design, gel-filled reference, and low-maintenance construction.
- LPR Corrosion Rate Sensor Inline corrosion rate monitoring using linear polarization resistance method for real-time general and localized corrosion measurements in water systems.
- Free Available Halogen Sensor Amperometric sensors for measurement of Free Chlorine, Chlorine dioxide, and Dissolved Ozone using the potentiostatic method.
- Selective Ion (ISE) Electrode Ion selective electrodes in multiple shapes and lengths for continuous concentration monitoring from 0.1 to 10,000 ppm.
- Inline Turbidimeter Inline turbidity monitoring sensor with NTU detection, infrared LED light source, and integrated 4-20mA and RS-485 outputs.
- Biofouling Monitor Inexpensive biological-fouling detection instrument using friction factor and flow measurement, transferable via 4-20mA signal.
- On-site Chlorine Generation System Sodium hypochlorite generation systems producing chlorine from salt, water, and electricity with capacities ranging from 2 to 3,000+.
- Chlorine Dioxide System On-site generation and dosing systems for disinfection using chlorine dioxide, effective in cold water with biofilm control.
- Gas Chlorination System Vacuum-operated gaseous chlorine feeders for disinfection of potable, process, and wastewater systems.
- Liquid Chlorination System Liquid bleach chlorination systems using pumps or injectors for delivery from holding tanks to treatment processes.
- Grundfos KP/KPV Split Case Centrifugal Pump Single-stage, non-self-priming centrifugal volute pumps with axially split design for easy maintenance and high efficiency.
- Grundfos Digital Dosing & Metering Pumps (DDA/DMH/DMX) Smart digital dosing and metering pumps (DDA, DMH, DMX series) with stepper motor drive, universal power supply, +/-1% repeatable accuracy, and turndown ratios from 1:10 to 1:3000.
- Milton Roy mRoy Metering Pump Industry standard high-performance hydraulic diaphragm metering pumps with flows up to 300gph and pressures up to 3,000psig.
- Neptune Series 500-8000 Dia-Pumps Hydraulically and mechanically actuated diaphragm metering pumps ranging from 15gph to 350gph with various material options.
- Koflo Clear PVC Static Mixer Clear PVC static mixer allowing visual inspection of mixed product with 6 or 12 element configurations.
- Koflo Teflon Static Mixer Threaded and flanged Teflon mixers for pH control and chemical blending with Hastelloy C-276 options.
- Koflo Series 365 Sludge Mixer Revolutionary static mixer handling fibrous slurries without plugging, for sludge conditioning and dewatering; delivers up to 40% cost savings on polymer usage through proper mixing.
- Reverse Osmosis System Water filtration systems using semi-permeable membranes to remove dissolved inorganic solids from water for industrial process use.
- Water Softeners and Demineralizers Custom-designed ion exchange solutions including softeners, dealkalizers, and demineralizers with various skid-mounting options.
- Sodium Hypochlorite Storage Tanks High-density polyethylene storage tanks rated at 1.9 specific gravity or higher for sodium hypochlorite storage.
- Solar/Wind Powered Off-grid Feed System Portable or permanent solar panel and wind generator systems for off-grid water treatment in remote locations.
- Boiler Feed Systems Customized boiler feed systems for batch make-down, in-line continuous, and on-demand boiler water treatment applications.
- Polymer Feed Systems (DCS/DCS-MD/DS Series) Polymer feed systems for water and wastewater applications with batch make-down, in-line continuous, and on-demand configurations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Extended Equipment Life through proper chemical feed and monitoring
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Design Controls
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Design Controls technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature5 records
Design Controls partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- GrundfoscoreMajor pump manufacturer partnership. Design Controls represents, distributes, and services Grundfos products including centrifugal pumps (PACO KP/KPV split case pumps) and metering pumps (DDA, DMH, DMX series).
- NeptunecoreNeptune Chemical Pump Co. partnership for diaphragm metering pumps including Series 500, 600, 7000, and 8000 dia-Pumps. Design Controls distributes complete Neptune pump lineup.
- Milton RoycoreMilton Roy partnership for metering pumps including MacRoy, mRoy, and Milroyal G series. Flows up to 300gph, pressures up to 3,000psig.
- KoflocoreKoflo static mixer partnership covering complete product line including teflon, stainless steel, PVC, sanitary, high viscosity, tube, sludge, and flanged mixers.
- ProMinentmajorProMinent product distribution including chemical metering pumps, controllers, and water treatment systems.
- WalchemmajorWalchem product distribution for water treatment instrumentation and controllers.
- Mettler ToledomajorAnalytical instrumentation partnership for pH, conductivity, and process analytics.
- EmersonmajorProcess automation and control systems partnership including Rosemount instrumentation and automation solutions.
- SiemensmajorIndustrial automation and control systems partnership including PLC controls and instrumentation.
- YokogawamajorProcess automation and control systems partnership for industrial water treatment applications.
- HACHmajorWater analysis instrumentation partnership for analytical probes and monitoring systems.
- Allen-BradleycorePLC controls integration partnership supporting Allen-Bradley programmable logic controllers for application-specific control systems.
- RedlioncorePLC controls integration partnership supporting Redlion controllers for industrial applications.
- OmroncorePLC controls integration partnership supporting Omron programmable logic controllers.
- IDECcorePLC controls integration partnership supporting IDEC controllers for industrial automation.
- CrouzetcorePLC controls integration partnership supporting Crouzet programmable controllers.
- Additional Manufacturers (40+)majorAdditional manufacturer partners including: Alldos, Flowrox, LMI, Stenner, Seepex, Stranco, Strantrol, Endress+Houser, ASI, Sensorex, Phoenix, Van London, Broadley James, ABB Hauser, Beckman, Fisher, Foxcroft, Morr, Autotrol, Aquasol, Accu-trol, Jandy, Pool Warden, Chemtrol, ATI, ChlorTec, Regal, Toshiba, Baldor, Altex, Pulsafeeder, Blue-White, Prominent, MIOX, Seametrics, FlowLine, Pepperl+Fuchs, and Pyxis.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Design Controls competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nalco Water (Ecolab): Nalco Water, an Ecolab division, is a global leader in industrial water treatment combining chemicals, equipment and digital monitoring (3D TRASAR). It overlaps directly with Design Controls across cooling, boiler and wastewater segments but operates at far greater scale with proprietary digital platforms.
- Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia Water Technologies supplies industrial water treatment systems, chemicals and services globally, including custom-engineered dosing, monitoring and process solutions for the same end markets Design Controls serves—boiler, cooling, raw water and wastewater.
- Pentair: Pentair manufactures water treatment and flow equipment for residential, commercial and industrial applications, including pumps, filtration and controls. While broader and more residential-skewed, its industrial portfolio competes with several product categories Design Controls distributes and integrates.
- Kurita Water Industries: Kurita is a global specialty water and process chemicals provider with strong industrial boiler and cooling water offerings, including monitoring and control hardware. It competes with Design Controls in industrial facilities that need integrated chemical-and-equipment programs.
- Evoqua Water Technologies: Evoqua supplies industrial water and wastewater treatment systems, specialty chemicals and service contracts across multiple industrial verticals. Its integrated treatment-and-service approach is directly analogous to Design Controls' equipment-plus-chemicals-plus-service model.
- Xylem: Xylem is a global water technology company spanning pumps, treatment, metering and analytics. Its portfolio of industrial pumps, instrumentation and digital monitoring overlaps with the equipment and ChemDACS-based monitoring capabilities Design Controls integrates for its customers.
Direct peers
- Chem-Aqua (NCH Corporation): Chem-Aqua provides water treatment chemicals, equipment and service programs for industrial and commercial customers, including cooling and boiler applications. Like Design Controls, it bundles chemical supply, dosing equipment and service contracts into a single customer relationship.
- USWater Systems: USWater Systems designs and installs custom water treatment equipment—including chemical feed, filtration, softening and reverse osmosis—for industrial and commercial customers. It is a smaller-scale integrator operating in a similar niche to Design Controls' custom skids and engineered systems business.
- ChemTreat: ChemTreat is one of the largest industrial water treatment specialists in North America, combining chemical programs with feed equipment, monitoring and field service for cooling, boiler and process water—directly comparable to Design Controls' integrated chemical feed + monitoring offering.
Others
- HACH: HACH is a leading manufacturer of water analysis instrumentation (pH, conductivity, turbidity, chlorine, etc.) and is already a partner of Design Controls. It is included as an adjacent, enabling peer because its analytical probes are integral to the ChemDACS systems Design Controls assembles and sells.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Design Controls social profiles
Digital presenceDesign Controls financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Design Controls leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Design Controls funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Design Controls 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 Design Controls
What does Design Controls do?
Design Controls designs, manufactures, and integrates chemical feed and automation systems for industrial water treatment applications. Its flagship ChemDACS™ platform combines programmable control, sensor conditioning, process monitoring, data logging, and remote access into integrated units, complemented by an extensive portfolio of analytical probes, pumps, static mixers, chlorination equipment, and custom skids. The company also provides engineering, fabrication, field service, FlowTeam thermal hydraulic audits, remote IIoT cloud monitoring, and systems integration to deliver turn-key water treatment solutions across North America and Canada.
Is Design Controls a public or private company?
Design Controls is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Design Controls founded?
Design Controls was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Design Controls based?
Design Controls is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Design Controls make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are professional Services, parts and Replacement Components, commodity Chemicals and service Contracts.
Who are Design Controls's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nalco Water (Ecolab), Veolia Water Technologies, Pentair, Kurita Water Industries, Evoqua Water Technologies and Xylem. Direct peers are Chem-Aqua (NCH Corporation), USWater Systems and ChemTreat. HACH is listed as an others.
Does Design Controls have an API?
No public API is recorded for Design Controls.
What industry is Design Controls in?
Design Controls's product category is Industrial Water Treatment Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABAJAK, Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors), with a secondary code of IMAEABAN, Water Treatment & Process Specialty Chemicals. Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.