What EKO Instruments does

EKO Instruments Co., Ltd. is a privately held Japanese manufacturer of precision solar and environmental measurement instruments, founded in 1927 in Osaka and headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. The company builds pyranometers (Class A MS-80SH, Class B MS-60S, low-cost MS-40S, silicon ML-01), heat flux sensors (HF-01S, HF-01SG, HF-30S), sun trackers (STR-21G/22G/32G), albedometers, solar monitoring stations (MS-80SH Plus+), all-sky imagers (ASI-16), and sunshine duration sensors — all engineered to ISO 9060, ASTM C1046, ISO 9869, and IEC 61724-1 standards. EKO differentiates itself as the only solar sensor manufacturer globally that owns and operates its own photovoltaic plants (Ami & Inashiki, ~2.8 GWh annual capacity), giving the company a closed-loop R&D testbed unavailable to competitors. The firm holds ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 9001, and ISO 27001 certifications, reflecting calibrated accuracy, quality management, and information security discipline.

EKO generates revenue through three streams: (1) hardware sales of sensors, monitoring stations, sun trackers, and accessories; (2) software and services, including the EKO Q cloud-based irradiance data validation platform (subscription/recurring), EKO Academy training programs, and the ICF-02 irradiance calibration facility; and (3) engineering consultation and custom solutions. The go-to-market combines direct regional sales teams covering Europe, Asia, USA, and Japan with a global distributor network for mid-market reach. Primary customers are solar power plant operators (PV performance optimization and IEC 61724-1 compliance), research institutions and meteorological agencies (e.g., TU Delft, AEMET, universities worldwide), and building/construction firms conducting thermal and U-value measurements. With approximately 60 employees and nearly a century of brand heritage, EKO operates as a stable, niche specialty-instrument business without disclosed external funding.

Name

EKO Instruments

Legal name

EKO Instruments Co., Ltd.

Website

https://eko-instruments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

EKO Instruments is a Japanese manufacturer founded in 1927 that builds precision solar radiation and environmental measurement sensors — pyranometers, heat flux sensors, sun trackers, and albedometers — serving solar energy operators, meteorological agencies, and research institutions worldwide, uniquely validated through its own operating PV plants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Measurement Instruments

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Safety Monitoring Instruments (Air quality, emissions, radiation, noise, gas detection) (IMAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services) (IMAGAFAH), Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA), Metrology, Calibration & Testing Equipment (Balances, pH/DO, Standards) (HLAGAIAL)

Keywords

• Solar radiation sensors
• Pyranometer instruments
• Heat flux measurement
• Solar monitoring stations
• Meteorological instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Instrument Sales: Sale of scientific measurement instruments including pyranometers, heat flux sensors, sun trackers, and accessories for solar energy monitoring, meteorological applications, and research.
2. Software and Services: Software solutions like EKO Q for data validation, recalibration services, maintenance and repair, and engineering consultation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EKO Instruments manufactures and sells scientific measurement instruments for solar radiation and environmental sensing, including pyranometers, heat flux sensors, sun trackers, albedometers, and all-sky imagers. The portfolio is complemented by the EKO Q data validation software for IEC 61724-1 compliance, the ICF-02 calibration facility, EKO Academy training services, and accessories such as ventilator/heaters, tilt sensors, and extension kits. Customers include solar power plant operators, meteorological agencies, universities, and building researchers.

Product overview

EKO Instruments is a sensor manufacturing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of solar and environmental measurement instruments. The product line includes Class A, B, and affordable pyranometers (MS-80SH, MS-60S, MS-40S, ML-01) for global, diffuse, and direct irradiance measurement; heat flux sensors (HF-01S, HF-01SG, HF-30S) for thermal building research; all-in-one solar monitoring stations (MS-80SH Plus+); single-arm 2-axis sun trackers (STR-21G, STR-22G, STR-32G); albedometers for surface reflectance; the ASI-16 all-sky imager for solar forecasting; and sunshine duration sensors. The portfolio is complemented by accessories (ventilator/heaters, tilt sensors, RTD PT1000, extension cables) and software platforms (EKO Q for irradiance data validation). EKO also operates its own solar parks in Japan for product testing and validation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EKO Q: Cloud-based software platform for solar monitoring data validation and IEC 61724-1 compliance automation.
• EKO Academy
• ICF-02

Products and services

• MS-80SH Pyranometer Class A pyranometer with integrated dome heating, spectrally flat response, and fast response time for accurate solar irradiance measurement. ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Designed for solar power plant monitoring, meteorological observations, and climate research.
• MS-60S Pyranometer Compact Class B analog pyranometer designed for photovoltaic applications, providing solar irradiance measurement for PV plant monitoring.
• MS-40S Pyranometer Low-cost pyranometer for solar irradiance measurement applications in PV monitoring and meteorological networks.
• ML-01 Si-Pyranometer Silicon pyranometer for solar irradiance measurement in PV and environmental monitoring applications.
• HF-01S Heat Flux Sensor Small-size standard plate-type heat flux sensor with built-in thermal guard for building envelope thermal performance and U-value measurements. Complies with ASTM C1046 and ISO 9869.
• HF-01SG Heat Flux Sensor Heat flux sensor designed for soil and ground thermal measurement applications such as ground heat flux monitoring.
• HF-30S Heat Flux Sensor Heat flux sensor for various thermal measurement applications in building and HVAC testing.
• MS-80SH Plus+ Solar Monitoring Station All-in-one solar monitoring station for measuring Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI), and Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) for PV plant monitoring.
• STR-21G Sun Tracker Single-arm, 2-axis sun tracker with fully automated setup and low power consumption for precise pyrheliometer positioning. Aligned with ISO 9060 standards.
• STR-22G Sun Tracker 2-axis sun tracker designed for precise solar positioning in monitoring stations and atmospheric research.
• STR-32G Sun Tracker Sun tracker for solar monitoring and atmospheric research applications requiring precise solar tracking.
• ASI-16 All Sky Imager All-weather automatic all-sky camera with integrated ventilator and heater system for live hemispheric sky imagery used in solar forecasting applications.
• MS-95S SD Sensor High-precision sunshine duration sensor for meteorological applications and weather observation networks.
• MS-80SH Albedometer Albedometer based on the MS-80SH pyranometer for measuring surface albedo (reflected solar radiation).
• MS-60S Albedometer Albedometer based on the MS-60S pyranometer for surface albedo measurements.
• MS-40S Albedometer Albedometer based on the MS-40S pyranometer for surface albedo measurements.
• MV-01 Ventilator & Heater Ventilator and heater accessory for pyranometers to ensure accurate measurements in varying environmental conditions.
• MS-Albedo MV Kit Albedo measurement kit for measuring reflected solar radiation from surfaces.
• RTD PT1000 RTD PT1000 platinum resistance temperature sensor for environmental monitoring applications.
• MS-Tilt Tilt sensor for measuring panel or instrument angle in PV installations and monitoring stations.
• Extension Package for Heat Flux Sensor Extension cable set with connectors for heat flux sensor installation in field and building applications.
• EKO Q Cloud-based irradiance data validation platform that automates IEC 61724-1 compliance and quality control for solar monitoring data, replacing error-prone manual Excel workflows.
• EKO Academy PV industry training and professional development education services for customers and partners on solar monitoring and instrumentation.
• ICF-02 Irradiance Calibration Facility Irradiance calibration facility providing precision solar sensor calibration services to maintain measurement traceability for EKO and customer instruments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 2.8 GWh annual power generation capacity from company-owned PV plants

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TU DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKO Instruments collaborates with TU Delft on building research, specifically validating in-situ U-value measurements on building facades using the HF-01S Heat Flux Sensor. This partnership supports scientific research and provides academic validation for EKO's thermal measurement technologies.
• Universities and Research Institutes WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKO Instruments works closely with universities, research institutes, and meteorological organizations worldwide to support scientific research on solar radiation, atmospheric sciences, and renewable energy monitoring. Their precision instruments are used in research projects to improve accuracy of solar irradiance and spectral measurements.
• AEMET (State Meteorological Agency of Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with AEMET on atmospheric insights research involving irradiance, aerosols, and forecasting studies using EKO instruments including MS-711 spectroradiometers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Vaisala: Large Finnish environmental and industrial measurement company offering weather stations, solar radiation sensors, and a global service network. Overlaps with EKO's meteorological and PV monitoring segments but with much broader scope.

Direct peers

• Campbell Scientific: Supplies dataloggers and integrated meteorological/solar monitoring systems including pyranometers, often partnering with or competing against EKO sensors in turnkey solar and climate research installations.
• Eppley Laboratory: Long-established US maker of precision radiometers and pyranometers for atmospheric and solar research. Direct overlap with EKO's Class A pyranometer offering in research and meteorological networks.
• Apogee Instruments: Manufactures pyranometers, quantum sensors, and a broad environmental sensor line targeting research and agricultural/atmospheric applications. Competes with EKO in silicon pyranometers and research-grade irradiance sensors.
• Hukseflux Thermal Sensors: Dutch specialist manufacturer of heat flux and thermal sensors plus solar radiation instruments. Closely overlaps EKO's pyranometer and heat flux product lines and competes for the same research and PV monitoring customers.
• Kipp & Zonen (OTT HydroMet): Direct peer in pyranometers, pyrheliometers, albedometers, and sun trackers for solar and meteorological applications. Now part of OTT HydroMet, giving it broader scale and a comparable Class A instrument portfolio.

Emerging players

• Davis Instruments: US-based weather station maker including solar radiation and UV sensors. Partial overlap with EKO in entry-level irradiance measurement, primarily in agricultural and consumer-adjacent segments.
• LI-COR Biosciences: Manufactures high-precision radiation and gas measurement instruments including quantum sensors and spectroradiometers. Competes with EKO in research-grade atmospheric and plant-science applications.
• Spectrafy: Canadian startup producing silicon-cell pyranometers and spectroradiometers for solar resource assessment and PV monitoring. Emerging competitor focused on cost-effective alternatives to traditional thermopile pyranometers.

Regional players

• Reeve Electronics (Ingenieurbüro): German manufacturer of pyranometers and PV monitoring electronics serving European PV operators and research institutes. Regional alternative to EKO's Class B/C offerings in European tenders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdY-w-KMXxal6IsOXqc3gLQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eko-instruments

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 EKO Instruments