Quartzlock
Quartzlock designs and manufactures precise frequency standards, time references, oscillators, frequency converters, and stability analyzers for defense, aerospace, telecommunications, and national measurement institute customers requiring ultra-low-noise atomic and GPS-disciplined timing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersBurgess Hill, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Quartzlock does
Quartzlock (legally HCD Research Ltd, a private limited company registered in England) designs and manufactures precise frequency standards, time references, oscillators, frequency converters and stability analyzers for B2B customers with stringent timing and frequency requirements. The company is based in Burgess Hill, United Kingdom, with a small engineering team (11–50 employees) and operates an in-house Active Hydrogen Maser Standards Laboratory used for production test, calibration, and quality assurance. Its proprietary technology stack includes Active Noise Filter Clean Technology, three-state Kalman Filter algorithms for 1PPS timing, and SMAC (Sub Miniature Atomic Clock) technology applied across rubidium and hydrogen maser frequency references, GPS-disciplined oscillators, OCXOs, distribution amplifiers, timing modules, and signal stability analyzers.
The product portfolio spans Frequency References (rubidium instruments such as the A1000 and A10-M, plus GPS instruments such as the E8-X, E8000, and E80-GPS), Rubidium Oscillators (E10-MRO, E10-MRX, E10-LN, A10-HPRO, E10-CPT CPT atomic clock, and the space-qualified E10-SPC), Distribution Amplifiers, Frequency Converters, Timing Modules (A6-CPS, A6-ANF, A6-1PPS), OCXO products (QL701/703/720), the A7000 Signal Stability Analyser, an E6-SS universal reference source, and a Bespoke product line for custom designs. Quartzlock sells primarily through direct enterprise field sales (phone, email, website) and supports international markets through country-specific representatives in ten countries. Pricing is ex-works in GBP, with bespoke contracts structured as multi-year agreements; product-level pricing is not publicly disclosed. Calibration and maintenance services tied to the hydrogen maser laboratory are offered with NIST traceable certifications.
The customer base is concentrated in defense and security (BAe Systems, UK MoD, German Defence Agency, Pakistan Defence Agency, Lockheed, L3), aerospace and space (Astrium, CNES, Cobham, EADS, Chinese Space Industry), telecommunications (Motorola, QinetiQ), test and measurement (Aeroflex, Agilent, Rakon), and national measurement institutes and research organizations (Wuhan Maths Institute). ISO 9001 compliance, NIST traceability, and NPL referenced standards support qualification for these procurement environments. Revenue mechanics are dominated by one-time equipment sales with a smaller but stable stream of professional services (calibration and bespoke engineering); no recurring subscription or platform-revenue model is evident.
Quartzlock firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Quartzlock
- Legal name
- HCD Research Ltd
- Website
- https://quartzlock.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Quartzlock designs and manufactures precise frequency standards, time references, oscillators, frequency converters, and stability analyzers for defense, aerospace, telecommunications, and national measurement institute customers requiring ultra-low-noise atomic and GPS-disciplined timing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Quartzlock industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Time and Frequency Instrumentation
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oscillators & Frequency Standards (OCXO/Rubidium/Cesium/Chip-Scale Atomic) (HDAFAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Timing, Frequency & Oscillator Components (Crystals, oscillators, resonators, clock generators) (IMAGAJAH), Frequency Control Components (Quartz Crystals/Oscillators/Resonators) (HDAHANAF), RF MEMS & Resonators (SAW/BAW/Filters/Timing) (HDAHALAI)
Keywords
Where Quartzlock is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burgess Hill
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Quartzlock business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Precision Frequency Standards and Instruments: Sale of rubidium frequency standards, GPS disciplined oscillators, OCXOs, distribution amplifiers, timing modules, and signal analyzers. Products range from portable field units to rack-mount laboratory instruments.
- Custom/Bespoke Products: Design and manufacture of bespoke products to meet specific business and technical requirements
- Calibration and Maintenance Services: Calibration services leveraging their hydrogen maser laboratory, with NIST traceable certifications
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Bespoke/Custom Products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Quartzlock product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Quartzlock designs, manufactures and supplies precision time and frequency reference instruments — including rubidium atomic clocks, GPS-disciplined frequency standards, oven-controlled oscillators (OCXOs), distribution amplifiers, frequency converters, 1PPS timing modules and signal stability analyzers — for defense, telecommunications, national metrology, and space applications. The company also delivers bespoke custom-engineered frequency reference solutions and NIST-traceable calibration services supported by an in-house Active Hydrogen Maser laboratory.
Product overview
Quartzlock is a precision time and frequency instrumentation company offering a comprehensive portfolio of atomic, GPS-based, and crystal oscillator products. The product range spans Frequency References (Rubidium instruments including A1000, A10-M, E10-P, E10-X, E10-Y8, A1000A; GPS instruments including E8-X, E8000, E8-Y, E8010, E10-GPS, E8000-TT, E80-GPS), Rubidium Oscillators (E10-MRO, E10-MRX, E10-LN, A10-HPRO, E10-CPT, E10-SPC space-qualified), Signal Analysis (A7000 stability analyzer), Distribution Amplifiers (A5000P, E5-6, E5-6P, E5000, E5-MX, A5-8), Frequency Conversion (A6, A6000-E1), Timing Modules (A6-CPS, A6-ANF, A6-1PPS), OCXO products (QL703, QL701, QL720), and Frequency Generation (E6-SS signal source). The platform architecture supports flexible configurations with multiple output options, integration capabilities, and bespoke customization for mission-critical applications in telecommunications, defense, metrology, and satellite communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SMAC: Sub Miniature Atomic Clock technology used in portable rubidium frequency reference products
- Active Noise Filter
Products and services
- A1000 Rubidium Atomic Clock 1U rack-mounted rubidium atomic clock frequency reference with exceptionally low drift, typically 8x10-13/day at 10MHz output, featuring a 3-year warranty and flexible output options for defense, telecom and metrology applications.
- A10-M Ultra Low Noise 10MHz Rubidium Frequency Standard Ultra Low Noise 10MHz Rubidium Frequency Standard in 2U rack-mount form with RS232 monitoring/control of DPLL, phase noise to -115dBc/Hz @ 1Hz offset and a noise floor of -170dBc/Hz.
- E10-P Portable Rubidium Frequency Reference Compact, lightweight portable rubidium frequency reference with rechargeable battery (10 hours life), SMAC technology, -95dBc/Hz phase noise and 8x10-12/100s stability for field telecom and metrology test/measurement.
- E10-Y8 Compact Multi-Output Rubidium Frequency Reference Compact desk-top atomic frequency reference delivering up to 8 separate instrument outputs, -110dBc/Hz @ 1Hz phase noise, 2x10-12 @ 1s stability and <5x10-12/day drift.
- A1000A Rubidium Atomic Master Audio Clock Rubidium atomic master audio clock based on the E10-LNA Very Low Noise Rubidium Oscillator Module with Active Noise Filter technology, -157dBc/Hz noise floor and 0.002ppb/s stability for broadcast/audio.
- E10-X Desktop Rubidium Frequency Reference Desktop miniature atomic clock with 10MHz sine-wave 50 Ohm output, SMAC technology, -95dBc/Hz phase noise and 8x10-12/100s stability.
- E8-X Miniature GPS Disciplined TCXO Frequency Standard Miniature GPS Disciplined TCXO frequency standard, calibration-free and traceable, with STS1s of 2x10-10 and a production life of over 30 years for telecom, broadcast and instrumentation.
- E8000 GPS Disciplined TCXO Frequency Reference 1U rack-mount GPS Disciplined TCXO frequency reference, exceptionally low cost, calibration-free, with optional ultra-low-noise phase noise configuration.
- E8-Y GPS Disciplined OCXO Frequency Standard GPS Disciplined OCXO frequency standard in miniature bench-mount form, with <1x10-12 accuracy, 10MHz output upgradable to 100MHz.
- E8010 GPS Disciplined Rubidium Frequency Standard 1U rack-mount GPS Disciplined Rubidium Frequency Standard, ultra-low cost, calibration-free operation, with low noise options of -112dBc/Hz @ 1Hz offset.
- E10-GPS Miniature OEM GPS Disciplined Rubidium Frequency Reference Miniature OEM GPS Disciplined Rubidium Frequency Reference, calibration-free with STS1s of 3x10-11 for integration into base stations and optical network nodes.
- E8000-TT GPS Frequency and Time Transfer Reference GPS Frequency and Time Transfer Reference with Kalman filter for 1PPS smoothing, <1ns RMS short-term phase jitter and a 1-year warranty.
- E80-GPS Stratum 1 Primary Reference Clock GPS Time and Frequency Reference with 1x10-12 accuracy and 50ns 1PPS accuracy to UTC, serving as a Stratum 1 primary reference clock with RS232 NMEA NTP time reference.
- E10-MRO Compact Miniature Rubidium Oscillator Compact miniature rubidium oscillator with phase noise to -165dBc/Hz and 1x10-11/s stability; available with optional 1PPS I/O sync for OEM integration.
- E10-MRX Sub-Miniature Atomic Clock (SMAC) Sub-Miniature Atomic Clock with 10MHz sine-wave 50 Ohm output, only 51x51x25mm and <150g mass, with -95dBc/Hz phase noise for portable and embedded applications.
- E10-LN Low Noise Rubidium Oscillator Module Low Noise Rubidium Oscillator Module with -115dBc/Hz at 1Hz phase noise and <2E-12/s short-term stability, using Active Noise Filter Clean Technology.
- A10-HPRO LPRO-Compatible Rubidium Oscillator LPRO-compatible rubidium oscillator with -160dBc/Hz low phase noise and 1.5x10-11/1s stability, with optional RS232 and GPS interface options.
- E10-CPT Coherent Population Trap (CPT) Atomic Clock CPT atomic clock using a laser spectrum lamp instead of a traditional cavity, with low power consumption <1.5W and MEMS-based miniaturization for portable use.
- E10-SPC Space-Qualified Rubidium Oscillator Space-qualified rubidium oscillator for satellite navigation systems, intelligence/reconnaissance satellites, military communication satellites and space stations.
- A7000 Signal Stability Analyser Signal stability analyser measuring frequency standards, oscillators and passive devices from 3MHz to 919MHz, with real-time Allan variance plotting and phase noise analysis for laboratory and production test.
- A5000P Pulse Distribution Amplifier 1U rack-mount pulse distribution amplifier with adjustable input level, 6 outputs (up to 12 available) and STS10s of 1.5x10-14.
- E5-6 Bench-Top RF Distribution Amplifier Compact bench-top RF distribution amplifier (105x128x38mm) with 1MHz-100MHz bandwidth and 6 outputs for laboratory and production test.
- E5-6P Bench-Top Pulse Distribution Amplifier Very-low-cost, small bench-top pulse distribution amplifier with excellent short-term stability and phase noise performance.
- E5000 1U Rack-Mount Distribution Amplifier 1U rack-mount distribution amplifier with 1 input / 12 outputs, -132dBc/Hz @ 1Hz phase noise and 90dB @ 10MHz isolation.
- E5-MX 1U 2-Input / 12-Output Distribution Amplifier 1U 2-input / 12-output distribution amplifier with >80dB at 10MHz isolation and adjustable 0dBm to +16dBm output level.
- A5-8 High-Performance Distribution Amplifier High-performance distribution amplifier with 8 outputs, -140dBc/Hz @ 1Hz phase noise and hydrogen-maser-compatible performance for metrology-grade signal distribution.
- A6 Metrology Frequency Converter Metrology-performance frequency converter for maser/caesium-compatible applications, converting 5 or 10MHz to 1Hz, 1PPS, 0.1MHz, 5MHz and other frequencies.
- A6000-E1 E1 Frequency Converter 1U rack-mount frequency converter from 10MHz input to 2048kHz E1 output for telecom synchronization using rubidium, caesium or hydrogen maser standards.
- A6-CPS Configurable Digital Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) Configurable digital phase-locked loop (PLL) with direct digital synthesizer and clean-up loop, customizable and shipped ready for production.
- A6-ANF Active Noise Filter Module Active Noise Filter module with Ultra Low Noise SC OCXO using Clean Technology; phase noise of -110dBc/Hz @ 1Hz and -160dBc/Hz @ 10kHz.
- A6-1PPS 1PPS Locking Module 1PPS locking module using a three-state Kalman filter algorithm to measure and correct frequency offset, with 200ps time-tagging resolution and <1ns jitter.
- QL703 High-Stability Oven Controlled Oscillator (OCXO) High-stability oven controlled oscillator driven by SC-cut crystal with excellent phase noise; hermetically sealed 50x50mm package configurable from 5-100MHz.
- QL701 High-Stability Oven Controlled Oscillator (OCXO) High-stability oven controlled oscillator with SC-cut crystal, excellent phase noise and Allan deviation, designed and manufactured in the UK.
- QL720 Chassis-Mount High-Stability OCXO Chassis-mount high-stability oven controlled oscillator with SC-cut crystal, excellent phase noise and Allan deviation for precision applications.
- E6-SS Universal Reference Source Signal Generator Universal reference source signal generator for 380kHz to 3GHz with <-106dBc @ 10kHz offset low phase noise and ASK/FSK modulation modes.
- Bespoke Custom Frequency Reference Products Custom-designed and manufactured frequency reference products engineered to meet specific business and technical requirements, delivered under multi-year contracts.
- Calibration and Maintenance Services Calibration and maintenance services using Quartzlock's in-house Active Hydrogen Maser laboratory, delivering NIST-traceable calibration certifications for customer frequency reference equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Close-in Phase Noise of -123dBc/Hz@1Hz offset
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Quartzlock
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Quartzlock technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Quartzlock partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Technical SystemsminorCanadian representative for Quartzlock products
- QuartztimeminorChinese representative for Quartzlock products
- ARCALE - Groupe SPHEREAminorFrench representative for Quartzlock products
- Sincron Sistemi S.r.lminorItalian representative for Quartzlock products
- FusohminorJapanese representative for Quartzlock products
- Sungwha TechminorKorean representative for Quartzlock products
- HIK-ConsultingminorPolish representative for Quartzlock products
- Pinto Basto Electrotecnia e Maquinas LdAminorPortuguese representative for Quartzlock products
- Instrumentos De Medida S.LminorSpanish representative for Quartzlock products
- emitec messtechnik agminorSwiss representative for Quartzlock products
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Quartzlock competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oscilloquartz (ADVA Optical Networking): Timing and synchronization division within ADVA supplying cesium, rubidium, and GPS-disciplined oscillators as well as PTP grandmasters to global telecom operators — a direct competitor in carrier-grade timing.
- Wenzel Associates: US niche vendor of ultra-low-noise oscillators, distribution amplifiers, and frequency references targeting defense and metrology — directly comparable specialist positioning to Quartzlock.
- Spectracom (Safran Electronics & Defense): Brand within Safran focused on precise time and frequency references, including GPS-disciplined clocks and rubidium oscillators for defense and telecom — overlapping product and customer set with Quartzlock.
- FEI-Zyfer: Manufacturer of precision time and frequency products, including GPS-disciplined oscillators and cesium standards, primarily for US defense and government customers — overlapping product/market profile with Quartzlock.
- Stanford Research Systems: US-based precision test and measurement instrumentation maker offering rubidium frequency standards, distribution amplifiers, and signal analyzers — directly comparable product categories and metrology customer base.
- Chronos Technology: UK-based specialist in timing, synchronization, and GNSS; distributes and integrates precision timing solutions for telecom, defense, and finance — overlapping geography and customer set with Quartzlock.
- Meinberg: German specialist in precision time and frequency synchronization, including GPS-disciplined oscillators, NTP/PTP grandmasters, and rubidium references. Closely comparable in target customers (defense, telecom, metrology) and product architecture.
- Vectron International (Knowles Precision Devices): Supplier of crystal oscillators, OCXOs, and timing filters for telecom, defense, and aerospace. Comparable in frequency-control product lines and end markets, though larger and broader in catalog.
Emerging players
- AccuBeat: Israel-based maker of ultra-stable rubidium and CPT atomic clocks for defense, aerospace, and timing applications. A smaller specialist peer targeting overlapping mission-critical timing programs.
Broad incumbents
- Microchip Technology (Frequency & Time Systems): Major semiconductor vendor with a substantial timing and synchronization portfolio (including the former Symmetricom line) serving telecom, defense, and metrology. Competes broadly with Quartzlock but with far greater scale and R&D budget.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Quartzlock social profiles
Digital presenceQuartzlock compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Quartzlock financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Quartzlock leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Quartzlock funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Quartzlock 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 Quartzlock
What does Quartzlock do?
Quartzlock designs, manufactures and supplies precision time and frequency reference instruments — including rubidium atomic clocks, GPS-disciplined frequency standards, oven-controlled oscillators (OCXOs), distribution amplifiers, frequency converters, 1PPS timing modules and signal stability analyzers — for defense, telecommunications, national metrology, and space applications. The company also delivers bespoke custom-engineered frequency reference solutions and NIST-traceable calibration services supported by an in-house Active Hydrogen Maser laboratory.
Is Quartzlock a public or private company?
Quartzlock is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Quartzlock founded?
Quartzlock was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Quartzlock based?
Quartzlock is headquartered in Burgess Hill, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Quartzlock make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Precision Frequency Standards and Instruments are the primary driver. The others are custom/Bespoke Products and calibration and Maintenance Services.
Who are Quartzlock's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oscilloquartz (ADVA Optical Networking), Wenzel Associates, Spectracom (Safran Electronics & Defense), FEI-Zyfer, Stanford Research Systems, Chronos Technology, Meinberg and Vectron International (Knowles Precision Devices). AccuBeat is listed as an emerging player. Microchip Technology (Frequency & Time Systems) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Quartzlock have an API?
No public API is recorded for Quartzlock.
What industry is Quartzlock in?
Quartzlock's product category is Precision Time and Frequency Instrumentation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFAKAG, Oscillators & Frequency Standards (OCXO/Rubidium/Cesium/Chip-Scale Atomic), with a secondary code of IMAGAJAH, Timing, Frequency & Oscillator Components (Crystals, oscillators, resonators, clock generators). Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3825.