Parker Research Corporation

What Parker Research Corporation does

Parker Research Corporation is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of portable magnetic particle inspection (MPI) instruments and related accessories, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Clearwater/Dunedin, Florida. The company designs and sells a broad hardware catalog built around its proprietary flexible-leg magnetic inspection yoke (the company describes itself as the originator of this design) and produces AC and half-wave rectified DC magnetic fields for surface and sub-surface defect detection in ferrous metals. Core product lines include high-amperage portable units (DA-750, DA-1500, DA-1500-DR at 750-1,500 Amp), contour probes and yokes across more than a dozen variants (including sealed-electronics IP65/IP68 units and underwater probes), portable magnetizing coils, permanent magnetic yokes, gaussmeters, calibration test bars, consumable magnetic particles, and a growing UV-A inspection product family. End markets are shipyards, aerospace manufacturers and MRO facilities, steel mills, foundries, weldment fabricators, and vehicle overhaul operations.

The business model is hardware sales through two channels: direct e-commerce via parkerndt.com (serving both U.S. and international customers, with unit prices ranging from approximately $17 for powder blowers to $7,399 for the DA-1500-DR) and a global independent distributor network covering the United States, Africa, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, and South America. The company supplements equipment sales with repair and calibration services and consumable accessories (replacement bulbs, magnetic particles, kits, cases) that generate follow-on revenue. Product compliance with MIL-STD-271E/F (Ships), NAVSEA-TB-T9074-AS-GIB-010/271, ASTM weight-lift standards, and ISO 3059 underwrites its positioning in regulated naval and aerospace inspection workflows. The organization is small (1-10 employees), appears founder/family-operated, and has no disclosed institutional funding or parent company.

Name

Parker Research Corporation

Legal name

Parker Research Corporation

Website

https://parkerndt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Parker Research Corporation is a 50-year-old Florida-based manufacturer of portable magnetic particle inspection instruments and accessories, serving shipyards, aerospace, steel mills, foundries, weldment fabricators, and vehicle overhaul operations worldwide via direct e-commerce and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Destructive Testing Equipment

NAICS

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

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Inspection, Checkweighing & Detection Systems (Vision, Metal, X-ray) (IMALAOAH)

Keywords

• Magnetic particle inspection
• Non-destructive testing equipment
• Portable magnetic yokes
• Contour probes
• UV inspection lights

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Magnetic Inspection Equipment Sales: Parker Research Corporation generates revenue primarily through the sale of magnetic particle inspection instruments and accessories. Products include high amp portable units, contour probes, yoke lights, portable coils, and related equipment sold as one-time purchases with varying price points from approximately $17 to over $7,000 per unit.
2. Accessories and Consumables: Sale of accessories including replacement bulbs, powder blowers, carrying cases, test bars, centrifuge tubes, and magnetic particles. These provide ongoing revenue opportunities after initial equipment purchase.
3. UV Lights and Measurement Equipment: Sale of UV inspection lamps, radiometers, and photometers for non-destructive testing applications. Products range from $43 to nearly $3,000, supporting both professional inspection and quality control workflows.
4. Repair and Calibration Services: The company offers repair and calibration services for their equipment, providing service revenue and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Parker Research Corporation designs and manufactures portable magnetic particle inspection (MPI) instruments and accessories used for non-destructive testing of ferrous metals. The product portfolio includes high-amp portable magnetic inspection units, flexible-leg contour probes, permanent magnetic yokes, portable magnetizing coils, UV-A inspection lamps, gaussmeters, radiometers, and consumables such as magnetic particles, test bars, and powder applicators. The company also sells branded UV inspection lights and provides repair and calibration services for its equipment.

Product overview

Parker Research Corporation is a manufacturer of magnetic particle inspection equipment and accessories, operating for over 50 years. The product portfolio centers on portable magnetic inspection instruments and consists of multiple product lines: High Amp Portable Magnetic Inspection Units (DA-1500, DA-1500-DR, DA-750 providing 750-1500 Amp capacity); Contour Probes (A-210, A-410, B-100, B-200, B-300, B300MR, B-310, DA-200, DA-400, P-2, PM-50, PM-50A, UW-12, UW-115) producing AC or DC magnetic fields for surface and sub-surface defect detection; Permanent Magnetic Yokes (PM-50, PM-50A kit); Portable Magnetizing Coils (PL-8, PL-8PDC, PL-10, PL-10PDC); Gaussmeters/Magnetic Field Indicators (MG25); and comprehensive accessories including yoke lights (Y-200/300/400 series and LED variants), powder applicators (PB-1, RB-1, RB-4), test bars (TB-10 series), kits (A Kit, PL-A Kit), cases (C-Case, PL-Case, S-CASE), and centrifuge tubes. The company also distributes UV Lights (Edg-13HC, EK-3000, OLX-365 series, OPX-365, SPN-CLR365-HC, UV-365SBLC, Vintage 365) and UV Spectacles (UVS-30) for fluorescent magnetic particle inspection, as well as the XRP-3000 radiometer/photometer kit for UV measurement. These products work together as a complete magnetic particle inspection system for non-destructive testing applications in aerospace, shipyard, steel mill, foundry, and vehicle overhaul industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Contour Probe: A registered trademark product line of Parker Research Corporation - portable magnetic inspection probes/yokes for magnetic particle inspection applications.

Products and services

• High Amp Portable Magnetic Inspection Units (DA-750, DA-1500, DA-1500-DR) Heavy-duty portable magnetic inspection units (750-1500 Amp capacity) producing high-output AC or Half Wave Rectified DC fields for magnetic particle inspection of large ferrous components in shipyards, steel mills, and heavy equipment maintenance.
• Contour Probes and Magnetic Yokes Handheld, articulating-leg magnetic yokes (A-210, A-410, B-100, B-200, B-300, B300MR, B-310, DA-200, DA-400, P-2) producing AC or DC fields for surface and sub-surface defect detection. Models available with sealed electronics (IP65/IP68) for underwater (UW-12, UW-115) and high-moisture use.
• Permanent Magnetic Yokes (PM-50, PM-50A Kit) Permanent-magnet MPI yokes requiring no external power, available individually or as the PM-50A kit with carrying case, powder applicator, and red and gray magnetic inspection powders. Used for portable inspections where electrical power is unavailable.
• Portable Magnetizing Coils (PL-8, PL-8PDC, PL-10, PL-10PDC) Portable magnetizing coils (PL-8, PL-10 series) for circumferential magnetization of ferrous parts; PDC variants produce half-wave rectified DC fields and can also be used for demagnetizing.
• UV-A Inspection Lights (Edg-13HC, EK-3000, OLX-365 Series, OPX-365, SPN-CLR365-HC, UV-365SBLC, Vintage 365) UV-A LED inspection lamps, flashlights, and headlamps for fluorescent magnetic particle inspection, including overhead, handheld, and headlamp models with various intensity and certification levels compliant with ASTM E3022-18, Rolls-Royce 90061, and ISO 3059.
• UVS-30 UV Absorbing Protective Safety Spectacles UV absorbing protective safety spectacles worn by NDT inspectors when operating UV-A inspection lamps.
• MG-25 Magnetic Field Indicator (Gaussmeter) Magnetic field indicator (gaussmeter) available with multiple Gauss ranges and optional calibration certification for verifying magnetic field strength during MPI procedures.
• XRP-3000 AccuMax NDT Radiometer/Photometer Kit Radiometer/photometer kit with dual-wavelength sensor and USB connection for measuring UV-A intensity during fluorescent MPI inspections.
• Yoke Lights (Y-200, Y-300, Y-400, YP20 Series and LED Variants) Molded inspection lights designed to mount on specific Contour Probe models, producing close-in illumination from the AC magnetic field induction of the yoke (no wiring required). LED and incandescent variants available.
• Magnetic Inspection Particles (Red and Gray Powders) Red and gray dry magnetic inspection powders (consumables) used in MPI applications to reveal surface and sub-surface defects in ferrous metals.
• Calibration Test Bars and Field Indicators (TB-10 Series, NA-16, MG-50, MG-02) Weight-lift and notch defect test bars (TB-10, TB10-SP, TB10S-4, TB10S-5, NA-16), pie gauges (MG-50), and field flux strips (MG-02) used to certify and calibrate MPI yokes and verify compliance with MIL-STD-271E/F and NAVSEA specifications.
• Powder Application and Removal Accessories (PB-1, RB-1, RB-4) Handheld magnetic powder blower (PB-1), powder removal bulb (RB-1), and rubber powder applicator (RB-4) for controlled application and removal of magnetic inspection powder during MPI procedures.
• Centrifuge Tubes and Concentration Measurement (MG-10 Series) 100ml centrifuge tubes (MG-10T, MG-10TNF-C, MG-10TF-C) and stands (MG-10S) used for measuring magnetic particle concentration in wet-method fluorescent and non-fluorescent MPI baths.
• High Amp Portable Accessories and Cables (MA-7000 Series, MC-1540/1541, TR-700) Accessories for High Amp Portable units including individual and dual prod sets, braided contact clamps, either-end connectors and lug adapters, remote foot switch cables, replacement prod tips (aluminum/copper), rubber insulators, 15-foot 4/0 cable sets, and a transport truck (TR-700) for DA-750 and DA-1500 units.
• Carrying Cases and Kits (A Kit, PL-A Kit, C-Case, PL-Case, S-CASE) Kits (A Kit, PL-A Kit) and carrying cases (C-Case, PL-Case, S-CASE) for storing and transporting Contour Probes and MPI accessories.
• Repair and Calibration Services Factory repair and calibration services for Parker Research magnetic particle inspection equipment, supporting customer retention and ongoing service revenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products exceed ASTM 10 lb weight-lift requirement
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sonatest: Sonatest manufactures ultrasonic flaw detectors, thickness gauges, and NDT accessories for industrial inspection markets. While primarily an UT-focused player, it overlaps with Parker in serving the same aerospace, manufacturing, and oil & gas customer base for NDT equipment.
• Evident (formerly Olympus Industrial): Evident manufactures a broad portfolio of NDT instruments including ultrasonic, eddy current, radiographic, and visual inspection equipment serving aerospace, oil & gas, and manufacturing. While not focused exclusively on MPI, it competes for the same NDT budget allocations at large industrial customers.
• Mistras Group: Mistras Group is a major NDT services and equipment provider serving aerospace, energy, and infrastructure markets. While primarily services-led, its equipment product line and integrated inspection offerings overlap with Parker's customer segments and use cases.
• Baker Hughes Waygate Technologies: Waygate Technologies (a Baker Hughes business) supplies industrial inspection equipment and services including remote visual inspection, ultrasonic testing, and radiographic systems. It competes with Parker for inspection budgets at large aerospace and energy customers.

Direct peers

• Magnetic Analysis Corporation: MAC is a long-standing U.S. manufacturer of non-destructive testing equipment including eddy current and magnetic particle inspection systems. It directly competes with Parker in MPI equipment, particularly for in-line and heavy industrial applications.
• Magnaflux (Illinois Tool Works): Magnaflux is the most direct competitor to Parker Research, offering a full line of magnetic particle inspection equipment, yokes, particles, and UV inspection lamps for industrial NDT. It is owned by Illinois Tool Works, giving it substantially greater scale and enterprise sales coverage than Parker.
• Foerster Instruments: Foerster Group manufactures magnetic testing instruments including coercimeters, fluxmeters, and magnetic particle testing equipment. It directly overlaps Parker in magnetic NDT instrumentation, particularly for industrial quality control of ferrous materials.

Emerging players

• Eddyfi Technologies (Prevost / NDT Global): Eddyfi focuses on advanced NDT technologies including eddy current array and phased-array ultrasonic testing, serving oil & gas, power generation, and aerospace. It represents the digital NDT modality that could substitute for traditional MPI in Parker's core markets.
• Stresstech Group: Stresstech provides residual stress measurement and non-destructive testing equipment, including Barkhausen noise analyzers that compete with magnetic NDT methods. It serves similar metalworking and aerospace customers as Parker.

Regional players

• NDT Supply.com: NDT Supply.com is a U.S. distributor and reseller of NDT equipment from multiple manufacturers including magnetic particle, ultrasonic, and dye penetrant inspection products. It is comparable to Parker's distribution channel rather than its manufacturing, but overlaps in serving the same end customers with MPI gear.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Parker Research Corporation