What usi technologies does

USI Technologies, founded in 1979 in St. Louis, Missouri as Update Systems, is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of precision electric actuators and custom electronic controllers serving OEMs across medical, industrial, defense, energy, chemical, water/wastewater, and commercial-vehicle end markets. Its core product line centers on the SmartStep family of actuators — currently in its fourth generation as the SmartStep X-Series launched in 2023-08 with hazardous-location rating, modular field-replaceable control and power modules, multi-turn capability, and Ethernet connectivity — alongside the third-generation XT Series actuator featuring NEMA 4X enclosure, non-contact position sensing, and a proprietary SuperCap capacitor backup system with a greater than 10-year lifespan. The company also designs and manufactures bespoke Industrial Controllers (touchscreen controllers, rugged single-board systems, networking controllers supporting CANBUS, MODBUS, Ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth) and has produced over 300,000 circuit boards for OEM customers. USI has also branched into LED lighting fixtures (High Bay, US Low Bay, and Citadel Series Vapor Tight), leveraging its electronics manufacturing capability into commercial illumination products.

The company operates a direct-sales model supplemented by local distributors that provide firmware access and product distribution, with quote-based pricing on both catalog hardware and custom design engagements. Revenue derives from three streams: precision electric actuator hardware sales, custom electronics manufacturing for OEM clients, and professional-services software/firmware development bundled with controller projects. All products are designed and manufactured in the USA at the company's St. Louis headquarters, supporting Buy American Act compliance and UL/CUL and CE certifications that position USI for regulated and federally funded procurement. The company is founder-owned, has no disclosed institutional investors, no acquisitions, no parent company, and no management team listed in public materials, consistent with a closely held, small-to-mid-cap industrial manufacturer.

Name

usi technologies

Legal name

USI Technologies

Website

https://usi-technologies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Short description

USI Technologies, founded 1979 in St. Louis as Update Systems, manufactures precision electric actuators (SmartStep X-Series, XT Series) and custom electronic controllers for medical, industrial, defense, energy, and OEM customers, with all products designed and made in the USA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Actuators and Controls

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive ECUs/Control Modules & Embedded Electronics Manufacturing (IMACAJAC), EV/Industrial Charging Power Electronics (Chargers, rectifiers, power stages) (IMAGADAF)

Keywords

• Precision electric actuators
• Custom electronic controllers
• Industrial automation hardware
• LED lighting fixtures
• Circuit board manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Electronics Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of custom electronic controllers for industrial, medical, defense, and commercial applications. Products include Industrial Touchscreen Controllers, Rugged Single Board Electronic Control Systems, and specialized controllers for various industries.
2. Precision Electric Actuators: Sale of SmartStep family of actuators (X-Series, XT Series, S-Series, R-Series) and related accessories for industrial valve control and automation applications.
3. Custom Software Development: Software development services integrated with custom controller design, including firmware, user interfaces, and communication protocols.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

USI Technologies designs and manufactures precision electric actuators (the SmartStep family including X-Series and XT Series) and custom electronic controllers for OEMs in medical, defense, industrial, energy, chemical, water/wastewater, and oil & gas applications. The company also produces LED lighting fixtures and has manufactured over 300,000 circuit boards worldwide. All products are designed and built in-house at the St. Louis, MO facility.

Product overview

USI Technologies (established 1979 as Update Systems) is a precision electric actuator and custom electronics manufacturer. The product portfolio centers on two actuator families—the fourth-generation SmartStep X-Series (with hazardous location rating) and third-generation XT Actuator—complemented by custom Industrial Controllers for medical, industrial, defense, and commercial applications. All products are designed and manufactured in the USA, with over 300,000 circuit boards produced controlling equipment worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartStep: SmartStep is a family of actuators, including SmartStep X-Series and SmartStep S-Series precision electric actuators used in industrial applications.

Products and services

• SmartStep X-Series Actuator Fourth-generation precision electric actuator with Class 1 Division II hazardous location rating as standard. Features field-replaceable XCTRL control module and SuperCap/power supply modules, multi-turn capability, Ethernet and MODBUS networking, and 0.5 degree precision using 4-20mA feedback. Available in four torque models ranging from 500 to 5000 In/Lb. Sold to industrial OEMs and end users for valve control and process automation in hazardous locations.
• XT Series Actuator Third-generation precision electric actuator with NEMA 4X cast aluminum enclosure, non-contact position sensing, capacitor-based electronic power backup with greater than 10 year lifespan, and programmable 4-20mA feedback. Supports 6000+ starts per hour and is available in 1200 and 2500 In/Lb gearbox options. Targeted at industrial OEMs requiring reliable valve actuation in harsh environments.
• Custom Industrial Electronic Controllers Custom-designed and manufactured electronic controllers for OEMs in medical (root canal, ultrasonic teeth cleaner, gurney controls, patient lifts), car wash, freight elevator door control, LED lighting for emergency and non-emergency vehicles, networking (CANBUS, MODBUS, Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth), industrial control systems (compressor, actuator, grounding systems, custom I/O boards), defense, energy, chemical, water/wastewater, and oil & gas. Includes in-house firmware and software development paired with on-site circuit board manufacturing.
• LED Lighting Fixtures

Quantifiable outcome

• 6000+ starts per hour capability for XT Series actuators
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rotork: Global market leader in electric valve actuators for process industries including oil & gas, water, and power. Directly comparable to USI's SmartStep/XT actuator business in target customers, product category, and hazardous-location applications.
• Auma: German-headquartered specialist in electric actuators for valve automation across process industries. Closely comparable to USI in product offering (multi-turn electric actuators, hazardous location ratings) and target customers (water/wastewater, oil & gas, power).
• Flowserve: Major manufacturer of flow control equipment including electric actuators and process control systems. Comparable to USI across both its electric actuator line and its custom industrial controller business.
• Tolomatic: US-based manufacturer of electric linear actuators and motion control products. Comparable to USI as a domestic precision electric actuator specialist serving industrial OEMs.
• Beckhoff Automation: Manufacturer of PC-based control systems, embedded controllers, and I/O for industrial automation. Comparable to USI's custom electronic controllers and industrial touchscreen controllers.
• LINAK: Manufacturer of electric linear actuators used in medical, industrial, and comfort applications. Comparable to USI in electric actuator technology, particularly for medical patient lifts and similar use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Emerson Electric: Diversified industrial automation conglomerate whose Fisher Controls division supplies electric actuators and process control. Overlaps significantly with USI's actuator and industrial controller offerings but operates at vastly greater scale.
• Honeywell Process Solutions: Broad process automation supplier including control systems and field instrumentation. Competes with USI's industrial controller business for process industry customers in energy and chemicals.
• ABB: Global industrial automation and electrification company with an electric actuator portfolio and process control platform. Comparable in target verticals and product category but vastly broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Moog: Specialist in precision motion control including electric actuators for industrial, medical, and defense applications. Comparable to USI in defense and medical adjacencies, with overlapping custom-engineered motion control offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 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 usi technologies