ONICON Incorporated - Comprehensive Analysis Report

Summary

ONICON Incorporated, established in 1987, is a leading manufacturer of highly accurate flow meters and energy measurement systems, primarily serving the HVAC industry. The company's mission is to design, manufacture, and sell highly reliable, functionally innovative, quality engineered instruments and solutions, supported by market-leading service. ONICON's significance lies in its commitment to providing precise and reliable flow and energy data, which is crucial for optimizing HVAC system performance, improving energy efficiency, ensuring proper cost allocation, preventing downtime, supporting sustainability goals, and meeting industry compliance standards. For almost four decades, ONICON has combined engineering expertise with a dedication to quality, delivering instruments that help customers optimize system performance.

1. Strategic Focus & Objectives

Core Objectives

ONICON's core objectives revolve around enhancing HVAC system performance, improving energy efficiency, and contributing to sustainability through smarter energy use in commercial HVAC facilities and data centers. The company aims to meet the growing demand for accurate and reliable information within the Building Automation and Controls market by continually expanding its product offerings.

Specialization Areas

ONICON specializes in a diverse range of flow meter technologies, including turbine, vortex, electromagnetic, thermal mass, and ultrasonic meters, as well as precision BTU (energy) meters. Its unique value proposition stems from delivering engineered solutions that are individually wet-calibrated to NIST traceable standards and fully programmed for each customer's specific application. This ensures ease of installation and immediate, reliable use, providing "ready-to-go, right out of the box" solutions.

Target Markets

ONICON primarily targets the HVAC industry, providing solutions for applications such as chilled water, hot water, condenser water, steam systems, compressed air, and natural gas flow measurements. The company's products also cater to water utilities and industrial process control applications. Key end-users include building automation contractors, controls design engineers, building owners and operators, hospitals, commercial buildings, laboratories, and universities.

2. Financial Overview

Funding History

ONICON Incorporated was acquired by TASI Group on April 1, 2019. The acquisition was facilitated by Harris Williams and Baird. Prior to this, ONICON was acquired by Harbour Group on January 7, 2013. The company's estimated annual revenue is currently $10.8 million. ONICON has raised $5.41 million in total funding over time, with Harbour Group identified as an investor.

3. Product Pipeline

Key Products/Services

ONICON offers a comprehensive portfolio of highly accurate flow meters and energy measurement systems:
Turbine Flow Meters: These are suitable for clean, closed-loop applications, including both single and dual turbine models designed for low-cost, accurate measurement in chilled and hot water systems. They can be installed and removed without system shutdown.
Vortex Flow Meters: Offered in inline and insertion styles, these are ideal for mass flow measurement of steam and high-temperature hot water due to their low-mass cantilevered flow sensor design, which maximizes sensitivity and minimizes noise.
Electromagnetic Flow Meters: Designed for demanding applications and capable of measuring flow in conductive liquids using pulsating magnetic fields. They feature advanced filtering and signal processing for maximum performance and reliability. The F-3500 Insertion Electromagnetic Flow Meter is notable for its accuracy and suitability for condenser water.
Thermal Mass Flow Meters: These provide accurate and reliable mass flow measurement for natural gas, compressed air, and other industrial gases, with no moving parts.
Ultrasonic Flow Meters: Include inline, insertion, and clamp-on designs. Clamp-on ultrasonic meters are ideal when pipe penetration is not an option or for temporary flow measurement. The F-4300 Clamp-on Transit Time Ultrasonic Flow Meter is an alternative when system shutdown is not possible.
BTU (Energy) Meters: ONICON offers precision BTU meters that seamlessly integrate with its various flow technologies to provide comprehensive thermal energy measurement.
System-1000 Flow and Energy Measurement System: Introduced in February 2024, this multi-channel interface is designed for high-performance buildings. It can perform up to two thermal energy calculations simultaneously and accept inputs from up to eight flow meters, providing data on thermal energy usage, flow, temperatures, and efficiency.
Retrofit Kits: Available for existing installations where system shutdown is not feasible, facilitating upgrades without interruption.

4. Technology & Innovation

Technology Stack

ONICON's technological platform is built upon a diverse portfolio of flow and energy measurement devices, featuring inline, insertion, and clamp-on designs. The company leverages multiple technologies, including electromagnetic, turbine, ultrasonic, thermal, and vortex shedding principles.

Proprietary Developments

Wet Calibration: All ONICON products undergo individual wet calibration to NIST traceable standards, ensuring high accuracy and reliability.
Factory Configuration and Programming: Each meter is custom-configured and fully programmed at the factory for the customer's specific application, simplifying installation and maximizing performance. This ensures products are "ready to use right out of the box."
Hand-Insertable Insertion Flow Meters: A notable innovation is their insertion-style flow meters, designed for installation or removal without specialized tools, making them suitable for hot tap installations where interrupting flow is impractical.

Scientific Methodologies

The company's commitment to precision is underscored by its rigorous individual wet calibration process for all products, which is traceable to NIST standards.

Technical Capabilities

ONICON's meters are designed for exceptional accuracy across a wide flow range, with excellent low-flow performance and reliability, even with difficult-to-measure liquids. They often feature network interface options such as BACnet/IP, BACnet MS/TP, and MODBUS RTU or TCP/IP. The company has 124 documented patent applications and grants.

5. Leadership & Management

Executive Team

Bowen Ierna: V.P., Sales.
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bowen-ierna-660ba215/]
M. B.: Chief Executive Officer (as of October 2024).
P. P.: Chief Executive Officer (as of October 2024).
G. M.: Chief Underwriting Officer (as of October 2024).
A. P.: Vice President of Marketing & Communications (as of September 2025).
E. T.: Vice President Project Management & Development (as of September 2025).
D. T.: CFO (as of September 2025).
Travis Sowards: TASI Measurement Director of Sustainability.

Recent Leadership Changes

Following ONICON's acquisition by Harbour Group in January 2013 and subsequently by TASI Group in April 2019, significant leadership adjustments occurred. Marvin Feldman was the president of ONICON at the time of the 2013 acquisition. After the 2019 acquisition by TASI Group, John Norris, who was ONICON's President and CEO, transitioned to serve as TASI Flow Segment President, overseeing ONICON and other businesses within the combined group.

6. Talent and Growth Indicators

ONICON Incorporated has approximately 99 employees as of September 2025. The company grew its employee count by 14% over the last year. ONICON's career page indicates an ongoing need for talent and provides a link to open positions within TASI Measurement, its parent company. The company emphasizes a culture of collaboration, respect, and professional growth, investing in employee training and development programs, and focusing on workplace safety and inclusion.

7. Social Media Presence and Engagement

Digital Footprint

ONICON Incorporated maintains an active and professional social media presence across several platforms.
Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/ONICONIncorporated/]
X (formerly Twitter): [https://twitter.com/ONICON]
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/onicon-incorporated/]
YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/c/ONICONIncorporatedHoliday]

The company uses these platforms to share key messaging related to its HVAC flow and energy measurement solutions, promote its products, and highlight its commitment to customer service and industry leading solutions. Their social media often features product information, application insights, and news. YouTube contains videos showcasing "The ONICON Difference," detailing its engineered solutions, customer service, and warranty.

8. Recognition and Awards

Industry Recognition

ONICON's dedication to quality and sustainability is recognized through several certifications and accolades:
ISO 9001:2015 Certification: Adherence to an international standard for quality management systems.
ISO 14001:2015 Certification: Demonstrates commitment to environmental protection and continuous improvement through an Environmental Management System (EMS).
ANAB / Perry Johnson ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Quality Certification: Certification for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of its calibration results.
EcoVadis Silver Medal: Awarded for the quality of the company's sustainability management system, placing ONICON among the top 15% of companies evaluated in the past year. This achievement reflects the strength of its sustainability practices and commitment to transparency.

9. Competitive Analysis

Major Competitors

ONICON operates in a competitive landscape with several manufacturers of flow meters and energy measurement systems.
FTI Flow Technology: Focuses on precise flow measurement solutions for critical applications.
Adept Fluidyne: Specializes in flow measurement and control instruments.
Sierra: Offers high-performance flow measurement and control instrumentation for various industrial applications.
Donaldson Company: A diversified technology company with products including filtration systems, affecting air and liquid flow.
VorTek Instruments: Specializes in vortex and ultrasonic flow meters.
Lascar Electronics: Provides digital display, data logging, and custom instrumentation solutions.
* Interface: Designs and manufactures force measurement products.

These companies often compete on accuracy, technological breadth, industry-specific solutions, and customer support within the flow and energy measurement markets.

10. Market Analysis

Market Overview

The global flow meter market was valued at approximately USD 8.46 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 11.25 billion by 2030, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.87%. Another estimate places the market size at USD 13.20 billion in 2025, reaching USD 30.09 billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 8.59%. The market growth is driven by increasing demand for precise measurement and monitoring across various industries, including oil and gas, water and wastewater, chemicals, power generation, and especially HVAC systems.

Key market trends include the growing adoption of IoT-enabled smart flow meters, real-time analytics, and wireless communication, which provide valuable insights for operational efficiency and reduced downtime. Industry 4.0 initiatives are also fueling the demand for advanced flow measurement technologies capable of remote monitoring and integrated diagnostics. The magnetic flow meter segment held a significant market share in 2024 (27.2%) due to its reliability and accuracy in conductive liquid measurement. Europe accounted for the largest market share in 2024, influenced by energy-saving regulations and digitalization. The focus on energy efficiency, sustainability, and process optimization across industries continues to propel the need for innovative flow metering solutions.

11. Strategic Partnerships

As part of TASI Measurement, ONICON benefits from a broader portfolio of measurement solutions. TASI Measurement expanded its portfolio in January 2025 through the acquisition of Accutrol, Inc., which offers complementary expertise in the HVAC market. ONICON itself, as a brand under the TASI Flow Segment, is associated with other brands like Pulsar Process Measurement, Fox Thermal, Greyline, Air Monitor, and Seametrics, which it has acquired to expand its offerings in water and wastewater markets and its international footprint.

ONICON also maintains affiliations with professional organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve), reflecting its commitment to people and professional development.

12. Operational Insights

ONICON differentiates itself in the flow and energy measurement market through its comprehensive product customization, rigorous wet calibration processes, and a strong emphasis on customer support. Its competitive advantages lie in providing tailored, ready-to-install solutions, which simplifies implementation for building automation contractors, controls design engineers, and building owners. The company’s diverse range of flow meter technologies (electromagnetic, turbine, ultrasonic, thermal, vortex) and BTU meters allows it to address a wide spectrum of HVAC and industrial applications. Furthermore, the availability of retrofit kits is a strategic asset, enabling installations in existing systems without requiring shutdowns, thereby minimizing disruption and cost for clients. This customer-centric approach, combined with its robust product performance and sustainability efforts, fortifies ONICON's market position against competitors offering more standardized or less integrated solutions.

13. Future Outlook

Strategic Roadmap

ONICON is committed to continually expanding its product offering to meet the growing need for accurate and reliable information in the Building Automation and Controls market. The company's strategic roadmap includes focusing on energy-efficient product design, waste reduction in manufacturing, and supporting customers in transitioning to renewable and sustainable energy systems. ONICON's products specifically aid in optimizing energy use, reducing waste, and improving system efficiency, which are crucial steps toward achieving sustainability and net-zero carbon goals. By investing in employee training and development, fostering workplace safety and inclusion, and engaging in community involvement, ONICON aims to support the next generation of engineers and innovators. This emphasis on people and sustainable practices, alongside its core product development, positions ONICON for continued relevance and growth in the evolving HVAC and building efficiency landscape. The launch of innovative products like the System-1000 Flow and Energy Measurement System in 2024 demonstrates its commitment to technological advancement. The company plans to explore expansion opportunities into new markets and applications, such as mission-critical data centers, where precise energy management is paramount.