RAE Systems
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wireless detection devices, Safety equipment |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Robert I. Chen, Peter Hsi |
| Headquarters | San Jose , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Wireless personal, area, portable, and fixed gas and radiation detection devices |
| Owner | Honeywell |
| Parent | Honeywell |
RAE Systems, Inc., operating under the name RAE System by Honeywell, focuses on wireless detection devices for gas and radiation, delivering immediate safety and security threat monitoring to reduce risks and safeguard employees, contractors, the public, and assets. Based in San Jose, California, the firm was established in 1991 by entrepreneurs Robert I. Chen and Peter Hsi.
As a Subsidiary of Honeywell, RAE Systems caters to international markets such as industrial sectors, oil and gas, and fire/HazMat safety. Its range of products comprises wireless personal, area, portable, and fixed gas and radiation detection tools tailored for various uses. Competitors include Ion Science Ltd, Mine Safety Appliances, Industrial Scientific Corporation, and Dräger. The company’s clientele includes energy corporations like BP, Chevron Corporation, and Total Petroleum; government entities such as the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Department of Homeland Security; as well as industrial companies like DuPont and Formosa Plastics Corp.
History
RAE Systems was founded in 1991 by Robert I. Chen and Peter Hsi with the mission to apply sensor technology for detecting hazardous chemicals across environmental monitoring, industrial safety, energy sectors, hazardous materials (HazMat) management, emergency response, and government applications. Prior to this venture, the founders had sold Applied Optoelectronic Technology Corporation—a manufacturer of test systems—to Hewlett-Packard.
By 2013, RAE Systems’ detection technologies were utilized by industrial organizations, emergency services, and government bodies in 120 countries worldwide. That same year, Honeywell acquired RAE Systems for $340 million, strengthening its portfolio in safety and detection solutions.
Technology
RAE Systems holds more than 40 patents related to chemical sensor technologies encompassing photoionization, wireless communication, and radiation detection. Its product suite includes wirelessly-enabled devices designed for emergency response, national security operations, CBRNE agent identification, fire safety measures, and military use. These instruments offer immediate detection of hazards such as radiation exposure, chemical warfare agents, and toxic or flammable gases.
The company’s proprietary photoionization technology powers photoionization detectors (PIDs) that identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs), combustible gases, and harmful vapors. Its wireless and radiation detection technologies support portable instruments capable of real-time low-level radiation monitoring along with dosimeters that safeguard industrial personnel from excessive exposure. Wireless gas detection systems allow incident commanders to expand monitoring reach while sharing critical information during crisis situations.
Wireless communication and data transmission are embedded throughout RAE Systems’ product line. Since launching its initial wireless data transmission device in 2001, the company has evolved its solutions with the introduction of the ProRAE Guardian in early 2012. This system delivers real-time toxic gas and radiation data combined with physiological status monitoring and location tracking for workers and emergency responders. Complementing this is the ProRAE Guardian CloudServer—a cloud-based platform released in 2012—that enables first responders to detect hazards remotely and share gas and radiation information globally. This innovation improves emergency management by accelerating threat analysis and enhancing decision-making capabilities.
Industries
The corporation is active in five principal sectors: energy exploration and refining within oil and gas, industrial safety, national security, fire and hazardous materials management, and the environmental field.
Within the energy domain, its process measurement tools and safety alert technologies address critical events such as the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the gas leak at Total's Elgin platform. Energy firms depend on these monitoring systems for safety throughout exploration, refining, and downstream operations.
In the realm of industrial safety, increasing recognition of harmful gas exposure has heightened the need for continuous detection solutions to safeguard employee well-being. The company’s products facilitate adherence to exposure regulations across diverse industrial environments.
Additionally, its equipment aids first responders in sectors including oil and gas, manufacturing, fire and hazardous materials, national security, and environmental protection by improving public safety measures and minimizing emergency response durations.
Moreover, technologies like the AreaRAE wireless monitoring platform are utilized worldwide for managing risks, securing assets, and ensuring worker protection at major events such as the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA finals, and governmental assemblies. The company’s sensors were prominently used during the 2012 London Olympic Games and international table tennis competitions to maintain equipment safety.