Core Focus
Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring
Interlink Subsidiary
KWJ Engineering
Innovative solutions for gas detection, environmental monitoring, and application-specific engineering services.
Delivery Model
Custom Engineering + Product Integration
KWJ Engineering is part of the Interlink group ecosystem, with ties across gas-sensing organizations including SPEC Sensors and Ecosensors.
About KWJ Engineering
Pioneering Gas Detection Since 1993
KWJ Engineering, Inc. is a leader in electrochemical gas sensor technology, providing industrial gas sensors, personal protective instruments, and advanced engineering services for custom projects. Founded in 1993 by Ken Johnson in Fremont, California, KWJ has grown into a multi-disciplinary team of PhD-level scientists, engineers, and researchers working at the forefront of gas detection innovation.
Today KWJ provides industrial gas sensors, personal protective instruments, pioneers new sensor technology with research and development, and offers advanced engineering services for custom projects. KWJ's staff consists of PhD to student-level professionals who work in a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment.
In 2022, Interlink Electronics acquired KWJ Engineering, bringing gas sensing expertise into the Interlink family of sensor and printed electronics companies, alongside SPEC Sensors, Eco Sensors, and Sparrow Sensors.
Company Timeline
93
1993
Founded
KWJ Engineering was started by Ken Johnson after the sale of his company GasTech to Thermo Electron in 1992.
99
1999
Transducer Technology Merger
KWJ merged with Transducer Technology, Inc., originally founded by Dr. Joseph Stetter and specialized in nano-technology based sensors.
08
2008
Eco Sensors Acquisition
KWJ acquired Eco Sensors, Inc., the Santa Fe, NM based market leader in functional ozone detection and monitoring equipment.
14
2014
SPEC Sensors Founded
SPEC Sensors LLC is founded to specialize in the sale and production of screen printed electrochemical gas sensors for air quality.
22
2022
Interlink Electronics Acquisition
Interlink Electronics acquires KWJ Engineering, bringing gas sensing expertise into the Interlink family of sensor and printed electronics companies.
Management Team
KWJ's leadership combines deep technical expertise with business acumen, guiding the company's strategic direction and sensor innovation roadmap.
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Joe Stetter
President & CTO
PhD — University of Buffalo, SUNY (Physical Chemistry, 1975)
For nearly 40 years, Dr. Stetter has been at the forefront of chemical sensor and associated technology as a leading researcher, entrepreneur, author, and educator. In his early career, Dr. Stetter developed patented electrochemical sensors and the first electrochemical dosimeters for gas detection. Products he championed for personal protection and environmental monitoring have saved lives, improved worker health, and personal well-being. Dr. Stetter has founded several technology-based sensor companies, received numerous awards and published prolifically throughout his career. With over 40 patents, his work is the foundation of many sensor and gas detection products still in use today. At KWJ Engineering, Dr. Stetter not only continues to innovate and develop products for the social good, but also mentors a new generation of engineers and scientists.
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Ed Stetter
General Manager
JD — Illinois Institute of Technology: Chicago-Kent College of Law (2004) · BBA — University of Notre Dame (Business Administration, 2001)
In addition to his role as General Manager of KWJ Engineering, Ed is also Co-Founder and General Manager of SPEC Sensors, LLC, whose advanced sensor technology originated from KWJ's National Science Foundation grants. KWJ and SPEC work closely together to produce sensors and instrument solutions for new and challenging gas sensing applications. Ed also has experience as a corporate attorney and is licensed to practice law in Illinois. Ed holds one patent for his work in advanced gas sensor technology.
Engineering Services Team
The engineering team at KWJ drives product development from sensor design through manufacturing, delivering solutions across wearable, portable, fixed, and OEM platforms.
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Vinay Patel
Director & Senior Sensor Engineer
MS — Chemical Engineering & Computer Science (2001)
For the past 15 years, Mr. Patel has been a vital part of the research and product development team at KWJ. Mr. Patel began his career at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago with the sensor research group, where he excelled at sensor development, characterization, processing and assembly. He has been a leading researcher in chemical engineering and polymer technology as well as a sensor assembly process supervisor. Mr. Patel has played a major role in several development projects in sensor design for both air and water monitoring and is at the forefront of product development including sensors for the Pocket CO and ozone product lines.
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Bennett Meulendyk
Senior Electrical Engineer
Bennett contributes to the design and development of electronic systems for KWJ's gas detection instruments and sensor modules.
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Mitchell Lee
Mechanical Engineer
Mitchell supports mechanical design and product development across KWJ's instrument and sensor product lines.
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Gavin O'toole
Firmware Engineer
Gavin develops embedded firmware for KWJ's gas detection instruments, wireless sensor networks, and OEM modules.
Research & Development Team
KWJ's R&D team advances the science of gas sensing through novel materials, electrochemical modeling, and SBIR-funded research programs that translate into commercial products.
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Mike Carter
Director of Research
PhD — University of Texas at Austin (Chemistry, 1989) · MBA — University of Colorado, Denver (2003)
Dr. Michael Carter has been leading the research department at KWJ since 2010, innovating new solutions to gas detection problems, advancing research in gas sensing systems, and serving as a mentor for the research team. He has led numerous successful Phase I and II SBIR programs and has commercialized advanced, SBIR-funded technology for air and water quality monitoring. His current work focuses on the application of ionic liquids to gas sensing with printed amperometric sensors, development of wearable transdermal alcohol sensors, portable low-cost monitoring of heavy metals in water, and applications of environmental gas sensors. Dr. Carter is a past Chair of the Sensor Division of the Electrochemical Society and holds four patents on chemical sensors, printed gas sensors, and ionic liquid technologies.
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Mel Findlay
Senior Principal Engineer
MSc — Environmental Chemistry / Environmental Health Engineering (Northwestern University, 1985)
Mr. Findlay has more than 25 years' experience in environmental chemistry and analytical methods in air and water, with focus on the development of portable sensors and instrumentation. He is co-inventor of the revolutionary "printed" electrochemical gas sensor, whose miniature size and low power requirements is enabling innovations in highly accurate air pollution monitoring for networks and wearable devices. Prior to KWJ, Mr. Findlay was with TSI Inc. for 10 years, responsible for sensor selection, design and manufacture, and sampling design for a series of successful products.
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David Peaslee
Metrology Engineer
PhD — Missouri University of Science and Technology (Experimental Physics, 2013)
Dr. David Peaslee has been a key member of the sensor research and development team for both KWJ Engineering and SPEC Sensors. His research in electrochemical modeling has been pivotal in improving the selectivity and accuracy of SPEC's electrochemical sensors. Prior to joining KWJ, Dr. Peaslee worked on electrochemical energy storage projects at NASA Ames and at the University of Missouri. He was recently awarded SBIR grants focusing on air quality systems, including work that led to the development of SPEC's formaldehyde sensor.
In Memory
Ken Johnson — Founder
“Ken was not only our best instrument engineer at KWJ but our mentor. He came to work every day, and half day on most Saturdays up until the last few months. Ken was a person of extremely high integrity in his engineering, business, and personal life. A true professional and also a visionary in seeing ways to integrate a plan for the future into the present activity. We all miss him dearly.”
Ken Johnson was the founder and owner of GasTech Inc. from 1971 until its sale to Thermo Electron in 1992. He started KWJ Engineering in 1993 as a provider of specialized gas detection instruments and systems. Earlier he was a principal of Johnson-Williams, Inc., which was acquired by Bacharach in 1965. He had full-time involvement in development, design and application of gas detection instrumentation since 1947. Ken's father developed the first modern combustible gas detector. Ken had a BSME from CalTech, an MSEE from Stanford, and was a Registered Mechanical Engineer in the State of California. He originated many of the concepts and features of gas detection instruments in use today, and was honored as a Fellow of ISA in 1992 for his life's work in gas detection instrumentation.
Location & Contact
KWJ Engineering, Inc.
48389 Fremont Blvd., Suite 110
Fremont, CA 94538
Interlink Ecosystem
KWJ Engineering is part of the Interlink Electronics family of sensor and printed electronics companies, working closely with SPEC Sensors, Eco Sensors, and Sparrow Sensors to deliver comprehensive gas detection solutions.