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History

ESC Spectrum has a long history of helping companies meet air emissions compliance. Before officially becoming ESC Spectrum in 2020, Environmental Systems Corporation and Spectrum Systems spent decades innovating software and hardware solutions and providing professional CEMS and DAS services. No other company offers the combined knowledge, expertise and care that ESC Spectrum provides to its customers in a variety of different industries. In December of 2021, ESC Spectrum acquired Monitoring Solutions and on February 2, 2022, acquired Control Analytics.

ESC Spectrum History: A Timeline of Innovation

A small group of investors, researchers from Oak Ridge National Labs, and faculty members from the University of Tennessee founded Environmental Systems Corporation (ESC) to investigate the effects of thermal discharge from fossil-fired power plants into native waterways. It was headquartered in an airplane hangar at the Knoxville, TN airport. Employees used a small plane to take Infrared photographs of the river, and their phone calls were often interrupted by the sound of the engine noise.

1969

The enactment of the Clean Air Act of 1970 resulted in a major shift in the federal government's role in air pollution control. This legislation authorized the development of comprehensive federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary (industrial) sources and mobile sources.

Read More1970

ESC developed its first Data Acquisition and Reporting System for a project to continuously monitor the performance of a series of demonstration solar homes built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) around the Tennessee Valley region. ESC also created their first data loggers - the SDL-80 (Solar Data Logger) and CDL-80 (Cassette Data Logger).

1978

H. Gordon Jones founded Spectrum Systems, Inc. after leaving his job as a field technician.  

1981

ESC sold its first commercial Data Acquisition Reporting Systems to state and local government agencies to monitor ambient air quality. The systems were based on the AQM-8000 series data loggers (Air Quality Monitoring) and utilized the then powerful Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) mini-computers and long-distance dial-up telephone modems. Customers included the State of Kentucky, Pennsylvania Electric Company (PENNELEC), and the Santa Barbara (CA) Air Quality Monitoring District.

1982

At this time, ESC offered both DOS-based and UNIX-based data acquisition systems and introduced the next-generation 8800 Data Logger. Over 38 of the 50 U.S. states used ESC systems for ambient air quality monitoring. Continuous Emission Monitoring systems (CEMS) started to employ ESC's Data Acquisition Systems for stack emissions monitoring in electric power plants.

1985

Spectrum Systems appeared in Fortune Magazine's list of Fortune 500 companies.

1986

Spectrum Systems moved into its current home on 9 Mile Road. The building and grounds once housed a visitor's center and was located at the first highway exit in Florida.

1989

The 1990 amendment of the EPA's Clean Air Act introduced a nationwide approach to reducing acid pollution. It was designed to reduce acid rain and improve public health by dramatically reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

Read More1990

Spectrum Systems built the first CEMS shelter for Georgia Power, and debuted the Spectrum System Model 20/20 "for perfect hindsight".

Read More1991

After the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, ESC was well-positioned to serve the monitoring requirements of the subsequent Acid Rain Program (as codified in 40 CFR 75). ESC released the 8816 Data Controller and the UNIX-based E-DAS Expert for UNIX. Power plant stacks used ESC data controllers and Data Acquisition System software more than any other vendor.

Read More1992

Spectrum Systems released the SpectraView Data Acquisition System for UNIX.

1993

The first ESC Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) and Data Acquisition System (DAS) User Group Meeting was held in Knoxville, TN.

Read More1995

ESC introduced E-DAS Ambient and E-DAS EMR for Windows.

1998

ESC debuted the 8832 Data Controller, and Spectrum Systems introduced the Spectra-Pak E Data Logger.

Read More2002

ESC formed another company, Agilaire, to support the ambient air quality monitoring market. This allowed ESC to focus on CEMS.

Read More2005

ESC introduced the StackVision Data Acquisition System.

Read More2006

Yeehaw! ESC moved its corporate office to Austin, TX.

2011

ESC introduced the 8864 Data Controller.

Read More2014

Spectrum Systems introduced the Prism Data Acquisition System. 

Read More2014

ESC acquired Spectrum Systems. The two companies joining increase the number of employees to over 100.

2018

ESC and Spectrum Systems legally changed their name to ESC Spectrum.

Read More2021

ESC Spectrum introduced QAInsight to help facilities solve the challenges of scheduling, planning, and tracking activities related to performing Quality Assurance (QA) tests required by state and federal agencies.

Read More2021

ESC Spectrum introduced FleXReports to securely export data from StackVision™ into Microsoft® Excel for maximum flexibility. Partner with expert teams of Reporting, Engineering, and IT experts for help with CEM challenges.

Read More2021

ESC Spectrum acquired Monitoring Solutions.

Read More2021
ESC Spectrum acquired Control Analytics.Read More2022

On January 1, 2023, Monitoring Solutions and Control Analytics legally changed their names to ESC Spectrum.

Read More2023

In May 2023, ESC Spectrum introduced the 8864 Data Controller Generation 2, offering faster communication and an updated interface with customizable dashboards.

Read More2023

In November 2023, ESC Spectrum hits a milestone of 200 employees across the U.S.

2023

Join the ESC Spectrum Team!

From The Source Blog

Advantages of In-House Reporting for Air Emissions Compliance

This article discusses the crucial role of in-house reporting in streamlining air emissions compliance for industrial operations. It highlights the complex regulatory landscape governed by regulations such as 40 CFR Part 60, Part 63, and Part 75. With the expertise of ESC Spectrum’s reporting team, facilities can ensure timely, efficient, and customized compliance solutions, mitigating risks, and maintaining data integrity while navigating regulatory changes seamlessly.

Read More »
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