50 Years as Pioneers of Gas Detection – How Honeywell Analytics has Helped Shape Gas Detection’s Evolution
As with all things in life, evolution is constant and the gas detection industry is no exception. Looking back to the origins of the industry over 60 years ago, the first ground- breaking devices developed highlight just how much things have changed, when compared to today’s offering.
Not only has product innovation changed, but there has been massive evolution in the marketplace itself. Back at the beginning of the gas detection story, mining was the key application for this type of equipment, but the advent of enhanced site safety and new legislations have meant that a wide variety of applications and industries now use gas detection equipment.
Few suppliers have been there since the beginning, but one company can boast not only a consistent presence in the industry, but a hand in some of its key innovations and benchmark technologies. Honeywell Analytics is one of the market leading suppliers of gas detection and the organisation recently celebrated an impressive milestone; its 50th anniversary.
From humble beginnings as a small gas detection supplier based in Poole in the UK, the company has grown to become one of the World’s leading providers of gas detection sol - utions; growing from one single site with only a handful of employees to a global enterprise
with offices across the World and thousands of staff.
Originally incorporated as EIC-Sieger in 1959 and later re-branded as J&S Sieger Ltd in 1961, the company revolutionised the fledgling gas detection industry when its founder, Joshua Sieger, invented the first low-power catalytic bead in 1958, designed for the detection of flammable gases onboard boats.
Sieger, who was a keen boating enthusiast, invented the new catalytic bead driven device, called the Mark 9, to fill a gap in the boating market. The device used a new technology that provided lower power consumption and minimal cross interference; aspects previously unavailable.
At the time of its invention, there were only a few companies offering gas detection solutions, and these organisations were focused primarily on serving the mining industry, which was the key market for gas detection at the time.
Mark 9 was so well received that it facilitated the company’s entry into mainstream gas detection, following a request from a large corporation for a variant model capable of detecting Ammonia. The resulting device, known as Mark 7, became the first in a long line of innovations that would define the company as not only a premier provider of quality detection solutions, but also as a technology leader and pioneer.
Pioneers of innovation
Gas detection has come a long way since the days of historic products like Gas Tec; a portable unit designed to detect underground gas leaks
The company once more pushed the boundaries by developing a method of detection capable of providing physical evidence in 1971. Chemcassette technology was developed and provided unique, tangible evidence of a gas release. This was achieved using col - ourimetric paper tape, which changes colour when it is exposed to a reactive agent; in this case a specific target gas. Chemcassette is still considered to be one of the leading solutions for providing
tangible proof of a gas release today.
Over the next eight years the company gained momentum, bringing more solutions to market and expanding its product port folio. In fact, the company’s reputation grew so much it attracted the interest of the Swiss owned corporation, the Zellweger Luwa Group.
J&S Sieger Ltd was acquired by the organisation in 1979 and was later re-branded as Zellweger Analytics. Two years after the acquisition, MDA Scientific - a com p - any specialising in hi-tech products designed for semi conductor fab - rications and lab or atories - was acquired, bring ing with it a range of specialised, highly sensitive gas detection solutions into an already comprehensive range.
This historic assets highlights the brand evolution at Honeywell Analytics
Fresh from its integration into the large and resource rich Zellweger Luwa Group and the acquisition of additional products through the purchase of MDA Scientific, the rapidly expanding organisation was beginning to make a notable impact in a wide variety of new markets.
Whilst continuing to diversify its interests, Zellweger Analytics still retained the enviable position of market leader for mining, oil, gas and petrochemical applications.
The 1980s marked a period of intense innovation, which saw the company bringing a number of exciting propositions to market. Zellweger Analytics once more pushed the boundaries with the first poison resistant catalytic bead in 1982, the SG7 (Siegestor 7). This was soon followed in 1983 by the launch of the company’s first range of field transmitters (the 1050 range), using a technology that permitted simple, one man calibration and set up. This was followed by the launch of the 1053 transmitter range in 1984, which featured remote sensor mounting capabilities.
The success of the new products helped catalyse more innovation and product development, allowing the company to develop the unique Sieger Digital Gas Data Acquisition and Control System (GDACS) in 1985. This industrial control system provided users with a level of interaction and flexibility that is still unsurpassed by many contemporary systems, including Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA).
Chemcassette provided a solution capable of providing physical evidence of a gas release
A big step in the evolution of gas detection was the emergence of optical detection in the 1980s. This was an area in which Zellweger Analytics was very active, setting the benchmark for optical detection in both point and then subsequently open path infrared (IR) detection.
IET
May/June 2010
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