2 Celebrating the life of a gas measurement industry icon


Signal on another. He is now a professional photographer so he has managed to escape the joys of instrumentation sales, but you can see the affection in John’s face when he sticks his tongue out at as Doug tries to take a ‘serious’ photo at a Bretby event.


Now that John has passed, it is safe to mention MCERTS. If anyone dared mention the term in John’s presence over the last 20 years or so, they would have been treated to a monologue on the shortcomings of the system. However, you have to have some sympathy for John’s view on MCERTS. Yes you do… or you’ll get the lecture again. That’s because one of the purposes of the scheme is to provide performance verification for instruments, and John had been developing and manufacturing accurate reference method analysers for decades, so why should he pay a fortune to have that fact spelled out on a certificate? There, John, I said it – happy now?


John Clements died after a short illness on 28th January 2023 at the age of 72, and will be remembered by the readers of IET as one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs in gas measurement, having built the company now known as Signal Group, which is one of the very few manufacturers of gas analysers in the UK.


John’s success can be attributed to many of his personal characteristics, not least of which is his great sense of humour. He worked extremely hard, but he enjoyed life and always had a (usually mischievous) smile on his face. Behind the warmth and good humour of John’s character lay an incredibly inquisitive mind, and he was well known for assiduously researching any issues that he did not initially understand. This curiosity, combined with gritty determination, served him well over the years and inspired confidence in both customers and colleagues.


John was a regular at STA (Source Testing Association) meetings, although Marcus Pattison recalls: “John would always rock up late (in a Jag) and then expect everyone to wait while he was brought up to date with what we had already discussed. If it had been anyone else, there would have been a riot, but John would waltz in with his smile and somehow nobody seemed to mind!”


As MD of Quantitech, Keith Golding was a direct competitor, in that both companies sold portable FIDs. One might suppose therefore that they would be enemies, but nothing could be further from the truth. They could often be seen at industry events laughing and joking with each other, and Keith was one of the first to post on John’s memorial webpage https:// everloved.com/life-of/john-clements/?flow=201 .


Doug Kurn had a similar relationship with John; working as a competitor at one point, and then being interviewed for a job at


There have been many important milestones in John’s career. For example, Signal’s first ever dual FID was developed following a specific request from Warren Spring Laboratory. Several versions were created before the requisite performance levels were achieved, so it was immensely gratifying when the cheque for final payment fell through the letterbox on the same day as the birth of John’s son! Fitting too, that his son would eventually resolve the performance challenges of dual FIDs, with the release of an enhanced version in 2015.


Other milestones include important acquisitions such as the purchase of NOx measurement technologies from BOC, which led to the launch of Luminox and Noxgen. The company Sieger was acquired to expand the product portfolio with NDIR and UV detectors, and ADC was acquired to provide InfraRed analysers with a better spec for the automotive market.


No article on Signal’s history would be complete without mentioning Roy Kinslow. Roy now manages Signal’s Service Department, after almost 43 years with the business. If you speak to Signal’s customers, Roy is one of the reasons they hold the company in such high regard.


John’s son James started work as a development engineer at Signal in 2002 and became Managing Director when John retired in 2018. Happily, James’s wife Lucy was a Chartered Global Management Accountant, so John and his wife Jonny were able to retire at the same time; leaving the company in the capable hands of James and Lucy; to ensure a smooth transition and to build on John’s legacy.


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A new home for gas sensor specialists


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Sensorix’s move to a new and larger facility on February 10, was necessitated by the company’s steady growth since its foundation 3 years ago. Their production has already been gradually transferred to the new location to ensure a seamless continuation of deliveries.


Sensorix was founded in 2019 by a team of seasoned sensor professionals, Dr. Andreas König, Dr. Daniel Lubczyk, and Frank Wölfle, in response to the growing demand for high-quality sensors made in Germany and the European Union.


At Sensorix, their mission is to offer a comprehensive portfolio of both standard and exotic toxic gas sensors, and to help our customers find the perfect solution for their gas detection needs. Our team of experts, led by General Manager Dr. Andreas König, Quality and R&D Manager Dr. Daniel Lubczyk, and Operations Manager Frank Wölfle, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.


As the business continues to grow, Sensorix are excited to announce our move to a new facility in Bonn-Beuel, on the eastern side of the Rhine River. Sensorix’s team of 32 employees will now be working in an 800 m2 expanding customer base and meet the increasing demand for our high-quality sensors.


facility, allowing them to better serve our


“Our team has all the skills we need to build a successful business, and this move to a larger facility will allow us to continue serving our customers and meeting their growing demands,” says General Manager Dr. Andreas König. With a history of steady growth since its founding in 2019, Sensorix is well-positioned for continued success in the years to come. More information online: ilmt.co/PL/Q7jz


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QED Environmental Systems targets international expansion with the appointment of a new sales director


BRINGING THE LATEST NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE NEWS


Q.E.D. Environmental Systems, Inc., has announced the appointment of Jonathan Hibbins as Sales Director for EMEA and APAC, with a view to expanding the company’s range of operations in 2023.


As part of his new role, Jonathan is planning to grow the manufacturer’s presence in the South East Asian market, while also establishing new partner relationships.


QED Environmental Systems is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of environmental technology, spanning gas analysis and management, remediation, groundwater and soil monitoring, and leachate pumping.


“People buy from people” begins Jonathan. “At its core, sales boils down to establishing mutually beneficial relationships between the business and the customer, and this people-first approach is exactly what I’m looking to build on with QED.


“It is especially important when looking to branch into foreign markets, as without an established brand reputation, it really is the people who are the face of the company. That’s who you’re deciding to place your trust in.”


Beginning his career at Wanzl Ltd, Jonathan made the transition to the commercial side of the business after the company’s Managing Director challenged him to sell an assortment of surplus stock. Jonathan was soon recruited by McCue Corporation and rose to the role of Commerical Director. Here, he oversaw the launch of a new product division in both the UK and international markets, growing this to around £8 million.


Jonathan continued: “It’s clear to me that QED has an exemplary product base that I will thoroughly enjoy bringing to a new market.


“Being new to the environmental systems and gas instrumentation industry, I’m hoping to provide a fresh perspective and identify how we can help the team excel, achieving growth for individuals as well as the company.”


Dean Kavanagh, Managing Director at QED Environmental Systems, concluded: “With Jonathan’s appointment, we’re hoping to usher in a new era for the business in 2023. In his short time in the role, he’s already taking to things remarkably well, so I look forward to seeing what the new year holds for us.”


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