Isothermal Technology Ltd (Isotech) is celebrating winning a Queen’s Award for the co-development of an innovative resistance bridge for use in establishing and disseminating the International Temperature Scale (ITS-90).
The product, called microK, is now in use in the world’s leading National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) alongside Primary Standards. Outside of NMIs the client base includes oceanography, aerospace, medicine and astrophysics.
John Tavener, founder and Managing Director says, “We are delighted that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation that Isotech should receive a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category this year”.
Sales have risen by 86% over the last five years; outside of the UK and Europe Isotech have sold to the top laboratories as far afield as the US, China, India, New Zealand, Botswana, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Zambia, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Uruguay and South Korea. It is even being used as part of a US project searching for exoplanets.
John added that “Isotech is delighted to have achieved such international success, I recognised that the existing instruments used old technology and relied on obsolete components; cooperating with Metrosol Ltd we developed this new device, with better performance and lower cost than the older designs. Winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise; the highest honour that can be bestowed on a UK company is a real cause for celebration for everyone at Isotech”.
The microK operates to a precision of 20 parts per billion – equivalent to 0.00002°C and a unique feature of the microK is that it is drift free in ratio measurement; in contrast the older technology requires periodic adjustment in order to maintain its specification. The National Physical Laboratory and Metron Designs (John Pickering) both contributed to the development of a new type of metrology grade analogue-to-digital converter which was necessary to realise this level of performance.
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About Isothermal Technology Ltd (Isotech)
Isotech (www.isotech.co.uk) was founded by John Tavener in 1980, it remains a family business and is located in Southport, North West England. The company developed a range of temperature metrology products and has become a world leader in the field. The company exports 80% of its products and many nations rely on Isotech for their primary temperature standards. Additionally Isotech operates an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory which is believed to be the world’s most accurate privately owned temperature laboratory. The company has 52 members of staff, many long serving and is recognised for innovation, experience and expertise.
About the Queen’s Awards
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded to businesses for outstanding achievement in four categories: International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and also for Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility), to recognise businesses who promote social mobility. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is the most prestigious corporate accolade that a UK business can win. The awards are given annually and announced each year on 21 April, Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.
