Michell Instruments

Michell Instruments is an industrial measurement and instrumentation group founded in Cambridge, England, in 1974 by Andrew Michell. The company developed from work on humidity measurement and became particularly associated with dew-point and moisture instrumentation for demanding industrial, laboratory and process-control environments. Its products are used to measure relative humidity, dew point, moisture in gases and liquids, and oxygen concentration or purity. The company’s early technical foundation was the development of an aluminium-oxide dew-point sensor using a thin-film capacitance principle. The underlying concept had been proposed by researchers at the Torry Research Institute in Aberdeen, and Michell worked with scientists at Cambridge University to turn it into a practical measurement technology. This work helped establish the company as a specialist supplier rather than a general-purpose instrumentation manufacturer. A major early turning point came around 1980, when Michell received a contract from the European Community Bureau of Reference to develop an international transfer-standard dew-point hygrometer. The project was intended to support traceability between European humidity laboratories and primary reference systems operated by the US National Bureau of Standards, now the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Its successful completion contributed to the launch of Michell’s chilled-mirror dew-point instruments and strengthened the company’s credibility in metrology and calibration. Michell expanded its laboratory and manufacturing capabilities during the 1980s. It moved to a larger Cambridge factory in 1982, supplied a transfer-standard hygrometer to the UK National Physical Laboratory in 1984, and became the first laboratory accredited under the UK humidity-laboratory accreditation programme launched by NAMAS in 1986. NAMAS subsequently became part of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. Michell’s Cambridge laboratory continued to provide accredited calibration for dew-point, relative-humidity and related temperature sensors. The company also achieved BS5750 quality accreditation in 1989, a standard later incorporated into the ISO 9000 family. From the middle of the 1980s, Michell developed export channels and progressively built an international operating network. Its first overseas sales office opened in Frankfurt in 1990, followed by operations in the Netherlands, France, China, Italy, Japan, the United States and Australasia. The group is described as consisting of eight operating companies across the UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, the US, China and Japan. Ownership changed in 2005, when Andrew Michell sold the business to a private holding company owned by John Salmon, the founder and former chairman of Druck. The new ownership supported faster international expansion, additional service capacity and acquisitions. Michell acquired Dutch relative-humidity specialist Rense Instruments in 2005 and the relative-humidity operation of Italy’s Coreci from Gefran in 2008. In 2007, Michell UK moved from Cambridge to a purpose-built facility in nearby Ely, Cambridgeshire. The group broadened its technology portfolio beyond its original aluminium-oxide and chilled-mirror platforms. Its capabilities came to include quartz-crystal microbalance instruments for trace moisture in gases, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy analyzers for moisture in natural gas, and thermo-paramagnetic and zirconium-oxide oxygen sensors and analyzers. These technologies support applications in industrial gas, natural gas, power generation, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, environmental monitoring, laboratories and other process industries. In 2016, the Michell Group was sold to Battery Ventures, a technology-focused investment firm. On December 1, 2020, AEA Investors made a majority investment in the company. Michell Instruments remains an active specialist instrumentation group with a…

Michell Instruments was established in 1974 in Cambridge, England, by Andrew Michell. Its initial specialization was humidity measurement, particularly dew-point sensing. Working with scientists at Cambridge University, the company developed an aluminium-oxide sensor based on a thin-film capacitance principle originally proposed by researchers at the Torry Research Institute in Aberdeen during the 1950s. This technology gave Michell a foundation in industrial and laboratory moisture measurement. Around 1980, the European Community Bureau of Reference commissioned Michell to develop an international transfer-standard dew-point hygrometer. The objective was to provide a route for European humidity laboratories to compare their measurements with primary standards operated by the US National Bureau of Standards, now NIST. The project was completed successfully and helped lead to Michell’s chilled-mirror dew-point meter range. It also established the company’s reputation in traceable measurement and metrology. The business expanded its facilities in 1982, moving from its original Covent Garden premises in Cambridge to a larger factory in Nuffield Close. In 1984, the UK National Physical Laboratory selected Michell to supply an S4000 transfer-standard dew-point hygrometer for its national humidity standard. In 1986, the company’s Cambridge laboratory became the first laboratory accredited under the humidity-laboratory programme then operated by NAMAS, the accreditation organization later renamed UKAS. The laboratory continued to be associated with accredited calibration of dew-point sensors, relative-humidity sensors and related temperature devices. Michell also obtained BS5750 quality accreditation in 1989, subsequently aligned with the ISO 9000 quality-management standards. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Michell built export sales channels and then established overseas operating companies. The first overseas sales office opened in Frankfurt in 1990. Further operations followed in the Netherlands in 2000, France in 2003, China in 2004, Italy and Japan in 2006, the United States in 2007 and Australasia in 2009. In 2007, the UK operation relocated from Cambridge to a purpose-built factory in Ely, Cambridgeshire. A change in ownership in 2005 marked the beginning of a more acquisitive and internationally integrated phase. Andrew Michell sold the business to a private holding company owned by John Salmon, founder and former chairman of Druck. The group acquired Rense Instruments, a Dutch relative-humidity business, in late 2005. In 2008, it acquired the relative-humidity operation of Coreci from the Italian automation company Gefran. These transactions expanded Michell’s product and geographic capabilities. During this period, Michell diversified its technology base. In addition to its established dew-point and relative-humidity products, the group developed quartz-crystal microbalance technology for trace moisture in gases, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy analyzers for moisture in natural gas, and oxygen measurement products based on thermo-paramagnetic and zirconium-oxide technologies. The resulting portfolio addressed industrial processing, gas quality, energy, laboratories, pharmaceuticals, food production and other applications requiring controlled or monitored moisture and oxygen levels. Battery Ventures acquired the Michell Group in 2016. On December 1, 2020, AEA Investors made a majority investment. Michell Instruments remains an active international group with operating companies in Europe, North America and Asia, combining instrument design and manufacture with calibration, sales and technical service.

• 2020

  AEA Investors makes majority investment

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  AEA Investors makes a majority investment in Michell Instruments on December 1.

• 2016

  Battery Ventures acquires the group

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  The Michell Group is sold to Battery Ventures.

• 2008

  Coreci relative-humidity operation acquired

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  The group acquires the relative-humidity operation of Coreci from Italian automation company Gefran.

• 2007

  UK operation relocates to Ely

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  Michell UK moves from Cambridge to a custom-built factory in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

• 2005

  Private ownership changes

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  Andrew Michell sells the business to a private holding company owned by John Salmon; Michell also acquires Dutch relative-humidity specialist Rense Instruments.

• 1990

  First overseas sales office

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  Michell opens its first overseas sales office in Frankfurt, Germany.

• 1989

  BS5750 quality accreditation

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  Michell achieves BS5750 quality accreditation, a standard later incorporated into the ISO 9000 series.

• 1986

  First NAMAS-accredited humidity laboratory

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  Michell’s Cambridge laboratory becomes the first laboratory accredited under the newly launched humidity-laboratory programme operated by NAMAS, now UKAS.

• 1984

  National Physical Laboratory supply agreement

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  The UK National Physical Laboratory selects Michell to supply an S4000 transfer-standard dew-point hygrometer.

• 1982

  Cambridge manufacturing site expands

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  The company moves to a larger factory at Nuffield Close in Cambridge.

• 1980

  Transfer-standard hygrometer project begins

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  The European Community Bureau of Reference commissions Michell to develop an international transfer-standard dew-point hygrometer.

• 1974

  Michell Instruments is founded

  [1]Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org

  Andrew Michell forms Michell Instruments Ltd in Cambridge, England, initially focusing on humidity and dew-point measurement.

A specialist industrial measurement and metrology supplier focused on accurate, traceable measurement of humidity, dew point, moisture and oxygen in laboratory and process environments.

• Humidity and moisture measurement

  Dew-point hygrometers

  Michell’s dew-point instruments measure the temperature at which moisture condenses, supporting process control, compressed-air monitoring, gas quality management and laboratory work. The product heritage includes aluminium-oxide sensing and chilled-mirror measurement, with applications where stable, traceable moisture data is required.

• Metrology and humidity measurement

  Chilled-mirror dew-point meters

  Chilled-mirror instruments determine dew point by controlling a cooled surface and detecting condensation. Michell’s chilled-mirror range emerged from its transfer-standard hygrometer work for European reference laboratories and is associated with high-accuracy humidity measurement, calibration and laboratory applications.

• Humidity measurement

  Relative-humidity sensors and transmitters

  The group supplies instruments for measuring relative humidity and associated temperature values in industrial, environmental and building or process applications. This capability was strengthened through the addition of Rense Instruments and the Coreci relative-humidity operation.

• Gas analysis

  Trace-moisture analyzers

  Michell develops trace-moisture instruments for gases using technologies including quartz-crystal microbalance measurement. These analyzers are intended for applications in which very small quantities of water must be detected and controlled, including industrial gases, energy and process systems.

• Energy and gas measurement

  Natural-gas moisture analyzers

  Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy analyzers measure moisture in natural gas and other gas streams. The technology supports continuous or process-oriented monitoring where water content affects gas quality, pipeline integrity, equipment reliability or contractual specifications.

• Gas analysis

  Oxygen analyzers

  Michell’s oxygen portfolio includes thermo-paramagnetic and zirconium-oxide sensors and analyzers. These products are used to determine oxygen concentration or purity in industrial and process environments, complementing the group’s moisture and humidity measurement technologies.

• Metrology services

  Calibration services

  Michell provides calibration capabilities for dew-point sensors, relative-humidity sensors and associated temperature measurement devices. Its Cambridge laboratory was the first accredited under the UK humidity-laboratory programme launched by NAMAS, now UKAS, and the company’s calibration heritage remains central to its technical positioning.

• 2020

  AEA Investors majority investmentM&A

  Background

  Michell operated internationally across humidity, moisture and oxygen measurement markets.

  Action taken

  AEA Investors made a majority investment in the company on December 1, 2020.

  Aftermath

  Michell remained an active privately held instrumentation group under majority private-equity ownership.

  Source

• 2016

  Battery Ventures ownership transitionM&A

  Background

  Michell had developed into an international instrumentation group with multiple operating companies and a diversified technology portfolio.

  Action taken

  The Michell Group was sold to Battery Ventures.

  Aftermath

  The company continued operating as a privately held industrial technology group.

  Source

• 2008

  Coreci relative-humidity operation acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Michell continued to broaden its humidity measurement business through targeted technology and product acquisitions.

  Action taken

  The group acquired the relative-humidity operation of Coreci from Gefran.

  Aftermath

  The transaction strengthened Michell’s relative-humidity offering and its presence in Italy.

  Source

• 2005

  Sale to a private holding companyM&A

  Background

  Andrew Michell sold the business after more than three decades of founder-led development in humidity and dew-point instrumentation.

  Action taken

  Ownership transferred to a private holding company owned by John Salmon, founder and former chairman of Druck.

  Aftermath

  The group expanded its international sales and service structure and pursued acquisitions and additional measurement technologies.

  Source

• 2005

  Rense Instruments acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Michell sought to expand its relative-humidity capabilities and international operating base.

  Action taken

  The group acquired Rense Instruments, a Dutch relative-humidity company.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition contributed to the group’s broader relative-humidity product and service portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Michell Instrumentsen.wikipedia.org