Alphasense celebrates 25 years at the forefront of gas sensor technology

Alphasense recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in October 2021. The company was founded by Paul Gotley OBE in 1996, when it first opened its doors at its small premises in Great Dunmow, a few miles outside London. Paul’s daughter, Andrea Gotley, eventually took over the everyday business operations while Paul oversaw proceedings in his role as Chairman. Several astute and beneficial joint ventures along with research links with some leading universities allowed Alphasense to create new technologies and sensor products that quickly propelled the company in to the upper echelons of the air quality and gas safety sensor sectors.  

Alphasense now operates from their purpose-built manufacturing plant, located in Great Notley, which is less than 10 miles from their original premises. Alphasense is profitable, with an annual turnover exceeding £20million; much of this is because of the company’s operational efficiency and worldwide business development both of which have been a major focus over the last decade. Alphasense’s highly successful range of sensing products still includes their bestselling gas safety oxygen and PPM toxic sensors, as well as a set of PPB sensors combined with Optical Particle Counters and Photo Ionisation Detectors all of which are now ubiquitous in the global air quality monitoring market..  

Ronan Baron, Alphasense’s Technical Director leads the company’s R&D with his undiminished passion for air quality monitoring driving product innovation and technical strategy. A recent air quality innovation project facilitated the introduction of two new VOC electrochemical sensors. This has not only strengthened Alphasense’s expanding air quality product range, it has given the market an affordable, lower-maintenance air quality sensor.  

Sensor performance and reliability are among the main aims of Alphasense’s Operations team, where ‘LEAN manufacturing’ promotes reliability and precision with affordable quality. The ‘LEAN’ methodology enables the team to create and stock a comprehensive range of sensor products. Alphasense’s in-house fulfilment team ensure that products reach their worldwide clientele rapidly.  

Alphasense’s Technical Support is readily available for further product support. They offer a consultative service for enquiries concerning new product ideas or the adaptation of an existing product to cater for a specific application. The company’s growth strategy is built around three core pillars: science, sales, and manufacturing. These three key ingredients will always be the foundation that Alphasense’s current CEO, Peter Saxton, who was enlisted by Andrea Gotley to head-up and implement her succession plan, believes to be crucial to Alphasense’s continued success and growth.  

A recent recruitment drive highlights Peter Saxton’s belief in Alphasense’s long-term success. Not only has he added new recruits to the sales and marketing team to further enhance service and expand global sales territories, the technical team has also been strengthened by the arrival of several new in-house scientists with a wide array specialist expertise and skills to widen the company’s capabilities significantly. 

Alphasense looks ahead to the future but maintains an appreciation of its past. Twenty-five years after Paul Gotley founded the company, his daughter Andrea has complete confidence that her father’s dedication to creating top-quality sensor products whilst offering excellent customer service is in safe hands. Public concerns about air quality issues at an unprecedented level and Alphasense is well-placed in continuing their support for their customers by designing and creating outstanding gas and air quality sensors that save lives and improve communities’ quality of life globally.