Vaisala enters the fluid measurement technology market with the acquisition of K-Patents

Vaisala acquires the Finnish K-Patents Group, a pioneer in inline liquid measurement for industrial applications. With this acquisition, Vaisala not only expands its solution offerings with products for liquid measurements but also strengthens its position as a global market leader in industrial measurement technology. The transaction includes K-Patents Oy and its subsidiaries in the USA and China, as well as Janesko Oy, K-Patents' research and development organization.

Through the acquisition, Vaisala broadens its technological expertise and product portfolio from pure gas measurement technology to liquid measurement technology.

"Entering the liquid measurement market is an important step for the growth of the Industrial Measurements business area. Liquid measurement technology is an extremely attractive growth market for us, roughly as large as the gas measurement market in which we are already active," explains Sampsa Lahtinen, Executive Vice President of Vaisala's Industrial Measurements business area.

"The combination of Vaisala's strong global presence and manufacturing excellence with K-Patents' premium offerings and application know-how creates a robust growth platform for expansion into this market, into which we will continue to invest," Lahtinen continues.

With 40 years of experience in developing quality products for liquid measurement, K-Patents is a global market leader in inline process refractometers for hundreds of applications, such as pulp and paper processing, food and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and semiconductor development. The applications range from determining sugar content in soft drinks and juices to measuring the concentration of chemicals for paper coatings.

"K-Patents is a specialist in the development of high-quality liquid measurement devices, with its main product being the inline process refractometer, which delivers excellent performance data even under challenging environmental conditions. By combining the strengths of the two technology leaders, we can better support our international customers and seize new business opportunities," says Jukka Levo, CEO of K-Patents Oy.

In 2017, K-Patents achieved a net revenue of 11.4 million euros. The company employs 60 people in Finland, the USA, and China. Starting January 1, 2019, Vaisala will publish the results of K-Patents together with the financial figures of its Industrial Measurements division.