What Hydronix does

Hydronix Ltd. is a privately held, family-owned UK manufacturer founded in 1982 that designs and produces digital microwave moisture measurement sensors for industrial process control. The company's flagship offering is a portfolio of sensors (Hydro-Probe, Hydro-Probe XT, Hydro-Probe Orbiter, Hydro-Probe BX, Hydro-Mix family including XT, XT-FS, XT-EX, HT, and HT-EX variants, and Thermo-Tuff) that detect moisture, Brix, or dissolved solids in flowing materials using proprietary microwave resonance technology. Sensors operate at an optimal measurement frequency with on-board digital signal processing, RS485/Modbus output, and temperature compensation, achieving stated accuracies of 0.2% in aggregates (0.1% in mixers) and 0.5% in other materials, with 25 measurements per second. Substantial engineering effort is reflected in multi-jurisdictional safety certifications (ATEX, IECEx, NEC/CSA for explosive dust; EN 1935/2004 food-safe).

The company operates a three-tier product architecture spanning Measure (sensors), Control (Hydro-Control HC07 water controller with 10.1-inch touchscreen and 99,000+ recipe capacity), and Connect/Manage (Hydro-View touchscreen, Hydro-Hub gateway supporting up to 16 sensors via PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, and Web API; Ethernet Adapter; USB Sensor Interface Module; Hydro-Com free configuration software). Hydronix serves seven primary verticals: Concrete & Construction, Agriculture & Grain Processing, Animal and Fish Nutrition, Food Processing, Bioenergy, Wood Industry, and Paper Pulp, plus secondary applications in asphalt, sugar, rice, and oil-seed processing.

The business model rests on industrial hardware sales (sensors, controllers, accessories) augmented by a 2-year standard warranty and an optional extended 4-year service-replacement warranty that converts some of the install base into recurring revenue. Go-to-market is primarily indirect through a global network of trained resellers spanning 40+ countries, supplemented by direct sales/support offices in the UK (Henley-on-Thames headquarters), US, Germany, France, and China. The product range was most recently expanded in 2022-2023 with hazardous-environment sensors (XT-EX/HT-EX), the HC07 controller, and the Hydro-Probe BX for Brix/dissolved-solids measurement. In February 2025, Jason Laffan transitioned from CEO to Chairman.

Name

Hydronix

Legal name

Hydronix Ltd.

Website

https://hydronix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hydronix, a privately held UK firm founded in 1982, designs and manufactures digital microwave moisture and Brix measurement sensors, controllers, and connectivity products used in concrete, grain processing, animal feed, food, bioenergy, and bulk-solids industries globally via a reseller network and direct offices in five countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Moisture Measurement Sensors

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Sensors (Pressure, Temperature, Flow, Level, Proximity, Vibration) (IMAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK)

Keywords

• Moisture measurement sensors
• Microwave moisture measurement
• Industrial process control
• Brix measurement sensors
• Moisture control systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Normandy

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Moisture Sensors: Sale of digital microwave moisture measurement sensors including Hydro-Probe, Hydro-Mix, Hydro-Probe Orbiter, Hydro-Probe XT, Hydro-Probe BX, and related models. Sensors are sold directly and through global reseller network.
2. Accessories and Connectivity Products: Sale of connectivity and interface products including Hydro-Hub, Hydro-View, Ethernet Adapter, USB Sensor Interface Module, and associated accessories.
3. Hydro-Control Water Controllers: Sale of water control units for concrete production and other applications, including the Hydro-Control HC07 model with 10.1 inch touchscreen display.
4. Software - Hydro-Com: Free downloadable calibration and configuration software for sensors. Hydro-Com can be used to configure, calibrate, and diagnose sensors remotely.
5. Extended Warranty Services: Extended 4-year warranty option providing advanced service replacement policy with immediate unit dispatch worldwide for any failure, regardless of cause.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hydronix designs, manufactures and sells digital microwave moisture measurement sensors along with complementary water controllers, sensor network hubs, touchscreen displays and calibration software. The sensors are installed in bins, chutes, conveyors and mixers across industrial processes to provide real-time, in-line moisture and Brix measurement, and integrate with industrial control systems via RS485, Modbus, PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP and PROFINET. Products are certified for hazardous (dust) atmospheres and food-safe applications and are sold globally through a reseller network and direct offices.

Product overview

Hydronix is a world leader in digital microwave moisture measurement, offering a comprehensive product range of sensors, controllers, connectivity solutions, and software. The portfolio comprises three main sensor categories: (1) Measure sensors for moisture/Brix/temperature measurement including Hydro-Probe, Hydro-Probe Orbiter, Hydro-Mix, Hydro-Mix XT, Hydro-Mix XT-FS (Food Safe), Hydro-Mix XT-EX (Explosive Atmosphere), Hydro-Mix HT, Hydro-Mix HT-EX (High Temp/Explosive Atmosphere), Hydro-Probe XT, Hydro-Probe BX, and Thermo-Tuff (temperature-only); (2) Control products including Hydro-Control (HC07 water controller); and (3) Connect/Manage solutions including Hydro-View (touchscreen display), Hydro-Hub (sensor network gateway with Fieldbus support), Ethernet Adapter, USB Sensor Interface Module, and Hydro-Com (calibration/configuration software). The sensors use digital microwave technology with RS485/Modbus communication, support operating temperatures up to 120°C, and are certified for explosive atmospheres (ATEX, IECEx, NEC/CSA) and food-safe applications (EN 1935/2004). The Hydro-Hub enables integration with PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP, and PROFINET industrial networks. The product range serves industries including concrete, aggregates, grain/bulk solids, food, agriculture, animal feed, asphalt, bioenergy, wood, paper pulp, rice processing, oil seed processing, and sugar production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hydro-Com: Sensor calibration and configuration software for Hydronix moisture sensors.
• Hydro-View
• Hydro-Hub
• Hydro-Control
• Hydro-Probe
• Hydro-Mix

Products and services

• Hydro-Probe Microwave moisture sensor for installation in bins, hoppers, chutes and conveyor belts in harsh concrete and aggregate environments.
• Hydro-Probe Orbiter Microwave moisture sensor designed specifically for installation in rotary pan mixers, used in concrete and aggregate applications.
• Hydro-Mix Flush-mount microwave moisture sensor for installation in mixers and conveyors in concrete, construction and aggregate applications.
• Hydro-Mix XT Flush-mount digital microwave moisture sensor for mixers and conveyors handling grain and bulk solids, operating up to 60°C, temperature compensated and unaffected by dust or colour.
• Hydro-Mix XT-EX Flush-mount digital microwave moisture sensor certified for explosive atmospheres (dust environments), ATEX/IECEx/NEC/CSA certified for Zone 20/21 up to 60°C, used in food, animal feed and biomass processing.
• Hydro-Mix XT-FS Food-safe flush-mount digital microwave moisture sensor compliant with EN 1935/2004 for use in mixers and conveyors in food-safe applications.
• Hydro-Mix HT High-temperature digital microwave moisture sensor with process temperature range up to 120°C for dryers, storage inlets and other high-temperature industrial processes.
• Hydro-Mix HT-EX High-temperature flush-mount digital microwave moisture sensor certified for explosive dust atmospheres (Zone 20), operating up to 120°C in hazardous high-temperature dust environments.
• Hydro-Probe XT
• Hydro-Probe BX Digital Brix, moisture and dissolved solids sensor for mounting in pressurised vessels, operating up to 120°C for liquids, dissolved solids, dust products, paints and pharmaceutical powders.
• Thermo-Tuff
• Hydro-Control (HC07) Precision 10.1-inch LCD touchscreen water controller for concrete production, supporting over 99,000 recipes and integrating with Hydro-Mix and Hydro-Probe Orbiter sensors for automated water addition.
• Hydro-View 10.1-inch touchscreen system (Model HV05) for displaying data and managing up to 16 Hydronix sensors, with 256 calibrations per sensor and live display for up to 6 sensors.
• Hydro-Hub DIN-rail-mount sensor network hub (Model HH01) that connects up to 16 Hydronix sensors to office and Fieldbus networks, with a web browser interface, Web API, and support for PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP and PROFINET via expansion modules.
• Ethernet Adapter
• USB Sensor Interface Module
• Hydro-Com
• Extended 4-Year Warranty with Service Replacement

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-month average ROI for moisture control investment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Modbus OrganizationcoreTechnology or IntegrationHydronix supports Modbus RTU communication protocol. All moisture sensors utilizing firmware HS0102 v1.11.00 or above have the option to enable Modbus. Most recent sensors can be upgraded to support this industrial communication standard.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MoistTech Corp. Direct competitor offering inline NIR and microwave moisture sensors for bulk solids, food, and industrial process applications — directly addresses the same moisture-measurement niche as Hydronix.
• NDC Technologies: Provides online NIR and microwave moisture measurement sensors for industrial processes including food, tobacco, paper, and bulk materials — overlapping solution, customer base, and technology to Hydronix.
• PCE Instruments: Sells handheld and inline moisture measurement devices used in construction materials, grain, and bulk solids — competes in the same end-markets as Hydronix at a broader price/scale tier.
• Kett US (Kett Electric Laboratory): Manufactures near-infrared and resistive moisture testers for grain, food, paper, and concrete — overlapping measurement technology and vertical coverage with Hydronix.
• CEM Corporation: Provides microwave moisture/solids analyzers for laboratory and at-line process use in food and industrial applications — comparable technology stack and end-markets to Hydronix.

Emerging players

• BinMaster Level Controls: Supplies sensors (moisture, level, flow) for bulk solids handling in bins, silos, and conveyors — overlaps with Hydronix's bulk-solids moisture applications, but primarily known for level measurement.

Broad incumbents

• Mettler-Toledo International: Global precision instrument maker offering moisture analyzers plus broader lab and industrial scales/sensors — competes with Hydronix on industrial moisture but with a much wider portfolio.
• Endress+Hauser: Leading process instrumentation provider offering a broad range of industrial sensors including moisture and analytical measurement — partial overlap with Hydronix's industrial sensor range.
• VEGA Grieshaber: Major industrial sensor manufacturer specializing in level and pressure measurement, with growing capabilities in process instrumentation — serves overlapping OEM and process-industry customers as Hydronix.
• AMETEK (Process & Analytical Instruments): Diversified industrial electronics company whose Process & Analytical Instruments division includes moisture and gas analyzers — broader portfolio but addresses overlapping moisture-sensing use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HydronixLtd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hydronix