ION Science
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersRoyston, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
ION Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ION Science
- Legal name
- Ion Science Ltd
- Website
- https://ionscience.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ION Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Gas Detection Equipment
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD), Fixed Gas Detection & Continuous Monitoring (Sensors/IoT/Telemetry) (EUAJADAB), Gas Leak Detection (Natural Gas/Propane) & Combustible Gas Alarms (HSAHAGAI)
Keywords
Where ION Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Royston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
ION Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Gas Detection Instruments: Manufacture and sale of portable, personal, fixed, and semi-portable gas detectors for detecting hazardous gases across industrial applications. Products include Tiger XT, Tiger XTL, Tiger Select (benzene detection), Cub, Falco, TVOC 2, Panther, GasCheck, GasClam, MVI Mercury Vapour Indicator, and Hydrosteel.
- OEM PID Gas Sensors: Sale of photoionisation detection sensors to other gas detection instrument manufacturers. The company is the world's largest PID sensor manufacturer, supplying sensors to major global gas detection companies.
- Service and Calibration: Factory service and calibration of gas detection instruments. Instruments can be returned to UK headquarters or local Authorised Service Centres for servicing. Factory service recommended every 12 months.
- Accessories and Replacement Parts: Sale of accessories, spare parts, calibration kits, filters, and replacement components for gas detection instruments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Industrial gas detection instruments and OEM sensors sold via direct quotation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
ION Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ION Science manufactures photoionisation detection (PID) based gas detection instruments and OEM PID gas sensors used to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene, mercury vapour, SF6, and other hazardous gases. The company produces portable, personal, fixed, and semi-portable gas detectors, as well as the MiniPID 2 sensor range supplied to other gas detection instrument manufacturers worldwide.
Product overview
ION Science is a leading manufacturer of technologically advanced gas detection instruments and OEM PID (Photoionisation Detection) gas sensors. The product portfolio consists of two main categories: Gas and Leak Detectors (portable, personal, fixed, and semi-portable instruments) and Sensors and Components (OEM PID sensors and development tools). The Gas Detection portfolio includes Tiger XT Select for benzene-specific detection, Tiger XT/LT for general VOC detection, Cub/Cub TAC personal monitors, Ara single gas detector, TVOC 2 and Falco fixed VOC monitors, Titan 2 fixed benzene monitor, Panther gas leak detector with infrared/laser/ultrasonic sensing, SF6 LeakCheck detectors, MVI mercury vapour indicator, and GasClam 2 ground gas monitor. The OEM Sensor portfolio centers on the MiniPID 2 family with variants including PPM WR, PPM, PPB WR, PPB, High Sensitivity, 10.0 eV, 11.7 eV, and PPB XF sensors. All products leverage ION Science's patented Fence Electrode Technology for humidity resistance and anti-contamination. The company serves industries including oil & gas, petrochemical, environmental monitoring, fire/hazmat, semiconductor, manufacturing, and indoor/outdoor air quality. ION Science claims to manufacture more PID sensors than any other gas detection manufacturer worldwide, with sensors detecting over 950 different compounds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ION SENSE: Sensor-dedicated brand launched in 2025 providing high-performance gas sensing solutions, OEM VOC gas sensors, particulate matter sensors, and integration boards.
Products and services
- MiniPID 2 PPM Wide Range VOC Sensor Wide range OEM VOC sensor offering measurement up to 10,000 ppm for detecting Lower Explosive Limit of VOCs and Leak Detection and Repair applications. Used by gas detection instrument manufacturers.
- MiniPID 2 PPM VOC Sensor Standard range OEM VOC sensor with 0 to 4000 ppm measurement range and 100 ppb minimum detection limit. Integrated by gas detection instrument manufacturers.
- MiniPID 2 PPB Wide Range VOC Sensor Wide range OEM PPB sensor with 20 ppb minimum detection limit and range up to 200 ppm for Industrial Health & Safety and Fugitive Emissions applications.
- MiniPID 2 PPB VOC Sensor High sensitivity OEM PPB sensor with 1 ppb minimum detection limit, used by gas detection instrument manufacturers for trace VOC detection.
- MiniPID 2 High Sensitivity VOC Sensor High sensitivity OEM PID sensor detecting trace VOCs from 0.5 ppb up to 3 ppm with self-diagnostic feature for contamination detection.
- MiniPID 2 10.0 eV VOC Sensor Selective OEM VOC sensor using 10.0 eV lamp energy for aromatic compound detection including benzene at 5 ppb minimum detection limit.
- MiniPID 2 11.7 eV VOC Sensor Extended range OEM PID sensor using 11.7 eV lamp to detect chlorocarbons, unsaturated fluorocarbons, formaldehyde, ethylene, and methanol.
- MiniPID 2 PPB XF VOC Sensor Extended filter OEM PPB sensor with 10,000 hour filter and lamp lifetime, humidity resistance, and 1 ppb minimum detection limit.
- Tiger XT Select Benzene PID Gas Detector Portable benzene-specific PID detector with two operation modes for rapid detection of benzene and TACs down to ppb levels, with IP65 rating and 24-hour battery life.
- Tiger XT Portable VOC Gas Detector Handheld VOC detector with humidity resistant design, T90 response time under 2 seconds, large gas table covering over 750 VOCs, and intrinsically safe certification.
- Tiger LT Portable VOC Gas Detector Low-cost handheld VOC detector with humidity resistant sensor and anti-contamination design, awarded Product of the Year by Occupational Health & Safety magazine.
- Cub Personal VOC Monitor Personal PID detector designed for personal exposure monitoring applications, claimed as the world's smallest, lightest, and most sensitive PID detector.
- Ara Single Gas Detector Single gas detector for H2S, CO, SO2, and O2 providing instantaneous alarms for life-critical safety scenarios in industrial environments.
- ARA-X4 Multi-Gas Detector Multi-gas detector launched in 2025 as part of ION Science's innovative gas detection product portfolio.
- TVOC 2 Fixed Continuous VOC Detector Fixed continuous VOC detector incorporating MiniPID 2 sensor technology for continuous detection of total VOCs, ATEX certified for Zone 2 hazardous areas.
- Falco Fixed VOC Monitor Fixed VOC monitor with 'typhoon' technology specifically designed for extreme weather and condensing atmospheres, recommended by major oil industry players.
- Falco 2 11.7 Fixed VOC Monitor Updated Falco fixed VOC monitor with 11.7 eV lamp technology, expanding compound detection capabilities including chlorocarbons and formaldehyde.
- Titan 2 Fixed Benzene Monitor Fixed benzene-specific monitor with reduced cross-sensitivity, detecting benzene at 0.02 ppm to 20 ppm, ATEX/IECEx certified, for petrochemical industry.
- Panther Gas Leak Detector
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000 hours of reliable detection
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ION Science
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ION Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ION Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- LaSen Inc. (via SkySkopes)minorIn June 2023, ION Science India launched the Panther gas leak detector. While not a direct partnership, ION Science's technology competes in the same pipeline leak detection market where SkySkopes acquired LaSen Inc. for geospatial leak detection capabilities.
- TTP VentuscoreExclusive agreement confirmed on 4 September 2019 for ION Science to distribute TTP Ventus's award-winning Disc Pump to the global gas detection market. The micropump platform offers innovative features designed to deliver ultrafast millisecond response and more sensitive detection of gases.
- Shawcity LtdcoreION Science completed negotiations in 2008 to purchase Shawcity Ltd, which became the exclusive UK distributor. Shawcity continues to distribute ION Science products in the UK market and was referenced by Ninewells Hospital as their purchasing source.
- Blackline SafetycoreION Science MiniPID 2 sensor integrated into Blackline's G7 Single-gas Diffusion Cartridge and Multi-gas Diffusion Cartridge. The MiniPID 2 takes advantage of patented Fence Electrode Technology that eliminates humidity influence on VOC readings.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ION Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MSA Safety: Major safety equipment manufacturer with a substantial fixed and portable gas detection portfolio serving oil & gas, mining, fire service, and industrial customers. Comparable as a broad safety incumbent with overlapping gas detection offerings.
- Halma plc: UK-listed group of safety, environmental, and medical technology businesses, parent of Crowcon. Comparable as a larger diversified safety/sensor group that includes a direct gas detection peer.
- Honeywell: Diversified industrial conglomerate with a broad gas detection portfolio (BW, RKI legacy, analytics). Overlaps in portable and fixed gas detection for oil & gas, petrochemical, and industrial safety.
- Dräger: Global safety and medical technology company with a broad portfolio of portable and fixed gas detectors. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the same gas detection category with wider adjacent offerings.
Direct peers
- GasTech: Gas detection specialist offering portable and fixed instruments for combustible, toxic, and oxygen monitoring. Comparable in product range, customer base, and use cases across oil & gas and industrial safety.
- RKI Instruments: Japanese gas detection manufacturer producing portable, fixed, and OEM sensors for combustible and toxic gases. Comparable as a sensor-and-instrument specialist in the same gas detection category.
- Crowcon Detection Instruments: UK-based gas detection specialist (part of Halma plc) producing portable and fixed gas detectors for oil & gas, petrochemical, and industrial safety. Directly comparable as a UK-headquartered gas detection competitor serving overlapping end markets.
- Industrial Scientific: Specialist gas detection company focused on portable and connected gas monitors for industrial safety. Direct peer in product category, target customers, and connected safety technology.
- Sensidyne: US-based gas detection equipment manufacturer and distributor. Comparable as a specialist in fixed and portable gas detection for industrial hygiene and safety applications.
Emerging players
- Blackline Safety: Connected gas detection and lone-worker monitoring company. Comparable as both a customer (integrates ION Science MiniPID 2 sensors) and a participant in the connected worker gas detection space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ION Science social profiles
Digital presenceION Science compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
ION Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ION Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
ION Science subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
ION Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ION Science M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ION Science
What does ION Science do?
ION Science manufactures photoionisation detection (PID) based gas detection instruments and OEM PID gas sensors used to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene, mercury vapour, SF6, and other hazardous gases. The company produces portable, personal, fixed, and semi-portable gas detectors, as well as the MiniPID 2 sensor range supplied to other gas detection instrument manufacturers worldwide.
Is ION Science a public or private company?
ION Science is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was ION Science founded?
ION Science was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ION Science based?
ION Science is headquartered in Royston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ION Science make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Gas Detection Instruments are the primary driver. The others are OEM PID Gas Sensors, service and Calibration and accessories and Replacement Parts.
Who are ION Science's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MSA Safety, Halma plc, Honeywell and Dräger. Direct peers are GasTech, RKI Instruments, Crowcon Detection Instruments, Industrial Scientific and Sensidyne. Blackline Safety is listed as an emerging player.
Does ION Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for ION Science.
What industry is ION Science in?
ION Science's product category is Industrial Gas Detection Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAFAE, Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity), with a secondary code of HDAHALAD, Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3823.