VPInstruments
VPInstruments (Van Putten Instruments B.V.) is a Dutch privately held industrial automation company that designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary thermal mass flow meters, dew point sensors, power meters, and the VPVision monitoring platform for compressed air and industrial gas measurement, serving manufacturing plants in glass, automotive, electronics, food and beverage, and steel verticals worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersDelft, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What VPInstruments does
VPInstruments (legal entity Van Putten Instruments B.V.) is a privately held Dutch industrial automation company headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, founded in 1999 to commercialize the Thermabridge thermal mass flow sensor technology originally invented by co-founder Anton van Putten in 1974. The company designs, develops, and manufactures compressed air and industrial gas monitoring solutions built around its proprietary VPFlowScope family of insertion and in-line flow meters, which measure mass flow, pressure, temperature, and total flow simultaneously in a single 4-in-1 sensor. Supporting instruments include dew point sensors (including an extreme-dry-air variant for semiconductor use), three-phase power meters, ultrasonic leak detectors, hot-tap installation tooling, and cellular routers for remote connectivity. Sensor data is aggregated in the VPVision energy monitoring software platform, which provides real-time visualization, alarms, reporting, and virtual-channel aggregation across the compressed air utility.
VPInstruments sells primarily to discrete manufacturing plants in vertical segments including steel, glass, food and beverage, automotive, electronics and semiconductor, textile, and consumer goods manufacturing, with named reference customers including Kikkoman, Libbey, IKEA, Toyota, Nestle, Philips, and GSK. The company combines direct enterprise field sales from the Netherlands with regional sales and marketing offices in the United States and the United Kingdom, and routes additional geographic reach through a global distributor network. Smaller and self-service customers can purchase directly through the company's e-commerce webshop.
Revenue is generated through a mix of hardware sales (flow meters, sensors, leak detectors), recurring annual software subscriptions for the VPVision platform priced per measurement channel, Equipment-as-a-Service agreements bundling hardware and software with annual recalibration, and professional services for compressed air audits. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held, appears to be founder-owned, has not disclosed institutional funding, and reports a headcount in the 11-50 range with no acquisition, IPO, or leadership transition events disclosed in the source material.
VPInstruments firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VPInstruments
- Legal name
- Van Putten Instruments B.V.
- Website
- https://vpinstruments.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VPInstruments (Van Putten Instruments B.V.) is a Dutch privately held industrial automation company that designs, manufactures, and sells proprietary thermal mass flow meters, dew point sensors, power meters, and the VPVision monitoring platform for compressed air and industrial gas measurement, serving manufacturing plants in glass, automotive, electronics, food and beverage, and steel verticals worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VPInstruments industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Compressed Air Monitoring Equipment
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Controls, Monitoring & Condition Management (for Pumps/Compressors) (IMAHANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)
Keywords
Where VPInstruments is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delft
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
VPInstruments business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware - Flow Meters and Sensors: VPInstruments sells a range of flow meters including VPFlowScope M, DP, Probe, and In-line variants. These are insertion and in-line thermal mass flow meters and differential pressure flow meters for compressed air and industrial gases. Also includes power meters, dew point sensors, and leak detectors.
- VPVision Software Subscription: VPVision energy monitoring software is sold as an annual subscription service. The subscription includes software and firmware updates, remote support, and for equipment-as-a-service agreements, hardware maintenance. Standard contract period is 1 year with automatic renewal. Pricing is based on number of measurement channels/measurands connected to VPVision monitoring hardware.
- Equipment as a Service: VPInstruments offers equipment rental/lease arrangements where customers pay an annual fee for both software usage and hardware equipment. Equipment is maintained by VPInstruments and includes annual recalibration rights.
- Professional Services - Air Audits: VPInstruments provides compressed air audit services using their flow meters and expertise to help customers identify energy savings opportunities in their compressed air systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | VPVision Software Subscription - channel-based pricing |
| Subscription | Annual | Equipment as a Service |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
VPInstruments product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VPInstruments develops and produces user-friendly monitoring solutions for compressed air and industrial gases, including insertion and in-line thermal mass flow meters, dew point sensors, power meters, and the VPVision energy monitoring software platform. Their VPFlowScope product family uses proprietary Thermabridge technology to simultaneously measure mass flow, pressure, temperature, and total flow, enabling manufacturing plants to identify energy waste, detect leaks, and optimize compressed air systems. Products are developed and produced at the company's factory in Delft, Netherlands, and shipped worldwide.
Product overview
VPInstruments offers a unified portfolio of compressed air and industrial gas monitoring solutions built around their VPFlowScope flow meter family and VPVision energy monitoring platform. The product lineup includes insertion flow meters (VPFlowScope DP for wet/saturated air, VPFlowScope M for dry air, VPFlowScope Probe for inline measurements) and inline flow meters for smaller pipes, all featuring 4-in-1 measurement capability (flow, pressure, temperature, total flow) with bi-directional sensing. These connect to the VPVision software platform which aggregates data via Modbus/TCP and analogue sensors for real-time monitoring, reporting, and alarm management. Supporting products include dew point sensors (standard and extreme dry air variants), power meters, data loggers (VPLog-i series), and the VP Leak Detector for ultrasound-based leak detection. Installation is facilitated by hot tap equipment allowing insertion meter installation without system shutdown. The VPRouter provides cellular connectivity for remote access to the monitoring system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VPFlowScope DP Insertion flow meter specifically designed for wet and saturated compressed air measurements, part of VPInstruments' 4-in-1 sensor family that simultaneously measures mass flow, pressure, temperature, and total flow. Used by manufacturing plants for compressed air system monitoring.
- VPFlowScope M Insertion flow meter suited for dry compressed air and technical gases after a dryer, measuring flow, pressure, and temperature with bi-directional capability. Used in manufacturing plants for compressed air and industrial gas monitoring.
- VPFlowScope M Thermal In-line Thermal in-line flow meter for direct installation in pipelines, measuring mass flow, pressure, and temperature. Used for continuous compressed air monitoring in industrial pipelines.
- VPFlowScope In-line Inline flow meters built for small pipes up to 2 inches, part of the same VPFlowScope product family for consistent usage across different measurement points in compressed air systems.
- VPFlowScope Probe 4-in-1 insertion probe measuring mass flow, pressure, temperature, and total flow simultaneously, suitable for main pipeline and machine-level installation in compressed air systems.
- VPVision Energy monitoring software platform that collects real-time measurement data from sensors, analyzes energy flows, generates reports, and sends alarms via email. Supports Modbus/TCP and analogue sensors for comprehensive utility monitoring in manufacturing plants.
- VP Dew Point Sensor Dew point sensor providing accurate measurement of compressed air pipeline moisture levels, helping prevent production downtime and product rejection in industrial systems.
- VP Leak Detector Ultrasonic leak detector for identifying compressed air leaks in industrial systems, enabling users to rank leaks by savings potential.
- 3 Phase Power Meter Power meter for monitoring electricity consumption of compressors and other industrial equipment, contributing to a complete energy management picture.
- VPLog-i Data Logger Data logger for mobile monitoring and convenient air audits, recording measurement data for later analysis during compressed air audits.
- VPFlowScope Audit Kits Complete audit kits containing VPFlowScope insertion flow meters with integrated data loggers for temporary monitoring during compressed air system audits.
- Hot Tap Installation Equipment Hot tap drill and saddle fittings for installing insertion flow meters in pressurized compressed air systems without system depressurization or production shutdown.
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy cost reduction of up to 50%
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use VPInstruments
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
VPInstruments technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
VPInstruments partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
VPInstruments competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ABB: Swiss-Swedish industrial automation and measurement company with flow, pressure, and energy analytics offerings. Overlaps indirectly with VPInstruments in industrial energy and flow monitoring as part of its larger digital industries portfolio.
- Siemens: German industrial automation giant whose SITRANS flow measurement and MindSphere/Insights Hub energy monitoring portfolios overlap with VPFlowScope and VPVision. Indirect competitor via bundling into broader digital factory stacks.
- Endress+Hauser: Swiss global leader in industrial process measurement instrumentation, including flow, pressure, and analytics. A much larger, broader-line competitor that overlaps with VPInstruments on industrial flow measurement but operates across many more verticals and product categories.
- Atlas Copco: Swedish global leader in compressed air equipment, compressors, and industrial tools. Competes indirectly with VPInstruments through its compressor-installed base and broader smart factory monitoring offerings like Optimizer 4.0.
Direct peers
- CS Instruments GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of compressed air and gas flow meters, dew point sensors, and energy monitoring software. Directly competes with VPInstruments in the same niche with similar thermal mass flow and differential pressure product lines targeting industrial energy managers.
- Bronkhorst High-Tech B.V. Dutch specialist in thermal mass flow meters and controllers for industrial gases, headquartered in the Netherlands. Closely comparable on thermal mass flow technology, target applications (compressed air, technical gases), and European industrial customer base.
- Sierra Instruments: US-based manufacturer of thermal mass flow meters for industrial gases and compressed air. Overlaps directly with VPFlowScope product family on measurement principle and target customers in industrial energy management.
- Fluid Components International (FCI): US manufacturer of thermal dispersion and thermal mass flow meters for industrial gas and air measurement. Targets similar plant engineering and process optimization use cases with comparable insertion flow meter offerings.
- Höntzsch GmbH: German specialist in thermal flow sensors and flow meters for gases and air. Closely comparable on thermal measurement technology, insertion flow meters, and industrial compressed air monitoring applications.
- Kobold Messring GmbH: German manufacturer of flow, level, pressure, and temperature measurement instruments including flow meters for compressed air. Competes in the same mid-market industrial sensor category with a broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
VPInstruments social profiles
Digital presenceVPInstruments financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VPInstruments leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
VPInstruments funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VPInstruments 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 VPInstruments
What does VPInstruments do?
VPInstruments develops and produces user-friendly monitoring solutions for compressed air and industrial gases, including insertion and in-line thermal mass flow meters, dew point sensors, power meters, and the VPVision energy monitoring software platform. Their VPFlowScope product family uses proprietary Thermabridge technology to simultaneously measure mass flow, pressure, temperature, and total flow, enabling manufacturing plants to identify energy waste, detect leaks, and optimize compressed air systems. Products are developed and produced at the company's factory in Delft, Netherlands, and shipped worldwide.
Is VPInstruments a public or private company?
VPInstruments is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was VPInstruments founded?
VPInstruments was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VPInstruments based?
VPInstruments is headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does VPInstruments make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware - Flow Meters and Sensors are the primary driver. The others are VPVision Software Subscription, equipment as a Service and professional Services - Air Audits.
Who are VPInstruments's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ABB, Siemens, Endress+Hauser and Atlas Copco. Direct peers are CS Instruments GmbH & Co. KG, Bronkhorst High-Tech B.V., Sierra Instruments, Fluid Components International (FCI), Höntzsch GmbH and Kobold Messring GmbH.
Does VPInstruments have an API?
No public API is recorded for VPInstruments.
What industry is VPInstruments in?
VPInstruments's product category is Compressed Air Monitoring Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHANAI, Controls, Monitoring & Condition Management (for Pumps/Compressors), with a secondary code of IMAHAGAC, Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3823.