Hycontrol

What Hycontrol does

Hycontrol Limited, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Redditch, Worcestershire, United Kingdom, is a private industrial instrumentation company that designs, manufactures, installs, and services level measurement, silo protection, and foam control systems. Since 2022–2024 the company has operated as ENVEA UK within the broader ENVEA Group, an environmental measuring solutions provider, while retaining the Hycontrol brand and product portfolio. The company employs 11–50 people and has cumulatively supplied over 500,000 level measurement systems through a network of 60 distributors worldwide. Its product portfolio spans continuous level measurement (radar, TDR / guided wave radar, ultrasonic), point-level switches (vibrating probes for solids and liquids, microwave, capacitance, admittance, rotary paddle), silo protection systems (SHIELD Lite and Hyvent filter venting units, the latter featuring Ground Level Testing), foam control systems (SureSense+ controller with patented IMA Sensing technology, SmartFoam sensor, PFRC automated antifoam dosing panel), and customized bitumen safety systems compliant with Eurobitume standards.

Hycontrol's underlying technology relies on multiple physical measurement principles selected to match application requirements, with patented IMA Sensing enabling foam detection that tolerates probe fouling and proprietary Ground Level Testing allowing full safety system validation without working at height. The company is the only silo protection system manufacturer whose products meet and exceed Mineral Products Association (MPA) safety guidelines, developed collaboratively with MPA, and holds SafeContractor approval, MPQC training accreditation, and ATEX certifications for hazardous-area deployments. Products are designed and manufactured in-house at the Redditch headquarters and supplemented by specialised projects for overfill prevention, inventory monitoring, alarm panels, and custom turnkey solutions.

Hycontrol earns revenue through five streams: (1) hardware and equipment sales of level measurement, silo protection, foam control, and bitumen safety systems, (2) installation services delivered by Safety Passport-approved engineers, (3) managed service contracts including preventative maintenance and an exhaustive 60-point service check using dedicated pressure and load-test rigs, (4) MPQC-accredited silo pressure safety training courses at £275 per attendee with optional MPQC certification, and (5) equipment repair services at £275 minimum per unit (£287/$330 overseas), with service engineer labour at £85/hour. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for hardware; UK leasing is available for orders over £2,000, with standard 30-day payment terms. The company serves enterprise customers across quarry and aggregate (primary segment with named relationships at Aggregate Industries, Marshalls, Tarmac, Hanson, Lafarge Holcim), food and beverage (Kellogg's, Nestlé, Pinguin Foods), water and waste (Severn Trent, United Utilities, Southern Water), chemical and pharmaceutical (GSK, BASF), oil and gas (BP, Shell), and environmental (UK Environment Agency), with additional international deployments at Martin Marietta (USA), Cemento Cruz Azul (Mexico), Tata Chemicals (India), and ENDESA (Chile). Distribution combines enterprise field sales, a 60-partner global distributor network, inside sales via phone and email, and remote web demonstrations on functioning silo protection rigs.

Name

Hycontrol

Legal name

Hycontrol Limited

Website

https://www.hycontrol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hycontrol specializes in industrial level measurement and control technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Level Measurement and Control

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO)

Keywords

• Level measurement systems
• Silo protection systems
• Foam control systems
• Industrial level sensors
• Bitumen safety systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Redditch

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware and Equipment Sales: Hycontrol manufactures and supplies level measurement equipment including continuous level measurement devices (radar, TDR, ultrasonic), point level switches (vibrating probes, microwave, rotary paddle, capacitance, admittance), silo protection systems, foam control systems, bitumen safety systems, and other products including pressure switches, rotary paddle switches, plumb bobs, float switches, and chart recorders.
2. Installation Services: Complete turnkey installation services provided by Hycontrol's own trained engineers, including Safety Passport approved personnel. All-in-one installation covering process connections, mounting, and cabling.
3. Service, Support and Maintenance: After-sales service including structured preventative maintenance, calibration, and technical support. Annual service contracts available. Servicing includes exhaustive 60-point service checks of complete systems from top to bottom using specially-designed pressure and load-test rigs.
4. Training Services: MPQC-accredited silo pressure safety training courses offered at Hycontrol's Redditch headquarters. Advanced full-day silo safety course with optional MPQC certificate. Training for customers and industry representatives covering causes of silo over-pressurisation, risks, and practical solutions.
5. Returns and Repairs: Equipment repair service with minimum charge of £275 per unit for UK Mainland (includes shipping) and €287/$330 for overseas (shipping not included). Investigation commenced upon receipt of Purchase Order.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hycontrol designs, manufactures, and supplies industrial level measurement and control equipment, including continuous level sensors (radar, TDR, ultrasonic), point level switches (vibrating probes, microwave, capacitance, admittance, rotary paddle), award-winning silo protection systems (SHIELD Lite, Hyvent), patented foam control systems using IMA Sensing technology (SureSense+, SmartFoam, PFRC), and Eurobitume-compliant bitumen safety systems. The company provides a complete turnkey service covering free initial survey, system design, in-house manufacturing, installation by Safety Passport-approved engineers, calibration, structured preventative maintenance with 60-point service checks, repairs, and MPQC-accredited silo safety training.

Product overview

Hycontrol is a complete turnkey supplier of level measurement, silo protection, and foam control solutions since 1983. The product portfolio includes: (1) Silo Protection Systems featuring SHIELD Lite and Hyvent filter units for over-pressurisation safety; (2) Continuous Measurement technologies including Radar, TDR (guided wave radar), and Ultrasonic sensors; (3) Level Switches spanning Vibrating probes (for solids and liquids), Microwave, Capacitance, Admittance, and Rotary paddle switches; (4) Foam Control products including SureSense+ controller, SmartFoam sensor, and PFRC Automated Antifoam Dosing Panel, all utilizing patented IMA Sensing technology; (5) Bitumen Safety Systems compliant with Eurobitume standards; and (6) Special Projects for custom-designed turnkey solutions. Services include design, installation, calibration, support, servicing, and MPQC-accredited training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHIELD Lite: Award-winning silo protection system for essential site safety, meeting and exceeding Mineral Products Association (MPA) guidelines
• SureSense+
• SureSense
• SmartFoam
• Hyvent
• FloatSense

Products and services

• Vibrating Level Probes (Solids) Point-level devices that dampen natural oscillation frequency when contacting solid products; diamond-shaped design avoids product build-up between forks, with ground-level testing capability.
• Vibrating Level Probes (Liquids) Point-level devices that sense frequency change when contacting liquid surface, causing the unit to switch.
• SHIELD Lite Silo Protection System Award-winning silo protection system protecting silos from over-pressurisation risks during pneumatic filling operations, with failsafe butterfly inlet control valve, integrated pressure relief valve with GLT, IP65-rated panel with beacon and siren, VIPER seals, and ratio alarms; meets and exceeds MPA safety guidelines.
• Hyvent Silo Filter Venting Unit Dust collector and filter unit designed specifically to vent silos during the filling process without allowing valuable powdered product to escape.
• SureSense+ Foam Controller Advanced wall-mounted foam controller with patented IMA Sensing technology, connecting to up to three sensors for monitoring and independent dosing control across single or multiple process vessels.
• SmartFoam Cost-effective foam sensor solution for basic foam applications.
• PFRC Automated Antifoam Dosing Panel Panel combining high-accuracy foam detection with precision defoaming chemical dosing, activating a dosing pump to control foam at fixed level or reduce foam height.
• Radar Level Sensors Non-contact level control gauges immune to dust, vacuum, humidity, foam, and variations in product, for advanced level measurement across various applications.
• TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) Sensors Contact-based guided wave radar measurement ('radar on a rope') using a probe or cable lowered into a vessel for reliable product monitoring.
• Ultrasonic Probes Non-contact ultrasonic level monitoring and measurement solutions available in Microflex D, Microflex LR, Miniflex LR, and Reflex LR variants for various range requirements.
• Microwave Level Switches Non-contact, non-intrusive level switches using 24 GHz microwave technology for dry powder or granular products, including blocked chute detection and flow monitoring.
• Capacitance Probes ME Series capacitance probes providing precise and reliable level switching across a wide variety of industrial applications.
• Admittance Switches Admittance technology switches that work with significant build-up on the probe without false switching.
• Rotary Paddle Switches Solid product level switches suitable for cement, sand, and plastic pellets, available with various extension lengths and paddle shape options.
• Bitumen Safety Systems Customised bitumen safety systems compliant with Eurobitume standards, featuring level gauges, high-level and ultimate high-level alarms, LED traffic lights, ground-level test facilities, and ATEX options.
• Pneumatic and Hydraulic Switches Switches distributed from leading manufacturers including CCS, Parker Hannifin, and ControlAir.
• Float Switches Uncomplicated, inexpensive liquid-level sensors that are easy to install and designed for long life.
• Chart Recorders and Indicators Digital units for displaying and recording information from level monitoring equipment.
• Special Projects Complete end-to-end special projects service covering overfill prevention, inventory monitoring, alarm and display panels, custom-designed systems, and turnkey solutions.
• Installation Services Complete turnkey installation service provided by Hycontrol's own Safety Passport-approved trained engineers, covering process connections, mounting, and cabling for an all-in-one installation.
• Service, Support and Maintenance After-sales service including structured preventative maintenance, calibration, technical support, annual service contracts, and exhaustive 60-point service checks using specially-designed pressure and load-test rigs.
• MPQC-Accredited Silo Safety Training Advanced full-day MPQC-accredited silo pressure safety training course covering essential principles, advanced maintenance training, hands-on demonstrations, causes of silo over-pressurisation, risks, and practical solutions, with optional MPQC certificate.
• Returns and Repairs Equipment repair service with minimum charge of £275 per unit for UK Mainland (includes shipping) and €287/$330 for overseas (shipping not included); investigation commences upon receipt of Purchase Order.
• FloatSense Foam Monitoring System Foam monitoring system co-developed with FLSmidth for extracting valuable minerals in flotation cells in the mining industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce antifoam use by up to 99%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• ENVEA GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHycontrol is now known as ENVEA UK as part of the ENVEA Group. This partnership provides expanded distribution and support along with access to a wide portfolio of ambient, emissions and process environmental measuring solutions. ENVEA UK head office is located in Cambridge.
• FLSmidthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHycontrol worked alongside FLSmidth, a renowned engineering company, to develop the FloatSense foam monitoring system specifically for extracting valuable minerals in flotation cells for the mining industry.
• Mineral Products Association (MPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHycontrol collaborated with MPA on new guidance for safer pressurised tanker deliveries. MPA has published comprehensive guidance for prevention of storage silo over-pressurisation. Hycontrol is the only SPS manufacturer whose systems both meet and exceed MPA safety guidelines.
• Eurobitume (formerly Refined Bitumen Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHycontrol designed bitumen safety systems per safety guidelines and codes of practice issued by Eurobitume. Working to this standard is essential for reducing bitumen overspill incidents.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VEGA Grieshaber: German privately-held specialist in industrial level, point level, and pressure measurement instruments across multiple sensing principles (radar, ultrasonic, capacitive, guided wave). Directly comparable to Hycontrol in product range and target customers (chemicals, food, water, quarry/cement).
• Magnetrol (AMETEK): Specialist manufacturer of level and interface measurement instruments (guided wave radar, ultrasonic, capacitance, thermal dispersion) for process industries. Directly comparable to Hycontrol's level switch and continuous measurement product families.
• UWT Level Control: German specialist in level measurement for bulk solids and liquids (rotary paddle, vibrating fork, capacitance, radar). Closely comparable to Hycontrol's quarry/aggregate and silo-protection focus.
• Pulsar Process Measurement: UK-based specialist in ultrasonic level and flow measurement for water/wastewater, industrial, and environmental applications. Comparable to Hycontrol's ultrasonic measurement product line and overlapping UK customer base.
• Berthold Technologies: German specialist in radiometric (nuclear) level, density, and moisture measurement as well as process analytics. Comparable niche measurement focus and process-industry customer base to Hycontrol.
• BinMaster: US-based specialist in level measurement and inventory management for bulk solids (silos, bins, tanks) serving agriculture, cement, mining, and food. Directly comparable to Hycontrol's silo-protection and aggregate-vertical focus.

Broad incumbents

• Endress+Hauser: Swiss family-owned global leader in industrial process measurement and automation, including a comprehensive level measurement portfolio. Comparable to Hycontrol in core level/pressure offerings but with much broader portfolio (flow, analysis, temperature) and far larger global scale.
• Siemens Process Automation: Global industrial automation incumbent offering SITRANS level measurement instruments alongside broader process automation portfolio. Competes with Hycontrol in industrial measurement but with vastly broader scope.
• ABB Measurement & Analytics: Global process automation incumbent offering level, pressure, temperature, and analytical instrumentation. Directly competes with Hycontrol in industrial measurement segments while operating a much larger diversified portfolio.
• KROHNE: German process instrumentation specialist with strong level, flow, and analytical measurement portfolio serving chemical, oil & gas, water, and food industries. Comparable in measurement depth and industrial customer base, broader in portfolio scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Hycontrol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Facebookfacebook.com/hycontrol.level
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hycontrol-limited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Hycontrol