IMA

What IMA does

IMA (legal entity: International Moisture Analysers Limited) is a UK-based specialist distributor and integrator of industrial measurement and analysis instrumentation, founded in 1991 and operating from Shipley and Baildon, West Yorkshire. The company represents and supports more than ten proprietary third-party brands — including Leakwise (electromagnetic energy absorption oil-on-water detection), INOV8 (oil-in-water analysis), Dr Thiedig (steam water analysis systems), Process Vision/LineVu (real-time video pipeline monitoring), Alpha Moisture Systems and Phymetrix (dew point and nanopore moisture sensing), Rotronics (humidity/temperature), Crowcon and IGD (gas detection), and PermAlert (data center liquid leak detection) — providing a single specialist channel for buyers who would otherwise need to contract multiple niche vendors across oil & gas, power generation, water treatment, data centers, pharmaceutical, marine, and food & beverage industries.

The underlying technology is classical industrial instrumentation rather than software or AI: floating electromagnetic sensors detecting hydrocarbon layers as thin as 0.3 mm, TDR-based sensing cables for liquid leak detection in data center cooling infrastructure, nanopore moisture sensors for trace measurement in natural gas and SF6, micro gas chromatographs for import/export gas quality analysis, and fixed gas detection systems compliant with BS EN 60079-29-2:2015. The portfolio spans both portable/handheld instruments for spot-checking and permanent fixed installations integrated into BMS/SCADA systems via Modbus, BACnet, SNMP, and dry contact.

IMA operates a sales-led, direct-to-enterprise go-to-market with no e-commerce or self-service pricing — all quotes are bespoke. Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales, short- and long-term equipment rentals, recurring NIST-traceable calibration services, gas detection servicing and certification, and specialized marker trace services. The customer base includes oil & gas majors (Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Valero, Esso, Petrofac, Wood), government and infrastructure (HMRC, Network Rail, Crossrail, Heathrow Airport, BPA), and growing exposure to data center operators through the 2025 PermAlert launch. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or institutional investors, suggesting a self-funded specialist channel operating across the UK and internationally via its brand partnerships.

Name

IMA

Legal name

International Moisture Analysers Limited

Website

https://ima.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IMA (International Moisture Analysers Limited) is a UK-based specialist distributor founded in 1991 that represents more than ten proprietary industrial measurement brands — covering oil-on-water detection, dew point, gas detection, steam water analysis, and liquid leak detection — for enterprise customers in oil & gas, data centers, power generation, pharma, and water treatment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Measurement Instrumentation

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Testing & Monitoring (HSAOAIAD)

Keywords

• Industrial measurement instrumentation
• Oil-on-water detection
• Dew point analysis
• Gas detection systems
• Leak detection solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Baildon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Instrumentation and Equipment Sales: IMA sells a broad range of measurement and analysis instruments including oil-on-water detectors, gas chromatographs, dew point analysers, gas detection systems, relative humidity transmitters, and liquid carryover monitors. Products are sold as standalone instruments or as part of integrated measurement solutions, with pricing varying by specification and configuration.
2. Equipment Rental: IMA offers portable analysis equipment for rental on a short or long-term basis, including the Inov8 HH oil-in-water analyser and AMS SADPmin2 dewpoint analyser. This provides flexibility for customers who need equipment for specific projects or temporary monitoring needs.
3. Calibration and Servicing: IMA provides laboratory standard NIST traceable dewpoint and trace moisture calibration services, as well as comprehensive gas detection servicing including calibration, maintenance, and adherence to industry standards (BS EN 60079-29-2:2015, PUWER, DSEAR, etc.). These services generate recurring service revenue.
4. Marker Trace Services: IMA provides marker trace service inquiries and support through their specialized team.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IMA (International Moisture Analysers Limited) is a UK-based specialist that distributes, integrates, and services industrial measurement and analysis instrumentation. Its portfolio spans oil-on-water and oil-in-water detection, dew point and humidity analysis, gas detection, liquid leak detection, steam water analysis, liquid carryover monitoring, and gas chromatography, sold and rented to industrial customers with calibration and field servicing wrapped around the hardware.

Product overview

IMA (International Moisture Analysers Limited) provides measurement and analysis solutions as a portfolio of specialized products rather than a unified platform. The core offerings include: Leakwise oil-on-water detection systems using electromagnetic energy absorption technology; INOV8 oil-in-water analyzers; Dr Thiedig steam water analysis and sampling systems (SWAS); gas detection products from IGD and Crowcon; PermAlert liquid leak detection systems for data centers and industrial applications; Process Vision/LineVu liquid carryover monitoring with video capabilities; and dew point/humidity measurement solutions from Alpha Moisture Systems, Phymetrix, and Rotronics. The company also offers ultra-fast gas chromatographs for gas quality analysis. Services include dewpoint calibrations, equipment rentals, marker trace services, and specialized gas detection servicing. IMA serves industries including upstream/downstream oil and gas, power generation, data centers, pharmaceutical, marine, food and beverage, and water treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Leakwise sensors detect as little as 0.3mm (300 microns) of hydrocarbon oil layer in water, enabling early leak detection before significant environmental damage occurs.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leakwise (Agar Technologies / Ionics)coreTechnology or IntegrationLeakwise, originally founded as Agar Technologies Ltd in 1990 as a spin-off from Agar Corporation Inc., developed electromagnetic energy absorption technology for environmental applications. In 1999 the company was acquired by Ionics Inc. and renamed. IMA distributes and supports Leakwise oil-on-water detection and monitoring systems in the UK and internationally.
• Dr. ThiedigcoreTechnology or IntegrationDr. Thiedig is a German manufacturer of steam water analysis and sampling systems (SWAS) with decades of experience and over 5,000 customers worldwide. IMA distributes Dr Thiedig products, including analysis systems, high pressure valves, sample coolers, and regeneration systems for the UK market.
• INOV8coreTechnology or IntegrationINOV8 developed the state-of-the-art Oil in Water Analyzer in close collaboration with key customers to solve real-world challenges. IMA distributes the INOV8 Oil in Water Analyzer for both discharge monitoring and process control applications.
• Process Vision (LineVu)coreTechnology or IntegrationProcess Vision provides LineVu, a liquid carryover detection system with real-time video streaming inside pipelines. IMA distributes Process Vision's LineVu technology for midstream and downstream gas processing applications.
• Alpha Moisture SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationAlpha Moisture Systems manufactures a wide range of dew point meters and hygrometers for trace moisture measurement in gases and dry compressed air, covering a range from +20°C to -110°C dew point (23,000 ppm down to nearly 1 ppb). IMA distributes their products.
• CrowconcoreTechnology or IntegrationCrowcon offers a flexible range of fixed gas detection products detecting flammable, toxic, and oxygen gases in arduous environments including oil and gas, water treatment, and chemical plants. IMA distributes Crowcon gas detection products.
• International Gas Detectors (IGD)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational Gas Detectors (IGD) develops, manufactures, and markets a complete range of gas detection products designed to protect people and plant against gas hazards. IGD provides initial consultancy through system design to installation — a true turn-key capability. IMA distributes IGD products.
• PermAlertcoreTechnology or IntegrationPermAlert, a new product offering from IMA in 2025, provides comprehensive leak detection solutions for both air cooled and liquid cooling data centers, detecting oil, hydrocarbon, dielectric fluids and deionized water. IMA is distributing PermAlert PAL series systems.
• PhymetrixcoreTechnology or IntegrationPhymetrix manufactures innovative products for trace moisture measurement including fast, accurate handheld portable dew point meters and bench top moisture analysers with proprietary nanopore sensor technology. Their bench top analysers are the only ones with a built-in vacuum pump for low-pressure sampling. IMA distributes Phymetrix products.
• RotronicscoreTechnology or IntegrationRotronics (HygroFlex series) provides state-of-the-art HVAC transmitters for relative humidity, temperature, and dew point measurement based on AirChip3000 technology, offering accuracy up to <±0.8 %rh and ±0.1 K. IMA distributes Rotronics products.
• SRA Instruments (Gas Chromatographs)coreTechnology or IntegrationSRA Instruments provides micro gas chromatographs and analyzers including the MicroGC SRA Portfolio, PGC 990, and R990 configurations for biogas, biomethane, natural gas analysis, and BTU calculations. IMA distributes SRA gas chromatograph products.
• Prospect Global Ltd (Sopro)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSopro is a digital marketing agent appointed by IMA to conduct marketing activity on their behalf. Sopro is registered with the ICO (ZA346877) and acts as a data processor for compliant processing of personal information.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AMETEK: US industrial conglomerate with a Process & Analytical Instruments division covering moisture, gas chromatography, and process measurement. Comparable to IMA's analyser portfolio across oil & gas, power, and chemicals, but with significantly broader scale.
• Mettler-Toledo: Global leader in precision laboratory and industrial measurement instruments including pH, conductivity, moisture, and gas analysis. Overlaps with IMA's process analytical instrument portfolio but operates at much larger scale across pharma, food, and chemicals.
• Dräger: German safety and gas detection specialist offering fixed and portable gas detectors for oil & gas, marine, pharma, and water utilities. Comparable to IMA in the same buyer profiles, but at significantly larger scale with a global service network.
• Honeywell Analytics: Global gas detection manufacturer (fixed and portable flammable, toxic, oxygen detectors) serving oil & gas, chemicals, and water treatment. Directly comparable to IMA's IGD and Crowcon gas detection offerings, but part of a much larger diversified industrial portfolio.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global analytical instruments and laboratory equipment leader covering gas chromatography, moisture analysis, and process measurement. Overlaps with IMA's SRA gas chromatograph and process analyser lines at a much larger scale across multiple end markets.
• MSA Safety: US safety products and gas detection company serving oil & gas, utilities, and industrial customers with fixed and portable detectors. Comparable to IMA's gas detection portfolio but with broader safety products and larger global presence.

Direct peers

• Hach (Danaher): Specialist in water quality analysis instruments (oil-in-water, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH) serving municipal and industrial water treatment. Closest direct competitor to IMA's INOV8 oil-in-water and water-quality portfolio.
• Michell Instruments (Process Sensing Technologies): UK-based manufacturer of dew point, humidity, and trace moisture analyzers for natural gas, SF6, and compressed air. Directly competes with IMA's Phymetrix, Alpha Moisture Systems, and Rotronics product lines.
• Bürkert: German manufacturer of measurement and control systems for liquids and gases (flow, pH, conductivity, temperature, analysis). Comparable to IMA in oil & gas, water treatment, food & beverage, and pharma process measurement applications.
• Endress+Hauser: Family-owned Swiss-German manufacturer and supplier of industrial process measurement instruments (flow, level, pressure, analysis) for water, oil & gas, chemicals, and food & beverage. Directly comparable to IMA in serving oil & gas and water-quality measurement buyers with similar products and a strong calibration/service overlay.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ima-ltd

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 IMA