High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering is a Glasgow-based specialist consultancy founded in 2014 by Dr Martin Judd, providing partial discharge detection, monitoring, calibration, and training services for high voltage electrical assets to electricity utilities, network operators, and offshore wind farm operators in the UK and overseas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering does
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering (HFDE) Ltd is a Glasgow-based specialist consultancy founded in October 2014 by Dr Martin Judd, a Chartered Electrical & Electronic Engineer with 40 years of experience and former Professor of High Voltage Technologies at the University of Strathclyde. The firm provides testing, monitoring, calibration, and consulting services focused exclusively on partial discharge (PD) detection in high voltage electrical equipment, serving electricity utilities and network operators, offshore wind farm operators, and PD equipment manufacturers in the UK and overseas.
Core offerings include on-site PD surveys of MV, HV, and EHV plant (substations, wind farms, GIS, transformers, cables, switchgear), permanent and short-term PD monitoring using UHF, HFCT, RF, TEV, acoustic, and ultrasonic sensors, UHF PD sensor calibration services using an award-winning GTEM-cell technique developed by Dr Judd in 1996 and recognised as a REF Impact Case Study, insulation diagnostics and risk assessment, design and prototyping of custom PD sensors and high voltage test facilities, and tailored PD training courses. HFDE also sells or hires modular UHF calibration systems and voltage step generators for clients establishing their own calibration capabilities.
Revenue is generated through professional services engagements and hardware sales, with all enquiries handled consultatively by the founder via email or phone and no publicly listed pricing. Distribution is founder-led direct sales supplemented by an August 2024 strategic alliance with Instrument Transformers Ltd (ITL) and Smart Diagnostic Monitoring Technology (SDMT), which provides access to an installed base of more than 10,000 PD sensors and 250 online monitoring systems worldwide and to ITL's accredited utility supply channels. The company operates with a small disclosed headcount (1–10) and is privately held by the founder with no disclosed institutional funding.
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering
- Legal name
- High Frequency Diagnostics and Engineering Ltd
- Website
- https://hfde.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering is a Glasgow-based specialist consultancy founded in 2014 by Dr Martin Judd, providing partial discharge detection, monitoring, calibration, and training services for high voltage electrical assets to electricity utilities, network operators, and offshore wind farm operators in the UK and overseas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- High Voltage Partial Discharge Diagnostics
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Diagnostics (IR/UV, PD, vibration, acoustic) (EUADAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Substation & HV Equipment Diagnostics (Partial Discharge, DGA, SF6) (EUAEAHAH), Electrical Condition Monitoring (Partial Discharge, DGA, IR/Ultrasound) (EUAEAKAC), Electrical Testing & Certification (Protection Relays, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAEAHAG)
Keywords
Where High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- PD Survey and Testing Services: On-site PD surveys of MV/HV/EHV plant, substations, and wind farms. Includes PD location investigations and temporary monitoring. Consulting services for insulation diagnostics, risk assessment, and asset management.
- UHF Calibration Services: Calibration of UHF PD sensors carried out by HFDE, or hire of UHF calibration system for clients' own engineers. Also includes consultancy for establishing calibration facilities.
- Customised Training Courses: PD awareness, detection principles, diagnosis, and best practice training courses for engineers and technical staff.
- UHF Calibration Equipment Sales: Sale of UHF calibration systems (modular form) and voltage step generators. Also sale of GTEM calibration systems for UHF PD sensors.
- PD Monitoring Equipment: Supply of permanent or short-term PD monitoring systems for power transformers, GIS, cables, and switchgear.
- Sensor Design Consultancy: Support for designing new UHF PD sensors for custom applications, including consultancy for establishing in-house calibration facilities.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering (HFDE) provides testing and consulting services for all aspects of Partial Discharge (PD) in high voltage electrical infrastructure. Core offerings include on-site PD surveys for MV/HV/EHV plant and substations, permanent and short-term PD monitoring of transformers, GIS, cables and switchgear, insulation diagnostics and risk assessment consultancy, design of HV PD test facilities, and customised training courses. The company also performs UHF PD sensor calibration using its proprietary award-winning GTEM-cell technique and sells or hires modular UHF calibration systems.
Product overview
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering (HFDE) provides specialized testing and consulting services focused entirely on Partial Discharge (PD) detection and monitoring for high voltage equipment. The company operates as a service and consultancy organization rather than a software product company. Core offerings include on-site PD surveys for MV/HV/EHV plant, permanent and short-term monitoring services for transformers/GIS/cables/switchgear, UHF PD sensor calibration services using an award-winning GTEM cell technique, insulation diagnostics and risk assessment, design of HV test facilities, and customized PD training courses. Through its alliance with Instrument Transformers Ltd (ITL) and Smart Diagnostic Monitoring Technology (SDMT), HFDE offers a complete range of PD sensors (HFCT, UHF, RF, TM, TEV, acoustic, ultrasonic) and monitoring solutions from handheld survey units to permanent monitoring systems for transmission-level GIS. The company also sells or rents its proprietary UHF Calibration System and Voltage Step Generator for clients establishing their own calibration facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Award-winning calibration technique used internationally for 30 years to calibrate thousands of UHF PD sensors
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Instrument Transformers Ltd (ITL)coreHFDE joined forces with ITL and SDMT to offer a unique range of hardware and technical services to owners and operators of HV equipment and networks. ITL is a long-established business in LV, MV & HV protection and measurement instrumentation equipment design and manufacture. ITL is an accredited supplier to many electricity utilities and network operators in UK and overseas, providing custom solutions with Fit for Offshore Renewables (F4OR) granted status, UL and multiple ISO certifications.
- Smart Diagnostic Monitoring Technology (SDMT)coreHFDE partnered with SDMT which has been manufacturing partial discharge (PD) monitoring equipment and sensors for more than a decade. SDMT traces its roots to the original research team at University of Strathclyde where UHF PD detection technology was first pioneered in the early 1990s. SDMT has over 10,000 installed PD sensors and 250 online monitoring systems in operation worldwide.
- AVJU Solutions ASminorPartnership with AVJU Solutions, a Norwegian start-up developing Observer and Defender units for power line monitoring. HFDE is closely involved with power module design. Martin Judd delivered presentation 'Autonomous Sensors for Overhead Line Monitoring' at Polaris 2024 in collaboration with AVJU engineers. HFDE provides energy harvesting technology for AVJU's Electronic Gravitational Gyro.
- Centre for Computing History (CCH)minorPartnership agreement to support students considering STEM careers following participation in computing workshops. HFDE sponsored creation of a 'Careers in Technology' poster for schools. HFDE also supports CCH's educational mission with hope to inspire potential tech innovators.
- Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)minorHFDE completed a study of testing methods for HVAC transmission cables in partnership with SSEN. HFDE was invited to present technical summary covering HV commissioning tests and cable diagnostics as part of TACAMA (Technical Assessment of Cable Asset Management Approaches) project.
- IPEC (International Power Equipment Conference)minorHFDE contributes blog content to IPEC's website based on overseas PD survey work. Martin Judd participated as guest on IPEC's 'Ask the Expert' Webinar series discussing partial discharge detection in EHV networks.
- Polaris DiagnosticscoreAlliance between High Frequency Diagnostics and Polaris Diagnostics to provide specialist investigation services for power transformers with partial discharge and discharge conditions. Martin Judd presented at Polaris 2024 Technical Exhibition and chaired Early Career competition sessions at Polaris 2022.
- University of StrathclydeminorAcademic partnership stemming from founder Dr Martin Judd's 20 years as Professor of High Voltage Technologies. SDMT traces its roots to the original research team at University of Strathclyde where UHF PD detection technology was pioneered in early 1990s. HFDE can provide in-depth CPD training in collaboration with the University.
- IONOSminorWebsite hosting provider. HFDE's website is hosted by IONOS (https://ionos.co.uk/).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Megger: Major global supplier of electrical test and measurement equipment, including PD detectors, cable diagnostics, and transformer test systems. Competitor in PD survey hardware and services for power utilities and industrial customers.
- EA Technology: UK-based independent specialist in electrical asset condition monitoring, partial discharge, and network consulting for utilities. Comparable in PD diagnostics services and the UK utility customer base served by HFDE.
- Doble (ESCO Technologies): Provides diagnostic instruments, testing services, and condition monitoring for electrical utilities including PD detection on transformers and switchgear. Overlaps with HFDE in on-site PD surveys and asset assessment but across a much broader test portfolio.
Direct peers
- Smart Diagnostic Monitoring Technology (SDMT): HFDE's alliance partner, manufacturer of PD sensors and monitoring systems spun out of the University of Strathclyde PD research group. Comparable UHF PD technology base and overlapping customer set.
- HV Technologies: Supplies PD measurement instruments, sensors, and consulting for HV equipment including GIS, transformers, and cables. Direct competitor in PD detection hardware and diagnostics services.
- OMICRON Electronics: Global leader in PD measurement and monitoring for HV equipment, offering UHF sensors, portable and online PD instruments, and diagnostic services. Directly competes with HFDE in PD surveys, monitoring, and calibration for utilities and equipment manufacturers.
- Iris Power (Qualitrol): Specializes in online PD monitoring for motors, generators, transformers, and switchgear used by utilities and large industrial operators. Direct competitor in permanent PD monitoring solutions on HV assets.
- Power Diagnostix: Specialist PD measurement and monitoring provider (acquired by OMICRON) with UHF and acoustic PD systems for GIS, transformers, and cables. Highly comparable to HFDE in UHF PD detection technology and consulting services.
Others
- Instrument Transformers Ltd (ITL): HFDE's strategic alliance partner and supplier of LV/MV/HV instrument transformers and measurement products to utilities. Comparable as a specialist HV equipment supplier and channel into the same utility customer base.
Emerging players
- AVJU Solutions AS: Norwegian startup developing autonomous sensor units (Observer/Defender) for overhead line monitoring, partnered with HFDE on power module design and energy harvesting. Comparable as an emerging HV infrastructure monitoring player intersecting with HFDE's sensor expertise.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceHigh Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering 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 High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering
What does High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering do?
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering (HFDE) provides testing and consulting services for all aspects of Partial Discharge (PD) in high voltage electrical infrastructure. Core offerings include on-site PD surveys for MV/HV/EHV plant and substations, permanent and short-term PD monitoring of transformers, GIS, cables and switchgear, insulation diagnostics and risk assessment consultancy, design of HV PD test facilities, and customised training courses. The company also performs UHF PD sensor calibration using its proprietary award-winning GTEM-cell technique and sells or hires modular UHF calibration systems.
Is High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering a public or private company?
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering founded?
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering based?
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. PD Survey and Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are UHF Calibration Services, customised Training Courses, UHF Calibration Equipment Sales, PD Monitoring Equipment and sensor Design Consultancy.
Who are High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Megger, EA Technology and Doble (ESCO Technologies). Direct peers are Smart Diagnostic Monitoring Technology (SDMT), HV Technologies, OMICRON Electronics, Iris Power (Qualitrol) and Power Diagnostix. Instrument Transformers Ltd (ITL) is listed as an others. AVJU Solutions AS is listed as an emerging player.
Does High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering.
What industry is High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering in?
High Frequency Diagnostics & Engineering's product category is High Voltage Partial Discharge Diagnostics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUADAJAE, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Diagnostics (IR/UV, PD, vibration, acoustic), with a secondary code of EUAEAHAH, Substation & HV Equipment Diagnostics (Partial Discharge, DGA, SF6). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.