Blue unit

What Blue unit does

Blue Unit A/S is a Danish water quality monitoring technology company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Odense, Denmark, operating as a subsidiary of Norwegian holding company Gimli AS. The company builds centralized IoT-based measurement systems, primarily the Lab Station product family (including PS4-24, Solo, Modular, Modular TOX, Well Boat, Environmental Monitoring, TurbiFlex, and the newer LS Compact), which use a single set of sensors to measure 13 or more water quality parameters across up to 24 sampling points around a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) fish farm. The hardware automatically cleans tubes and sensor heads every 2-3 nights to prevent biofouling, and data is transmitted to an Azure-hosted cloud data platform that provides visualization, early warning alarms, anonymous benchmarking across farms, and gradient analysis for equipment performance. Two patents protect the Lab System architecture and a proprietary CO2 sensor.

The company's primary customers are enterprise RAS fish farm operators globally, with an installed base of 26 cumulative units sold and 18 units actively monitored as of January 2023. Blue Unit generates revenue through a mix of one-time hardware sales (€90,000-€135,000 per Lab Station, €13,000+ for individual analyzers), mandatory monthly Operational Agreement subscriptions (€500-€2,000/month), 36-month leasing contracts, shorter-term rentals, and professional services including training and water quality consulting. The go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales supported by biologists and technical staff, complemented by channels such as industry events (Aqua Nor), content marketing via the company blog and journals such as Hatchery Feed & Management, and partnerships with Morefish AS (fish health) and Kairos Technology (decision support).

Blue Unit is actively investing in expansion. Recent strategic moves include a 2026 collaboration with Morefish AS, the 2025 launch of the Lab Station Compact for wastewater applications, the 2025 creation of sister company Smartakva AS to address the wastewater industry, a leadership transition with Ivan Rott appointed as Managing Director in February 2025, and ongoing product extensions such as centralized H2S monitoring and an enhanced ammonia analyzer using the Standard Known Addition method. Headcount is undisclosed but appears small, and revenue is not publicly reported.

Name

Blue unit

Legal name

Blue Unit A/S

Website

https://blue-unit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Unit A/S is a Danish water quality monitoring technology company that builds centralized IoT-based Lab Station systems for recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) fish farms globally. It pairs patented sensor hardware with a cloud data platform, sold via hardware, subscription, leasing, and rental.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Water Quality Monitoring Equipment

NAICS

Animal Production and Aquaculture (112), Aquaculture (11251), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) & Land-Based Farming (AFAEAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Monitoring & Control (Dosing Systems, Remote Monitoring, Sensors) (BPABAJAK), Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)

Keywords

• Water quality monitoring
• Aquaculture measurement systems
• RAS fish farming sensors
• Centralized water analyzers
• Water chemistry instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Odense

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lab Station Hardware Sales: Sale of Lab Station measurement systems including PS4-24, LS Compact, and modular configurations. Complete systems include sensors, sampling systems, and cloud connectivity.
2. Operational Agreement (SaaS): Monthly subscription service including web access, visualization, models, safe data storage, function checks, and personal support. Required for all customers as data transfer and calculations occur in the cloud.
3. Equipment Leasing: 36-month competitive leasing contracts available for Lab Stations. Pricing varies based on configuration. Alternative to outright purchase.
4. Rental Solutions: Shorter and longer-term rental options available. 6-month rental option mentioned. Provides flexibility for customers wanting to test the system.
5. Professional Services: Training, water quality meetings, service technician visits, batch certificates, and installation support. Customizable service agreements based on customer needs.
6. Individual Analyzers: Sale of individual analyzers for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate measurement. Starting prices from €13,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Blue Unit designs, manufactures, and sells the Lab Station family of centralized water quality measurement systems for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). A single set of sensors in the Lab Station monitors up to 24 different locations around a fish farm, automatically measuring 13+ parameters (pH, O2, CO2, H2S, ammonia, turbidity, etc.) 24/7, with data streamed to a cloud-based analytics platform. The offering includes hardware (Lab Stations, analyzers), a SaaS data platform with subscription support tiers, and water quality consulting services.

Product overview

Blue Unit offers a modular, hardware-software integrated water quality monitoring platform for recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The core offering centers on the Lab Station product family — including Lab Station PS4-24 (4-24 sampling points), Lab Station Solo, Lab Station Well boat, Lab Station Environmental Monitoring, Lab Station Modular, and LS Compact — which uses centralized sensors to measure water quality parameters 24/7. The system is complemented by specialized analyzers including Instran NH3 (Ammonia), Nitrate, Nitrite, Lab Station TurbiFlex (turbidity), and Lab Station Modular TOX (for toxic compounds H2S, CO2, NH3, pH). Data is visualized through the Blue Unit cloud-based data platform, with subscription tiers (Basic, Premium) providing support, training, and access to proprietary models. Customers can add individual analyzers starting from 13,000 Euros or lease the full Lab Station system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lab Station PS4-24

Quantifiable outcome

• Early warning detection of toxic H2S situations before they cause fish mortality
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Morefish AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Blue Unit AS and Morefish AS signed a collaboration agreement to offer comprehensive solutions for water quality measurements, knowhow, and services. Morefish brings expertise in fish health, microbiology, and aquaculture technology with hands-on experience. Their fish health services including novel diagnostic tools combined with Blue Unit's real-time technology will enhance profitability and stability in land-based fish farming. Both companies are committed to fish welfare, high-end service, quality control, and technological innovation.
• Gimli AS (Parent Company)coreOthers · 17 January 2025Gimli AS is the parent company of Blue Unit. Gimli announced formation of new company Smartakva AS which will focus mainly on the wastewater industry.
• Kairos Technology AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2023BUDDY partnership for decision-support in fish farming. The project aims to create a digital cloud-based tool for RAS water quality management where users can input challenges and get support on reasons, check status, and receive possible solutions. Environmental data from Blue Unit's Lab Station will be connected for real-time support. Goal is to help identify which farm devices are the source of suboptimal performance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sensorex: Manufacturer of pH, ORP, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen sensors used in water-quality monitoring systems including aquaculture. Comparable to Blue Unit's sensor-side technology stack, though without the centralized architecture or proprietary CO2 sensor.
• Aquaread: UK-based manufacturer of multiparameter water-quality sondes (AP-700, AP-800) and CTDs used in environmental and aquaculture monitoring. Directly comparable as a provider of portable and fixed water-quality measurement devices for similar end markets.
• In-Situ Inc. US-based manufacturer of water-quality monitoring instruments and telemetry systems (Aqua TROLL, Level TROLL) for environmental and aquaculture applications. Directly comparable as a multi-parameter water-quality monitoring provider targeting similar industrial and aquaculture customers.
• Stevens Water Monitoring Systems: Manufacturer of water-quality monitoring instruments, sondes, and data loggers for environmental and industrial customers. Comparable to Blue Unit on multi-parameter water-quality sensing and data telemetry for similar monitoring-intensive applications.
• OxyGuard International: Danish-headquartered manufacturer of handheld and inline water-quality measurement devices widely used in aquaculture. Directly comparable to Blue Unit as a specialized aquaculture water-quality sensor and instrumentation provider competing for the same RAS customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Hach (Veralto): Large global supplier of water-quality analyzers, sensors, and reagent-based testing systems for drinking water, wastewater, and aquaculture. Comparable to Blue Unit's analytical measurement hardware, particularly for ammonia/nitrate/nitrite analyzers, but serves a far broader customer base with decentralized solutions.
• YSI (a Xylem brand): Established manufacturer of water-quality sondes and probes (e.g., YSI ProDSS, EXO) used across aquaculture, environmental, and industrial monitoring. Overlaps with Blue Unit on dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and conductivity measurement for RAS, but as part of a much broader Xylem portfolio rather than a centralized RAS system.
• Akva Group: Norwegian-headquartered global supplier of aquaculture equipment, technology, and services including fish-farm infrastructure and monitoring. Comparable as a buyer/seller in the same RAS ecosystem where Blue Unit's Lab Stations are deployed, although Akva's offerings span the full fish-farm value chain rather than focusing on water-quality analytics.
• Pentair (Aquaculture / Water Quality): Global water-treatment and flow-control company with aquaculture and water-quality monitoring offerings. Comparable to Blue Unit on the water-quality measurement and treatment side, but operating at much larger scale across aquaculture, pool, and industrial water markets.

Emerging players

• AquaBead Technologies: Emerging aquaculture technology company developing AI-driven water-quality and biomass monitoring solutions for RAS operators. Comparable to Blue Unit as an early-stage technology entrant targeting the same land-based fish-farming customer base with digital monitoring overlays.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-unit-stable-water-quality

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Blue unit