Since incorporation in 2011, DD-Scientific has quickly evolved to become a significant manufacturer of electrochemical gas sensors, providing high performance products globally across a range of industries and applications. Their success has been driven by a unique knowledge of the gas detection marketplace coupled with strong customer relationships, enviable reliability and a competitive cost position.
Founded by Daniel Davies, a recognised electrochemical catalyst expert, the company has developed from humble beginnings to a high-volume manufacturer whose automated production lines now assemble a sensor every 6 seconds. The investment in automation and robotic handling, in addition to high-capacity test facilities have resulted in reduction in variation seen in manual processes and led to sensing products which outperform the competition. The portfolio has expanded from its initial focus on industrial safety applications to include residential carbon monoxide detection, combustion emissions monitoring, medical oxygen measurement and environmental pollution sensing. In the intervening years, DD-Scientific has assembled a team of scientists, engineers and designers boasting between them more than 100 years of experience in gas sensing.
However, the real secret of DD-Scientific’s success is their flexible approach to meeting customers’ specific requirements. Traditionally, volume manufacturers have sought to minimise the variety of products that they manufacture, forcing customers to purchase from a limited range of sensors which may or not ideally suit their needs. DD-Scientific takes a different approach – with every customer they listen to what their customers really need and tailor products to suit their unique requirements.
The customisation offered can take many forms. A relatively straightforward option is the provision of sensors with bespoke labelling allowing customers to ensure only compliant product is used during service intervals and to protect their aftermarket. Another simple modification is supply of products with accessories such as additional foam gaskets on the sealing face to optimise the fit of the sensors within OEMs instruments.
The customisation can however require more significant modification to sensor designs. Products are typically specified with an optimal measurement range; for example, hydrogen sulphide sensors are normally provided with a 0-200ppm range which reflects the legislated alarm levels in industrial safety applications. If an instrument designer is looking to use such a standard sensor in a different application such as environmental monitoring where measurement levels are lower, or land-fill monitoring where the measurement levels are higher, DD-Scientific can and does provide products tuned specifically for that need. Products can be supplied with unique configuration of connections which means that an OEM’s detector cannot be used with any other suppliers’ sensor even further protecting aftermarket and service revenue. Sensors have even been optimised to provide further robustness to harsh environmental conditions such as high humidity or high temperatures which would normally adversely impact the performance of electrochemical sensors.
