CONTROS

CONTROS Systems & Solutions GmbH, established in 2006 in Kiel, Germany, specializes in the development, production, and marketing of underwater sensor systems. The company's core business involves creating sensors for the in-situ detection of dissolved gases in water, including hydrocarbons, methane, CO2, and oxygen, as well as measuring pH and total alkalinity. These systems are engineered to operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters.

The firm serves a diverse client base across several markets. A primary application for its products is within the offshore oil and gas industry for early leak detection, pipeline inspections, and environmental monitoring around subsea structures. Additionally, its sensor technology is widely utilized in the scientific community for climate studies, marine research, ocean acidification monitoring, and understanding air-sea gas exchange. Other applications include fish farming, freshwater control, and the monitoring of carbon capture and storage (CCS) sites.

CONTROS's flagship product line, the HydroC™ series, employs a patented membrane technology combined with non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) and laser detection to measure dissolved gases directly in the water. The product portfolio also includes the HydroFIA™ systems for analyzing total alkalinity and pH. These sensors can be deployed on various platforms, from stationary seabed observatories and buoys to mobile remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

In late 2013, CONTROS entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Kongsberg Maritime, a global marine technology company, which initially acquired a 10% stake. This partnership facilitated the integration of CONTROS's sensor packages into Kongsberg's broader subsea monitoring solutions. Following a period of successful collaboration, Kongsberg Maritime acquired the remaining 90% of the company in March 2015, making CONTROS a part of its Subsea Monitoring business unit. The acquisition, which marked a successful exit for early investors like High-Tech Gründerfonds, was a strategic move to secure continued growth and development of the sensor technology within Kongsberg's extensive portfolio.

Keywords: underwater sensors, dissolved gas detection, marine technology, subsea monitoring, oceanographic instruments, methane sensors, CO2 sensors, environmental monitoring, offshore leak detection, water quality sensors, climate change research, ocean acidification, marine research, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, pH sensors, total alkalinity measurement, Kongsberg Maritime, HydroC, HydroFIA, subsea systems, in-situ analysis