Oxsensis

Oxsensis, now known as WIKA Optical Sensing, develops and manufactures optical sensor instrumentation for measuring pressure, temperature, and vibration in harsh environments. The company spun out of the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in 2003, founded by David Gahan, Arnold Harpin, and John Drake. They initially applied their expertise in optical technology to meet challenges in the aerospace and turbine industries. The company is headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, an innovation hub that has been central to its growth.

The firm's core technology utilizes Fabry-Perot based optics and sapphire as a primary material for its sensors, which allows them to operate reliably in extreme conditions like the inside of a jet engine or gas turbine, with temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. This provides a significant advantage over traditional piezoelectric sensors. The sensors are also immune to electromagnetic interference and are intrinsically safe for explosive atmospheres, enabling clients to measure critical parameters in previously inaccessible locations. This capability allows for more precise combustion control in gas turbines and jet engines, leading to increased efficiency and a reduction in harmful pollutants like NOx.

Oxsensis serves the aerospace, power generation, and oil and gas industries, with clients including major original equipment manufacturers. It has engaged in key partnerships with prominent international companies such as GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Parker Aerospace, and Airbus for technology and product development. The business model is centered on providing these high-value, durable sensing solutions directly to industrial clients and through strategic partnerships. After several successful funding rounds, Oxsensis was acquired by the German-based WIKA Group in February 2023 and was subsequently renamed WIKA Optical Sensing in 2024. This acquisition provides the resources and manufacturing expertise to scale the technology for broader industrial applications, with the Harwell location designated as WIKA's optical center of excellence.

Keywords: optical sensors, harsh environments, pressure sensors, temperature instrumentation, aerospace sensors, gas turbine monitoring, industrial instrumentation, sapphire sensors, fiber optic sensors, Fabry-Perot interferometry, combustion monitoring, aerospace instrumentation, extreme environment technology, WIKA Group, EMI immunity, intrinsic safety, high-temperature sensors, vibration measurement, energy technology, petrochemical sensors