Skip to main content
European Commission logo
Enterprise Europe Network

Small portable sensor analyses chemical footprint of any solid, liquid or gaseous material within seconds, without the need for a laboratoy.

Summary

Profile Type
  • Technology offer
POD Reference
TODE20250702016
Term of Validity
3 July 2025 - 3 July 2026
Company's Country
  • Germany
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
Contact the EEN partner nearest to you for more information.
Find my local partner

General information

Short Summary
SME from northern Germany developed very accurate sensors to measure any materials “chemical footprint”. The innovative sensor technology is available as a portable version, but can also be integrated into existing technology. The composition of any material (solid, liquid or gaseous) can be determined in seconds using infrared rays and a database comparison. Cooperation partners from Agri-food, Textiles, Energy-intensive industries or automotive are sought for collaboration (examples below).
Full Description
An SME from northern Germany has developed a sensor that can measure the composition and properties of various materials using infrared rays. The sensors are available in portable versions and can also be integrated into existing company equipment. What both sensor versions have in common is that they are linked to a database so that the material composition and properties can be determined after just a few seconds of infrared radiation measurement, without the need for a laboratory.

Possible applications:

Pharmacology and health: Testing starting materials in pharmacies:
Some pharmacies also produce medicines themselves, which is why the starting materials have to be tested first. Until now, this has usually required time-consuming wet-chemical methods. The SME offers a cost-effective, safe and certified alternative. The material sample is measured within seconds and compared with reference data. The result is documented as a report.
Advantages: Cost and time savings.

Polymers industry - Quality control of a coating in an industrial production process:
Consistent material quality is crucial in many production processes. Integrated into existing machinery, the SME's contactless sensor can determine various parameters such as chemical composition (e.g. of polymers), moisture content or solvent content - either as a manual test station or integrated into running processes.
Advantages: Cost-effective and efficient quality control.

Agri-food: Analysis of food ingredients (e.g. wine, milk, oils, cereals)

Textiles: Determination of fibre composition (e.g. plastics, cotton, recycling mix)

Energy-intensive industries / renewable energies / automotive: quality control of raw materials and products

Paper industry: Checking the polymer coating on the paper produced for the correct chemical composition.

Battery technology: Answering the question: How short and hot can drying ovens for electrode and cathode paste be in battery production? The sensor system measures how much solvent is still in the electrode and cathode paste at various points in the oven. This allows the drying oven to be regulated to the minimum length and temperature.
Advantages: Cost and time savings, as well as CO2 reduction in production.
Advantages and Innovations
Cost savings through
- fewer specialised personnel
- shorter test times
- less laboratory work
- significantly cheaper than conventional analytical sensors

Modular character, easy to adapt

Low weight and size

Even gases can be analysed, which is quite unusual. Of course, solids, liquids, powders and pastes can also be analysed

Mitigates the shortage of skilled labour

Analysis possible without direct contact with the sample
Stage of Development
  • Already on the market
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
IPR status
  • No IPR applied

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
The partner may test and later apply the technology according to his/her needs. The sensor technology covers a wide range of possible applications and is available in many variants. It can also be modified to meet customer requirements and potential cooperation partners have the opportunity to test the technology. Depending on the results, the next steps can then be defined together.
Type and Size of Partner
  • University
  • SME 11-49
  • Big company
  • R&D Institution
  • SME <=10
  • SME 50 - 249
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 05001001 - Analytical Chemistry
  • 09001009 - Sensor Technology related to measurements
  • 08002001 - Detection and Analysis methods
  • 02003001 - Process automation
Market keywords
  • 03007003 - Other analytical and scientific instrumentation
  • 05007002 - Pharmaceuticals/fine chemicals
  • 08002003 - Process control equipment and systems
  • 08002002 - Industrial measurement and sensing equipment
  • 09004003 - Textiles (synthetic and natural)
Sector Groups Involved
  • Textiles
  • Renewable Energy
  • Agri-Food
  • Digital
  • Health
  • Energy-Intensive Industries
  • Mobility - Transport - Automotive
Targeted countries
  • All countries