Unidata started operations in the 1970s as a joint venture with the University of Western Australia. At this time Unidata dealt extensively with university related data activities, hence the name “Unidata”.

In the 1980s and 1990s the Unidata product range grew to over 100 products, including data loggers, water flow, water level and environmental monitoring instruments. During this time the market expanded through the appointment of international distributors and partner companies world wide. Unidata continued to be a leader in the data logger field when it released its first generation internet protocol (IP), Measurement to Web system, Crossramp and the associated Crossramp terminals, in the early 2000s. Today, the second generation, Neon System, provides a web based and more easily scaleable approach to measurement, leveraging the experience the company gained with Crossramp.

In the early 2000s a new Unidata Pty Ltd structure was established with a new and majority shareholder, the National Institute of Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the premier New Zealand Research body for Water and Atmospheric related Research. NIWA is a large corporate entity and Institute owned by the Government of New Zealand, employing hundreds of scientists and engineers and directly responsible to the Minister.

NIWA, itself a user of Unidata products for more than ten years prior to taking a majority shareholding interest, provides guidance and direction at both a board level and also knowledge level, contributing to the research and development and product development activities of the company to ensure the company maintains its market leadership position as a supplier of Environmental and Water monitoring instruments and associated systems.

For almost 40 years, Unidata has delivered around 50,000 data loggers and measuring instruments to around 5,000 customers worldwide. Unidata products are installed in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, China, Japan and Australia. Many installations have been in continuous use for more than 20 years, and the product / service life typically exceeds 10 years.

The company operates from a purpose built facility in the industrial estate of O’Connor, Western Australia, approximately 10km from the centre of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

3000 NRL Family - Unidata Manual