1980
Our company started out with a focus on research and development to provide governmental bodies, universities and research institutions with services and instrumentation for making air quality measurements. This instrumentation included extractive mid-infrared laser-based systems and novel ultra-high sensitivity chemiluminescence systems for the measurement of NO2, NO, O3 and PAN (peroxyacetyl nitrate).

In addition to sales of this equipment to various agencies, our company participated in air quality studies in environments ranging from the highly polluted Los Angeles basin to the pristine top of Mauna Loa (NOAA station in Hawaii). Towards the end of the decade, our focus shifted to the development of remote sensing systems for air quality and perimeter monitoring and in-situ instrumentation for emissions monitoring in the aluminium, power, mining and incineration industries.

1993 - 2018
In 1993, we developed a Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometer (DOAS) system for ambient air monitoring. After temporarily licensing the technology to Thermo Environment Instruments from 1995 to 2005, we reacquired the system and are currently manufacturing in-situ and extractive versions of the DOAS analyzer.

We introduced our LasIR line of instruments in 1994, which expanded on our early mid-infrared TDL technology to include near-infrared spectroscopy. Our LasIR instruments quickly became the core products for Unisearch. Applications of these instruments include measuring air quality, fence-line monitoring, fire detection and continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). Our LasIR instruments have been used in various industries—they have been installed at over 800 sites and are being used at thousands of monitoring points worldwide.

In 1995, our company acquired advanced Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) technology from Radian Corporation and opened at plant in Austin, Texas. We developed and installed a number of FTIR systems, for fence-line monitoring and in-situ stack and extractive systems for CEMS and process control. We divested our interest in our US operation in the early 2000`s; the technology was acquired by IMACC. Nonetheless, we have retained our FTIR knowledge and several systems for field testing and in-house research and development.

Unisearch demonstrated the use of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers for in-situ high-sensitivity measurement of industrial gases in 2013. A commercial verson of an analyzer based on this technology is scheduled for release by the end of 2020.

Present
After having acquired patents for our instruments and their applications, we are continuing to focus on research and development to ensure that our products will always represent the best technology available in the industry.

Unisearch Associates Application Note for LasIR Instruments - Brochure