Pulsar Instruments plc (UK) is 50 years old! That means we’ve been trusted global noise experts for 50 years.
Since its inception as a wholly engineer-led concern in Silicon Valley, California in 1969, Pulsar Instruments has represented the gold standard for noise measurement and has contributed significantly to a change in the way noise, and in particular noise at work, is currently monitored, helping protect worker’s hearing and improving the quality of their environment.
The original design group was responsible for a number of world firsts and key innovations in the field of noise measurement including being the first company to display the maximum sound exposure time allowed on a coloured scale as well as the actual sound level – a revolutionary idea at the time but now relied upon by Health and Safety professionals around the world and since replicated by all of their competitors. It also pioneered the use of integrated circuitry in place of discrete transistors and fitted it all into a beautiful moulded case. It was also one of the first companies to include a quasi-rms circuit to meet the then standard of IEC 123 and the original Pulsar Acoustic Calibrator was the most copied instrument in the field.
It soon became clear that Silicon Valley was not the ideal location for such a very specialised product, especially as Asia and Europe were the largest markets, and so the whole operation was transferred to the UK. Based for the last 42 years in Yorkshire, the company sells their noise measurement tools to more than 50 countries and has forged relationships with some of the biggest brands in the industrial, entertainment, transport and construction industries.
“Our innovative technology and strong desire to expand our business globally have certainly been key factors but the real foundation of our success lies in the long-term relationships we have established with Health and Safety professionals, Safety Consultants and Company owners”, said Simon Rehill, General Manager for Pulsar Instruments plc. “We have always existed not only as a vendor of noise measurement tools but as a company with a strong commitment towards continuous research and development to benefit the industries we serve”.
“It’s great to look back and see how far Pulsar Instruments has come from our early days”, added Simon. “We have introduced many new products in the last 50 years from the very basic to the highly innovative. They have all contributed to a change in the way noise at work is now being monitored.”
“From the start, we have always worked closely with customers and listened to their needs. And, to this day, we have remained faithful to our original commitment to them which was to produce easy to use, durable and reliable instrumentation”.
Pulsar is expecting to increase its portfolio of noise measurement products in the coming years in order to meet its growth objectives.
Simon added: “We are proud to be a UK company with a very strong global presence, the key drivers to our success have been our customer loyalty and our in-house team of highly skilled and talented individuals who are committed and hard-working”. He added further: “The fact that Pulsar Instruments is a manufacturing company with 50 years of successful history speaks for itself. We are stronger than ever – still growing, innovating and capturing market shares around the world despite the current uncertainty. There are many good reasons to be excited about the future and we are looking forward to the next 50 years!”
World firsts by Pulsar Instruments
- In 1970 it was the first company to display sound exposure times on the scale of the sound level meter as well as the sound level – at the time a revolutionary idea.
- It pioneered the use of integrated circuitry in place of discrete transistors
- It designed the first instrument to be “styled” with coloured scales and fitted it into beautiful moulded cases – previously bent metal cases were commonplace.
- In 1974 it developed the world’s first true linear scaled meter.
- In 1977 it produced the first instrument designed for a world market meeting the new international standards of the time.
- In 1982 Pulsar seconded their Chief Engineer to the International Standards body (IEC) and he, with three other British engineers, were responsible for much of the IEC’s noise measurement standard IEC 61672.
Choose Pulsar Instruments
As trusted noise measurement experts, Pulsar Instruments have helped companies around the world meet their legal requirements for safeguarding their employees’ hearing for the last 50 Years by providing affordable, robust, accurate and easy to use noise measurement tools.
Pulsar Instruments manufactures and supplies a range of Sound level meters, noise meters, personal noise dosemeters, noise-activated warning signs, safety professional kits and outdoor monitoring kits designed for the Health and Safety market
Pulsar Instruments’ noise meters monitor noise levels accurately, identify locations where there are noise at work problems and employees who may be affected. They also capture essential evidential data to avoid costly civil compensation claims for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
As well as selling and renting noise meters and other sound level meters, Pulsar Instruments provides comprehensive training to H&S professionals and noise consultancy advice.
Since 2018 Pulsar has also expanded its product range to include Hand-Arm Vibration meters to help employers manage the risks of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome in workers using power tools.
Find out more about Pulsar Instruments and our history.
