FAREHAM, U.K. -- Insensys Ltd, a leading provider of optical fibre sensing solutions, today announced the acquisition of Indigo Photonics Ltd. Indigo Photonics, a spin-out from Aston University in Birmingham, England, is a specialist in optical fibre sensor systems and optical components based on fibre Bragg grating technology.

Engineers from Insensys and Indigo Photonics have collaborated to develop a high performance, cost effective system for measuring distributed temperature and strain profiles using optical fibres as sensors. Using this technology Insensys provides sensing systems and sensing solutions to their customers across a broad range of industries.

“The team at Indigo has delivered a revolutionary product that provides substantial benefits to our customers”, states Martin Jones, CEO of Insensys. “The technical strength of the Indigo team and their proven ability to deliver is key to future sensing capabilities for Insensys. The resultant unique blend of structural expertise and instrumentation expertise enables Insensys to deliver superior solutions to our customers”.

“This is a great acknowledgement of our achievements”, comments Chris Shannon, CEO of Indigo Photonics. “Over the past months we have developed a very strong partnership combining Indigo technology with the wealth of applications and marketing expertise at Insensys. We are extremely optimistic about the force that combining these entities will represent in the marketplace.”

“This acquisition represents a significant step in the commercialisation of fiber Bragg gratings in the sensor market” said Ian Bennion, Research Director of Indigo Photonics and head of the Photonics Research Group at Aston University. “We are looking forward to a strong and continuing relationship with Insensys.”

Under the terms of the all-share agreement, Insensys will acquire the entire share capital of Indigo Photonics. By virtue of the acquisition, Insensys welcomes the venture capital company 3i as a shareholder. 3i brings considerable experience of working with successful companies and Insensys values the support that 3i provide.

“We are delighted to become a shareholder of Insensys”, states Mike Sibson of 3i. “We co-founded Indigo Photonics with the management team and Aston University, and we have been active in delivering the benefits of our global network as it has grown and developed its technology. The acquisition by Insensys will make a powerful combination. We have had considerable success across the globe in the sensing market, and we see great potential in Insensys”.

Indigo Photonics Ltd.

Insensys Ltd.

3i Group plc