Katronic Celebrate 20 Years of Measurement Success

Inter-company trip to Berlin marks start of jubilee year

Katronic Technologies has come a long way in the 20 years since its inception in the office under the stairs of a small terraced house in Coventry. The company began in 1996 with nothing more than a logo created in Paint™, some imported East German technology, and the desire not have to work for someone else. The initial plan for Katronic was to develop sales and grow the business based on selling process technology imported from the recently opened-up East German market. Having been a citizen and studied in the GDR, founder Karsten Frahn was aware that there were many manufacturers of good instrumentation in the East that were unknown in the UK. He therefore decided to make a selection of these devices on the centre of his plans for his own company. 

By 2003 Katronic had a stable turnover, an expanding global customer base and a staff of seven people. After working with different measurement technologies, the company had established a reputation as a respected and reliable source of clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters sold under the KATflow brand. In spite of the initial success, there remained a concern at the future of the business being so closely linked to the third party supplier. The decision was taken that in order to better secure a better outlook, Katronic would invest into the development of its own product range with a view to launching the new instruments after a period of five years.

It was therefore at the start of 2009 that Katronic introduced their customers to the KATflow 200 and KATflow 150 as the first of a new family of Katronic flowmeters. After battling initially difficult economic conditions and some early teething problems, the new devices and the potentially risky venture were a success. Since this initial renaissance new products and new people have joined the Katronic family. The company now has six flowmeters in the KATflow range and at time of writing 26 people directly employed by the company.

In order to celebrate the milestone of 20 years of successful business and to mark the beginning of the year-long anniversary events colleagues from Coventry in the UK and Wernigerode Germany met with their partners for a weekend in Berlin. It gave the staff and families from both of the Katronic offices the chance to socialise and celebrate as part of a visit that took in the sights of Berlin from the water, the land and the air. Everyone enjoyed the best of what Berlin could offer including a roof-top bar hidden in a multi-storey carpark, taking in the views from the TV tower with a cocktail or “Berliner Weiße” and the obligatory Currywurst. 

It is with great pride that we look back, contemplate and acknowledge all that has been achieved in the past 20 years. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for supporting us and making it possible. There will be a number of events throughout the next twelve months. Please watch this page or follow us on Twitter @katronic_UK for details.

Photo: Katronic staff in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin