"The ability to perform in these harsh environments meets industry’s need for accurate monitoring of fuel cell, petrochemical, hydrogen production, transformer oil and nuclear waste operations," explained Dennis Reid, president and CEO of H2scan. "These new products clearly continue to position H2scan as an industry leader in hydrogen monitoring."

The new products are based on H2scan’s proprietary "chip on a flex" technology. Solid state and originally developed by Sandia National Laboratories, the sensing element of both models 500 (handheld) and 700 (in-line) is state of the art. It utilizes a palladium nickel capacitor for lower threshold measurements to 15PPM and a palladium nickel resistor for measurements from 5000PPM to 100 percent. A nickel temperature sensor allows the in-line model to operate in process streams up to 125 degrees Celcius.

The new product line also has a membrane and coating over the sensor die that allows hydrogen to penetrate, but keeps all moisture, CO, Sulfur and other gases from penetrating to the sensor die.

Like the models it replace – H2scan’s Portable Hand Held and 11320019 In-line Real-Time Process Monitor – the HY-OPTIMA 500 AND HY-ALERTA 700 accurately monitor H2 levels against virtually any background gases without the need for expensive support equipment, and can operate in the absence of oxygen and in a wide-range of ambient temperatures.

H2scan fully expects the new products to become the industry standard. According to Reid, "We intend to expand our sales force and work with our current distributors and marketing partners, Teledyne Instruments, Mitsubishi and Meggitt Safety, to rapidly increase sales in the process control and nuclear fields."

In addition to the two new models, H2scan intends to launch a third new product for retail sale in the third quarter of this year, an all-new hydrogen specific fixed area monitor with on-site in-field calibration verification capability. The new system will be priced at $1500, and come standard with contact points and multiple interface options.

About H2scan

H2Scan is the leading provider of high performance hydrogen sensor systems which provide accurate monitoring and control functions for a wide range of applications.

H2Scan sensor systems provide critical real-time functions in both friendly and harsh environments with standard or custom-designed attributes for numerous, multi-billion dollar hydrogen-sensitive applications. This includes process control systems, safety monitoring and alarm systems and includes portable, hand-held configurations for leak detection and monitoring.

H2scan was formed in 2002 with capital assistance from Vancouver-based Chysalix Energy, which includes Shell Hydrogen, the Mitsubishi Corporation, The Boeing Company, BASF, BOC and the Ravinia Venture fund. For more information, visit www.h2scan.com.