Sense-WARE marks 25 years of innovation in flame detection, combining advanced digital technologies, global market expansion, and strong manufacturing partnerships to deliver reliable, high-quality safety solutions.
Please introduce yourself and give us an insight into your role at Sense-WARE .
My name is Deryk Walker, and I have been Business Development Director for Sense-WARE for the last seven years, and my focus is Asia Pacific, the Americas, and the Middle East. My background combines over 40 years’ experience in the gas and flame detection industry, and I have worked for a number of major companies in this industry in both Europe and the USA.
In 2026, Sense-WARE is celebrating its 25th anniversary. What have been the most significant moments during the company’s history?
There have been several. The earliest was the decision to introduce our own Zone 2 and Safe Area Flame Detector products, rather than just concentrate on the Universal Test Lamp. This allowed the business to grow significantly in Europe. The retirement of Jan Nijkamp and Alfred Draijer, the original founders, leading to the acquisition of Sense-WARE by Cimar Electronics, provided an opportunity to reevaluate and examine the way we conduct our business. Prior to this, Sense-WARE had mainly provided Flame Detectors to the European market, with few international sales. Now, we were able to focus more on the international market, starting with Asia Pacific in 2019, followed by the Americas in 2021 and the Middle East in 2024.
What innovations have you observed in the Flame Detector market over the last 10 years?
This is an interesting question, although I will not limit the answer to the last 10 years as Flame Detection is an evolving technology and will continue to be so. The technology is not new as Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) sensors for detection of various sources have been around for a very long time, however, the way they are used for flame detection has improved enormously. The first Flame Detectors were analogue devices and not at all sophisticated. They used “through hole” electronics manufacture and were relatively power hungry. Today, Flame Detectors are digital and use microprocessors that allow amazing data analysis and the increased rejection of false alarms. The use of Surface Mount Technology for the electronic components, advanced spectral sensors, and the analysis of the fire flicker rate, coupled with advanced software, lens heaters and a variety of communication options, provides products that are reliable and long lasting. Additionally, there have also been other technologies developed, including Video Flame Detection, as well as some Flame Detector manufacturers offering built in Cameras and Data Logging.
How do Sense-WARE’s solutions for flame detectors differ from other manufacturers?
Essentially the technology is the same for all manufacturers. It is, after all, physics. The key points are the sophistication of the software and the quality of the components used. Quality does not come cheap and the Flame Detector industry has a wide variety of manufacturers with a wide variety of quality and pricing. As the old saying states, “You get what you pay for!”. We already have one of the highest product warranties for our market segment, and for 2026 we introduced a seven-year warranty as a thank you to our customers for their continuing support, and as part of our 25th anniversary celebration. This is the highest warranty in the industry, and who knows, we may just keep it after 2026!
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