Manufacturer of TDLAS laser methane detectors and provider of aerial inspection services for gas and power grids
Pergam-Suisse AG
Kilchberg (Zurich), Switzerland · USA · Italy · ChinaNew on Amplifa
About Pergam-Suisse AG
Pergam-Suisse AG is an internationally active company headquartered in Kilchberg near Zurich that develops and manufactures equipment and services for the detection of methane leaks. The detectors are based on Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) and are available as handheld devices, stationary systems, vehicle-based laboratories (SELMA), aircraft- and helicopter-based systems (ALMA) as well as UAV payloads (Laser Falcon, LMF, ALMA G5). In addition, the company offers inspection services: aerial inspection of gas pipelines and underground gas storage facilities, inspection of high-voltage power lines using a tri-spectral camera on a gyro-stabilized platform, and UAV-based methane monitoring of landfills. The systems are produced and supported in Switzerland, Italy and the USA; equipment is in operation in 18 countries, with over 400,000 inspected kilometers. Customers come from natural gas supply, pipeline operation, power grid infrastructure and emissions monitoring.
- Site
- Kilchberg (Zurich)
- Processes
- Gas Pipeline Inspection Service (aerial methane leak detection with ALMA laser detector), Power Line Inspection Service (aerial inspection of high-voltage lines, UV/IR/visual), Landfill Methane Inspection Service (UAV-based methane emissions monitoring), TDLAS-based detectors (Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy) — handheld, stationary,, Aerial Gas Pipeline Inspection (methane leak detection by aircraft/helicopter), Aerial Power Line Inspection (UV/IR/visible spectrum, TRAKKA Gyro-Stabilized Platform), Landfill Methane Inspection by UAV (LMC-DL), Vehicle-based gas leak detection (SELMA mobile laboratories)
- Materials
- Methane (natural gas), Ammonia, Water vapor, Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy, Methane (Natural Gas), Water Vapor
- Certificates
- STC / FAA Certificate of Conformity (ALMA G2)
- Industries
- Natural gas supply / gas infrastructure, Gas pipeline operators, Underground gas storage facilities, Power grid operators (high-voltage lines), Landfills / emissions monitoring, Gas processing and compressor stations
- 01
Development and design of the TDLAS detectors
- 02
Production in Switzerland, Italy and the USA
- 03
Sales and support (Pergam Technical Services, since 2005)
- 04
Inspection services including flight planning and data acquisition
- 05
Preparation of reports with GPS reference and media files
Measured Quantities and Spectroscopy
Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy
Diode laser spectroscopy for selective methane measurement along a laser beam up to reflecting objects at distances of up to 300 m.
Methane (Natural Gas)
Target gas of all detector product lines; measured as column density (ppm·m).
Ammonia
Detectable gas with a dedicated ammonia gas detector.
Water Vapor
No interference with the methane measurement; ALMA detectors are insensitive to other gases.
Locations
Kilchberg (Zurich)
CHHeadquarters, production and support
- Materials
- TDLAS detectors
- TDLAS laser methane detectors (handheld, stationary, vehicle-, aircraft-, UAV-based)
- SELMA vehicle laboratories
- LMS fixed-installation detectors
- ALMA aircraft systems
- TRAKKA gyro-stabilized platform (PLI)
USA (Pergam Technical Services / Pergam-Suisse USA)
USBranch for sales, service and support
Italy
ITBranch since 2010, sales Europe
China (Branch Office)
CNBranch Office since 2022
Products and Detectors
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Pipeline Inspection Service (aerial methane leak detection with ALMA laser detector)Inspection | – | 600 km per day | – | – | Methane (natural gas), Steel gas line infrastructure |
| Power Line Inspection Service (aerial inspection of high-voltage lines, UV/IR/visual)Inspection | – | 600 km per day | – | – | – |
| Landfill Methane Inspection Service (UAV-based methane emissions monitoring)Inspection | – | 1.6 km² per day | – | – | Methane |
| TDLAS-based detectors (Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy) — handheld, stationary,Inspection | – | – | – | – | Methane, Ammonia |
14 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft-based laser methane detector | Pergam-Suisse ALMA G5 | – | Detection range 0–50,000 ppm·m; detection distance up to 300 m; survey 600 km/day; 100 km/h | – | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| Aircraft-based laser methane detector | Pergam-Suisse ALMA G4 | – | Detection distance up to 300 m; 100 km/h | – | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| Aircraft-based laser methane detector (for Bell 206) | Pergam-Suisse ALMA G2 | – | Operating voltage 19–36 V; 100 km/h | – | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| UAV-mounted TDLAS methane detector | Pergam-Suisse Laser Falcon Supreme | – | Detection range up to 80 m; up to 40 measurements/s; max. UAV speed 100 km/h | – | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| UAV laser methane detector (lightweight) | Pergam-Suisse Laser Falcon G2 | – | – | – | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| Remote laser methane detector for professional UAVs (2-axis gyro stabilization) | Pergam-Suisse LMF G2 | – | – | – | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| Stationary laser methane detector (LMS) | Pergam-Suisse LMS | – | Sensitivity 0.1 ppm | 2011 | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| Vehicle-based mobile laboratory (SELMA) | Pergam-Suisse SELMA | – | Sensitivity 0.1 ppm (2011 version) | – | Switzerland/Italy/USA |
| Gyro-stabilized platform (3-in-1: UV camera, thermal imager, Full HD camera) | TRAKKA | – | – | – | Switzerland |
| Handheld thermal imager | GUIDE SENSMART | – | – | – | – |
| Ultrasonic imaging camera | – | – | – | – | – |
| OGI camera | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ammonia gas detector | – | – | – | – | – |
| Portable sniffer / backpack gas leak detection system | – | – | – | 2021 | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Certifications
The detectors perform an automatic self-calibration at every startup and during operation via a built-in methane reference cell; the devices are not considered measuring instruments and therefore do not require external verification. The ALMA G2 holds STC and FAA Conformity certificates.
| Evidence | Kilchberg (Zurich) |
|---|---|
| STC / FAA Certificate of Conformity (ALMA G2) |
History
- 2002
Opening of the Suisse office
- 2003
Development of a device based on remote laser spectroscopy for helicopter-based diagnostics of main gas lines
- 2005
Foundation of Pergam Technical Services for sales, service and support
- 2006
US approval for aerial inspection of main gas lines (ALMA test at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center); development of a vehicle-based methane detector for SELMA
- 2007
International patents in the USA and Europe
- 2009
Start of deliveries to China, South Korea, Estonia and others
- 2010
Foundation of the Italian branch for the European market
- 2011
Production of the revised SELMA version with 10 times higher sensitivity (down to 0.1 ppm)
- 2013
Development of the LMS fixed-installation remote methane detector
- 2014
Intrinsically safe LMS version for Korea Gas (South Korea)
- 2015
First deliveries of SELMA and helicopter-based detector to Australia and New Zealand
- 2017
First fixed-wing sensor successfully installed and flown
- 2018–2019
Series production of methane detectors for UAV platforms
- 2021
Highly sensitive backpack system for walking and vehicle measurements
- 2022
Mathematical model for gas leak quantification for TDLAS detectors; opening of the branch in China
- 2023
Development of the ALMA G5 portable laser methane detector for UAVs and small aircraft
- 2024
Completion of the software and update of the ALMA G5 interface