Develops and manufactures precision measuring instruments, test systems and analysis software for industrial applications.
Spectris Limited
London (GB)New on Amplifa
About Spectris
Spectris Limited (until December 2025 Spectris plc) is a British technology group headquartered in London that develops and manufactures high-technology measuring instruments, test equipment, and analysis and simulation software for technologically demanding industrial applications. The group comprises four operating companies: Malvern Panalytical (materials and particle analysis, incl. Micromeritics and SciAps), Particle Measuring Systems (cleanroom and particle monitoring), Servomex (gas and moisture measurement) and Hottinger, Brüel & Kjær (HBK) based in Darmstadt and Virum for sound, vibration and test technology, complemented by the sensor manufacturer Piezocryst acquired in 2024. The business is divided into the Spectris Scientific segment (776.7 m £ revenue in 2024) and Spectris Dynamics (501.7 m £). Customer industries include life sciences and pharmaceuticals, technology-oriented industries, electronics and semiconductors, metals, minerals and mining, the automotive industry and academic research; customers include Rio Tinto and Intel. In 2024, the group generated revenue of £1,298.7 m with around 7,600 employees at 149 locations in over 30 countries. In December 2025, Spectris was acquired by funds of the private equity firm KKR and taken off the London Stock Exchange.
- Site
- London
- Processes
- High-technology measuring instruments, Test systems, Software (analysis and simulation software)
- Materials
- X-ray and Particle Analysis (Malvern Panalytical), Cleanroom and Particle Monitoring (Particle Measuring Systems), Gas and Moisture Measurement (Servomex), Test and Measurement Technology (HBK)
- Certificates
- Science-validated climate targets (SBTi), Net-Zero Operations by 2030, Group-wide occupational health and safety (H&S Policy)
- Founded
- 1915
- Employees
- 7600
- Industries
- Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals, Technology-Oriented Industries, Electronics and Semiconductors, Metals, Minerals and Mining, Automotive Industry, Academic Research
- 01
Research and development
- 02
Manufacturing of measuring instruments and test systems
- 03
Software development (analysis and simulation)
- 04
Sales and application support
- 05
Service services
Development Competencies
X-ray and Particle Analysis (Malvern Panalytical)
Instruments for materials and particle characterization for industrial software and laboratory applications.
Cleanroom and Particle Monitoring (Particle Measuring Systems)
Liquid and airborne particle counters down to 20 nm for semiconductor manufacturing.
Gas and Moisture Measurement (Servomex)
Gas analysis devices for industrial process applications.
Test and Measurement Technology (HBK)
Sensors and systems for sound, vibration and materials testing as well as simulation (VI-grade).
Locations
London
GBGroup headquarters
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Sustainability
Spectris pursues the highest work and quality standards as part of the Spectris Business System and reports annually on safety and sustainability metrics such as the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR 2025: 0.28). The net-zero targets (80% reduction in Scope 1/2 by 2030, 42% Scope 3) are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
| Evidence | London |
|---|---|
| Science-validated climate targets (SBTi) | |
| Net-Zero Operations by 2030 | |
| Group-wide occupational health and safety (H&S Policy) |
History
- 1915
Foundation of the Fairey Aviation Company by Richard Fairey.
- 1987
Management buy-out from Pearson; registered as Forcerival Limited.
- 1988
Stock exchange listing as Fairey Group plc on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1999
Acquisition of the gas analysis manufacturer Servomex.
- 2000
Acquisition of four measurement technology companies of Spectris AG, incl. HBM.
- 2001
Renamed Spectris plc.
- 2002
Acquisition of Philips' analysis business (PANalytical).
- 2018
Andrew Heath becomes CEO.
- 2021
Net-zero targets set.
- 2024
Revenue £1,298.7 m; divestment of Red Lion Controls; acquisitions of SciAps, Micromeritics and Piezocryst.
- 2025
Acquisition by KKR for £41.75 per share (~£4.2 bn); delisting on 05.12.2025.
- 2026
Renamed Spectris Limited; Andrew Williams as interim Chairman & CEO, Constance Baroudel announced as incoming CEO.