Swiss measurement tech multi-national opens first UK R&D office at Milton Park
Published on 12 April 2023
A subsidiary of Kistler – the Swiss measurement company which employs over 2,000 people across 60 global locations – has taken 1,379 sq ft of R&D space at Milton Park.
Kistler’s systems measure for pressure, force, torque and acceleration, spanning a diverse range of applications – with the company working across areas including electrified drive technology, autonomous driving, emissions reduction and Industry 4.0.
Kistler Fiber Technology’s new space on the Park will allow them to develop its optical fiber sensing technology further, delivering fast and accurate measurements in applications such as electric vehicle and structural health monitoring.
Kistler joins a range of other high-growth green energy and tech innovators at Milton Park, including Tokamak Energy – pioneers in developing fusion energy technology – and Nexeon which optimises rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.
Home to more than 270 companies, Milton Park’s occupiers delivered a combined turnover of £10.8bn last year, raising over £2bn of equity investment over the last decade. In total, £136m of equity investment was secured by green energy sector companies operating at the Park (2013-2022).
Clare Fleet, Commercial Surveyor at MEPC Milton Park, said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kistler Fiber Technology to the Milton Park community. Its position as a global leader in measurement technology reflects our 2040 Vision for the Park to become a pioneering research and innovation district.
“Milton Park’s single-ownership model and streamlined 10-day planning process enables the Park to be a giant incubator, providing occupiers with the opportunity to scale up quickly in support of their ambitious growth journeys.
“We’re excited for Kistler to benefit from that environment and look forward to seeing them network and collaborate with other exciting innovators at the Park.”
Dr. Michael Summers, Research and Development Team Leader at Kistler Fiber Technology, said:
“Kistler Fiber Technology is a recently established part of Kistler Group AG, serving customers in a range of applications including electric vehicles and structural health monitoring. Our products are based around an exciting new optical fiber sensing technology that allows the measurement of temperature, strain and shape of surfaces and structures with exceptional speed and precision.
“The excellent access to the A34 and rail links to London and proximity to the highly skilled workforce in and around Oxford were a major factor in the choice to locate our R&D centre at Milton Park. We are pleased to have made our home here and look forward to growing along with our new neighbours.”
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