The company was founded in 1999 by graduate engineer Wolfgang Schmitt. At that time, only analogue gas detection systems (sensors with 4-20 mA output) were available on the market, as well as pneumatic suction systems that sucked in the air at various points, measured it centrally and evaluated it. Wolfgang Schmitt saw a gap in the market for digital and bus-compatible gas sensors that could be installed decentrally and wired in a star or line configuration. The PolyGard®1 product series was born. Subsequently, applications with toxic sensors (e.g. parking garage CO, NO2, etc.) and combustible sensors (leakages at heating systems, etc.) were developed.