Vaisala taking every measure for the planet for almost 90 years
In 1931, Finnish Professor Vilho Väisälä found a fallen radiosonde and saw an opportunity to improve it to his quality standards. An innovator at heart, he spent five years perfecting his vision. In 1936, he founded Vaisala and delivered his first commercial radiosonde to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, winning a gold medal at the 1937 World Fair in Paris.
What began in the basement of a Helsinki residential building has evolved into a global technology leader that operates on two planets. Today, NASA's Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance carry Vaisala’s sensor technology combined with Finnish Meteorological Institute’s measurement instrumentation to obtain accurate and reliable pressure and humidity data from the surface of the red planet. The same in-house developed technology that withstands the harsh conditions of space serves numerous industrial and environmental applications on Earth.
Leading the way in climate action and innovation
From those early radiosondes measuring atmospheric conditions, Vaisala has continuously pushed the boundaries of measurement science. The company pioneered GPS technology for upper-air wind measurements in 1996, introduced fully automated sounding stations, and recently launched cybersecurity features to protect weather data from interference and cyberattacks.
Today, Vaisala stands as a global leader in measurement instruments and intelligence for climate action. With close to 2,500 experts, the company equips customers with devices and data to improve resource efficiency, drive energy transition, and care for the safety and well-being of people and societies worldwide.
At Vaisala, everything starts with innovation. True innovation stems from diverse teams working together, challenging each other to find the best solutions. The company invests 12% of its net sales in research and development, with close to one-third of its team working in product development.
Whether it's helping the world's largest data centers optimize energy usage, enabling renewable energy production through precise wind and solar measurements, or providing life science companies with critical environmental monitoring, Vaisala's purpose remains clear: Taking every measure for the planet.
The company's pioneering spirit lives on through cutting-edge technologies like multi-GNSS radiosondes that resist GPS interference, biodegradable radiosonde materials that reduce plastic waste by 66%, and AI-powered weather data services that help automotive innovators enhance road safety and optimize electric vehicle performance.
Shaping tomorrow's climate solutions, one measurement at a time
For close to a century, Vaisala has measured the slightest shifts in environments, even in the harshest conditions. Our instruments and intelligence are used where it matters the most: from the world's largest data centers to leading medical laboratories, from the frozen Arctic to the fierce hearts of hurricanes. Hence, Vaisala continues professor Väisälä's legacy of curiosity and innovation.
As climate challenges intensify globally, Vaisala remains committed to providing the measurement tools and intelligence needed for decisive climate action, proving that sometimes the most profound global impact begins with a curious mind and a commitment to excellence.
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