Safety as a catalyst: CO2Meter’s year of innovation and expansion

As the industrial gas industry continues its upward trajectory, companies like Florida-based CO2Meter aim to redefine safety and innovation in gas detection. Reflecting on a remarkable year, the CO2Meter team shared their achievements, challenges, and forward-looking strategies during a recent gasworld webinar.

For CO2Meter, safety isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a catalyst for innovation. This principle was evident in their alignment with the updated Compressed Gases Association (CGA) G-6.14 standard, which sets new benchmarks for carbon dioxide monitoring in consumer and industrial applications. Morgan Morris, VP of Marketing, stressed the impact of these updates, which highlight proper installation and effectiveness in high-risk environments.

“It really highlights the importance on proper installation and effectiveness in these areas. And we know that CGA is also pushing to get this code recognised by the code writing authorities, so that currently is underway,” she explained.

According to Morris, the company’s devices are designed not just to meet these standards, but exceed industry requirements.

“It’s really fantastic to see how some of these recent updates are really just driving more gas safety awareness out there in the field, especially for some of those high risk environments.”

Another key development includes the industry’s proactive approach to nitrogen safety, a response to incidents like the Gainesville, Georgia tragedy.

The incident occurred on January 28, 2021, at a poultry processing plant when a liquid nitrogen line ruptured, causing a sudden release of the gas. Liquid nitrogen, used to flash-freeze food, quickly displaces oxygen when released, creating an asphyxiation hazard.

Tragically, six workers died, and several others were hospitalised due to oxygen deprivation. Investigations revealed safety lapses, including inadequate training and insufficient safeguards to prevent the build-up of nitrogen gas in confined spaces.

This prompted the CGA to develop a comprehensive standard for the safe storage, handling and use of liquid nitrogen in stationary applications, comparable to the guidance presented in CGA G-6.5 Standard for Small Stationary Insulated Carbon Dioxide Systems.

By staying ahead of regulatory developments, CO2Meter states that its solutions remain at the forefront of safety and reliability.

Breakthrough technology

As safety concerns grow, so too does the demand for cutting-edge technology. This year, CO2Meter embraced the Internet of Things (IoT) to revolutionise gas detection. Their smart gas detectors, equipped with real-time monitoring, remote data access and enhanced analytics, aim to set a new standard for operational efficiency.

A key highlight for the company was the release of its industrial multi gas detector series, which means the company’s solutions are now able to monitor more than 40 different gases at multiple concentrations.

“Before when customers would call and ask, ‘hey, can you measure ammonia?’ Or ‘can you do this for hydrogen?’ We’d always have to turn them over to somebody else, but our research and development team, along with our partners, have have really gone out of their way to develop the solutions to for us to be able to tackle those markets and tackle them intelligently,” said Josh Pringle, Executive-Vice President at CO2Meter.

Among their standout achievements was the launch of the stainless-steel, a product tailored to meet FDA and OSHA requirements, which has gained traction in food packaging and safety.

Innovation has also been a vehicle for collaboration, with CO2Meter forging strong partnerships across industries. One of the year’s success stories came from WestAir, a leading gas supplier that implemented CO2Meter’s fixed gas detection systems to enhance safety and compliance while boosting revenue.

“When I think of customer success stories, one definitely comes to mind. I would say one of our partners, WestAir, they’re obviously a leading gas supplier of industrial specialty and safety products, and they’ve been able to implement our fixed gas detection safety systems to ensure safety across a lot of their customer sites,” Morris explained. 

Another noteworthy project involved CK Supply’s Archview Carbonic facility, where CO2Meter extended its detection capabilities beyond CO2 to meet the needs of a dynamic industrial gas market.

Education as a cornerstone

These partnerships reflect CO2Meter’s holistic approach, one that prioritises education as much as technology. This year, the company launched an extensive online resource hub, providing free access to safety guidelines, eBooks, and training materials.

“We’re giving them the vital, valuable, credible information they need to make good decisions for themselves, their business and their customers. We’re not telling them how to do it, we’re giving them the information for them to make those good decisions for themselves,” Pringle stressed. On top of digital initiatives, CO2Meter hosted on-site training seminars to help customers navigate complex safety standards and stay ahead of industry trends.

Education is definitely a forefront for us…

Education has become a cornerstone of the company’s strategy, shaping not just customer relationships but also industry perceptions. Through over 20 partner segment interviews and hands-on training sessions, CO2Meter has shared industry knowledge and practical insights, contributing to broader gas safety awareness and understanding.

“I would say education is definitely a forefront for us. Right whenever you’re working around these hazardous gases, there are risks involved, and so we want to do our part in trying to promote as much gas safety education and advocacy that we can,” Morris explained. 

While reflecting on its achievements, the company also acknowledged challenges. Supply chain disruptions and market noise remain hurdles for the industry, particularly for smaller businesses. However, CO2Meter’s proactive stance has ensured minimal impact on its operations.

“Over the last dozen years, we’ve really tried to take that leadership position, that educational position, to do everything with credibility and integrity, to offer the information that we have so our customers and partners can make those best decisions,” Pringle remarked. The company also pointed to growing market complexity as a challenge, requiring an increasingly sophisticated approach to product development and regulatory compliance.

A springboard into the future

Looking ahead, CO2Meter has ambitious plans for 2025. Expanding their global footprint, launching innovative technologies, and strengthening industry partnerships are high on their agenda.

A key focus will be the expansion of its global footprint when it comes to gas detection solutions. “We also are looking to provide more educational resources for our customers and rolling out some new ground-breaking innovations and technologies that folks can definitely look out for,” said Morgan.

As the company approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, Pringle summed up its vision, “Now that we’ve got this industrial gas detection line, we’ve got these key partnerships and relationships in place, we can continue to to move that forward and up our game. 2025 is really going to be our springboard into the future.”