TSI was founded in 1961 when a group of University of Minnesota engineering graduates pooled their expertise to solve the problem of making accurate flow measurements in turbulent combustion. That was the beginning of our fluid mechanics instrument line. Our first particle instrument debuted in 1966.

The company soon broadened its product offering, adding industrial and defense products based on our well-developed fluid and particle expertise. Since then, we have concentrated on meeting customer needs. We worked closely with customers and the technical community to invent new measuring tools or low-cost alternatives. Now, more than 40 years later, TSI is known around the world as a modern, dynamic, technology company.

We have always maintained a close working relationship with researchers, especially at the University of Minnesota. TSI helped found the consortium that established the Center for Filtration Research at the University, we participate in annual aerosol short courses, and we support the student internship program.

Collaborative relationships with researchers at the University of Illinois and many academic, research, governmental, and military institutions worldwide have also been important in our long-term success. Many of our products have sprung from cooperative partnerships and licensing agreements. We currently have more than 25 active licenses covering technologies developed elsewhere and commercialized by TSI.

TSI develops extraordinary instruments, instruments long known for performance and accuracy. They offer high value, consistently outperform the competition, and can be relied on to meet their specifications. That’s why we’ve been so successful.

Innovative thinking keeps TSI Incorporated a leader in the markets we serve. We remain committed to helping customers solve their measurement problems, and we have the technical talent, resources, and commitment to find unique solutions for difficult applications.

Important Milestones

» 1961 -- Company incorporated as Thermo-Systems Inc.
» 1962 -- First thermal anemometer
» 1966 -- First overseas sales (France)
» 1967 -- First particle instrument introduced
» 1968 -- Company went public
» 1969 -- First piezoelectric particle mass sensor
» 1970 -- Began selling in Japan
» 1973 -- First laser Doppler velocimeter
» 1975 -- TSI sensor measured wind on Mars
» 1976 -- First portable air velocity meter
» 1977 -- Name officially changed to TSI Incorporated
» 1977 -- Opened office in Germany
» 1978 -- First condensation nucleus counter
» 1981 -- First Aerodynamic Particle Sizer® spectrometer
» 1983 -- First industrial process instrument
» 1984 -- First laboratory control products
» 1985 -- First fiber optic LDV probe
» 1985 -- First contamination monitoring system
» 1986 -- Handar Inc. acquired
» 1987 -- First PORTACOUNT® respirator fit tester
» 1987 -- First airport weather observation system (AWOS)
» 1993 -- Transducer Research Inc. acquired
» 1994 -- First indoor air quality monitor
» 1995 -- Alnor Instrument Company acquired
» 1995 -- Aerometrics Incorporated acquired
» 1996 -- Zimmer GmbH acquired
» 1996 -- First airborne biological detector
» 1997 -- Target Systems Incorporated acquired
» 1998 -- Amherst Process Instruments acquired
» 1999 -- Environmental Systems Corporation acquired
» 1999 -- MESACON acquired
» 1999 -- Handar subsidiary sold
» 2000 -- TSI acquired by JJF Group, Inc.—TSI becomes private
» 2000 -- First aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer
» 2001 -- First combustion analyzer
» 2001 -- First LS200 non-contact tachometer
» 2001 -- First POWERVIEW PIV camera
» 2002 -- DICKEY-john Corporation becomes part of TSI
» 2002 -- First personal aerosol monitor
» 2003 -- TSI opens United Kingdom office
» 2004 -- TSI opens China office

Our Mission
Our mission is to continuously develop new products by applying technology to solve measurement problems in a variety of environments. Our products improve the health, safety and productivity of individuals, businesses, research organizations and government agencies worldwide.

We aggressively pursue our mission by continually developing and managing a portfolio of both technology and products, taking measured business risks, providing comprehensive customer support, and fostering an environment of innovation, creativity and hard work.

Our Vision
TSI is a world-class provider of innovative solutions to meet our customers’ measurement needs.