We are delighted to share that we have been granted a prestigious research and technology award by Innovate UK to support the journey towards achieving Net Zero in UK buildings. This achievement centres around our world-leading ultrasonic technology, particularly the Portascanner® AIRTIGHT, which enables rapid assessment of building fabric performance.
The official announcement of this research award took place at the UK Construction Week, where Mr. Daniel Dobrowolski, a Senior Physicist at Coltraco Ultrasonics and head of The Durham Institute of Research, Development & Invention, provided insights into the upcoming research and its significance.
We look forward to the remarkable outcomes that this research collaboration will bring in the near future.
You can watch the video here:
Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE, Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics, expressed his congratulations and gratitude, stating, “I warmly congratulate the Scientific and Built Environment team at Coltraco Ultrasonics and thank UK Research & Innovation, and Innovate UK, for this prestigious award.”
Airtightness is much more than a technical requisite. It is a testament to our collective responsibility to craft buildings that stand not only as monuments to our creativity, but as symbols to a sustainable future.

Science Led Innovation
We are dedicated to operating with the utmost scientific and commercial integrity to provide manufacturing and technical excellence. The Research Award for the Portascanner® AIRTIGHT is just one example of our dedication to providing world leading technology through the application of science led innovation.
We are dedicated to “seeing the sounds that others cannot hear”, enable people to live safer lives and secure critical national infrastructure on land and at sea:
Safesite™ on land: from monitoring the airtightness of an ICU hospital ward, to ensuring energy efficiency in the home.
Safeship™ at sea: from ensuring the watertight integrity of a ship or offshore platform to the monitoring of the gaseous extinguishing system contents, providing protection against fire.
The scientists, analysts, and engineers, in our laboratory conduct interdisciplinary research to deliver world-leading technology. Whilst our commercial team provide world-class customer service, maintenance, repair, and calibration certification.
Our deep understanding of the importance of innovation, not only as our company mission but also as a “public service-led” initiative to contribute to the nation, inspired us to establish the Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention (DIRDI) in partnership with Durham University in 2021. DIRDI combines our thirty years of commercial and technological experience with the scientific ambitions and expertise of over 360 senior academics from top universities across the UK. Together, we work toward achieving five primary aims, four of which are driven by public service needs and are directly funded by the commercial success of the fifth. By bringing together this vast collective of knowledge, experience, and ambition, we strive to ensure that DIRDI serves not only as a powerhouse of commercial research and invention but as a vital contributor to societal progress and national well-being.