Decades of innovation

Vaisala's origins date back to the 1930s when Professor Vilho Väisälä, Vaisala's founder and long-time managing director, invented some of the operating principles of a radiosonde. The company was established in 1936 in Finland, and the first radiosondes were manufactured in the basement of a residential building in the center of Helsinki. From a modest start, the company evolved to become a world leader in many measurement fields. 

Today Vaisala employs over 1,850 people and exports 98% of its production to over 150 countries. Curiosity, the desire to meet challenges and an extraordinary ability to innovate are at Vaisala's core, both past and p​resent.

Vilho Väisälä founded Vaisala in 1936

Vaisala is established by Vilho Väisälä on the success of RS11

the first Vaisala radiosonde. The company starts radiosonde manufacturing in the basement of a residential building in the center of Helsinki.  The first delivery of 20 radiosondes is sent to MIT, USA.

First radiosonde RS11 wins gold medal in the World Fair in Paris

First radiosonde RS11

wins a gold medal at the World Fair in Paris.

New premises in Pasila

New premises in Pasila, Helsinki

provide the office for the company. The company is named Mittari Oy, with 28 employees.

Radiotheodolite for upper-air iwnd measurement is introduced

Radiotheodolite for upper-air wind measurement

is introduced. The Vaisala Sounding System becomes completely electronic.

Vaisala moves to new premises in Vantaa

The company moves to new premises in Vantaa, Finland

and changes its name to Vaisala Oy, leaving out the double dots from the Väisälä family name.

Vaisala News customer magazine is published for the first time

The first issues of Vaisala News customer magazine are published.

Today the magazine provides stories and articles in both online and print formats.

Vilho, Yrjö and Kalle Väisälä Foundation is established

Vilho, Yrjö and Kalle Väisälä Foundation is established

 when Vilho Väisälä donates 3,000 Vaisala shares to the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. The fund provides annual grants to research in mathematics, physics, meteorology, and astronomy.

Technology for HUMICAP® humidity sensors is developed

Thin-film technology for HUMICAP® humidity sensors is developed.

The world-first groundbreaking technology revolutionizes the humidity measurement market. The new sensor is used to measure humidity both outdoors and indoors.

The first automatic weather stations are developed.

The first Automatic Weather Stations are developed

for collecting surface observations. This is the start of Vaisala's aviation weather business.

First cleanroom is built.

Vaisala's first cleanroom is built

enabling the design and manufacturing of semiconductors in-house. This marks the beginning of Vaisala's industrial business.

RS80 radiosonde family is launched.

RS80 radiosonde family

brings a new standard in synoptic upper-air weather observation into the market.

Introducing Vaisala BAROCAP® is silicon barometric pressure sensor technology

Vaisala introduces Vaisala BAROCAP®

that is silicon barometric pressure sensor technology.

The science of air quality assessment has never been more important

Professor Vilho Väisälä Award is established

by Vaisala and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the best instrumentation paper in meteorology and related fields.

Vaisala becomes a public company

Vaisala becomes a public company.

The company’s A shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

Atmospheric Bounday Layer infographic

CARBOCAP® and DRYCAP® expand industrials measurements

into carbon dioxide and dewpoint measurements. The CARBOCAP® carbon dioxide sensor is based on silicon technology and the DRYCAP® dewpoint sensor on thin-film polymer technology.

RS92 radiosonde family is launched.

RS92 radiosonde family is launched.

The new high-performing sensors and GPS application for wind measurement are uniquely designed for radiosonde use.

New Cleanroom provides reliability and quality

New cleanroom provides industry-leading quality and reliability

enabling Vaisala to manufacture humidity, barometric pressure, carbon dioxide, and dewpoint sensors in-house.

Vaisala introduces a new remote sensing road surface state instrument

New remote sensing road surface state instrument

utilizes infrared optics and laser technology.

Vaisala launched an innovative C-band weather radar

Innovative C-band weather radar

provides accurate dual polar metric measuring and new concept in antenna design.

Introducing GLD360, a global lightning information service

GLD360, a global lightning information service

provides accurate real-time lightning information.

Vaisala acquires Veriteq

Vaisala acquires Veriteq

a leading company in continuous monitoring systems to strengthen Vaisala’s position in the steadily growing global life science markets.

Vaisala new head office opens in 2011

Vaisala's new head office opens

and receives the LEED Gold certificate. Most of the heating energy is generated by the building’s own geothermal energy system.

Vaisala acquires Second Wind and 3TIER in 2013

Vaisala acquires Second Wind and 3TIER

expanding into the renewable energy market with a wider range of products and services.

Vaisala launches Road Weather Station RWS200 in 2014

Vaisala launches the new Road Weather Station RWS200.

Combined with industry-leading decision support software, it provides intelligent weather information for road authorities.

Vaisala RS41 radiosonde launches the 4th generation sounding system

Vaisala RS41 radiosonde

launches the 4th generation sounding system.

Event: WindEnergy Hamburg

Vaisala Commits to Renewable Energy

aiming for 100% by 2020.

New moisture, hydrogen and temperature MHT410 transmitter opens new opportunities

New moisture, hydrogen and temperature MHT410 transmitter

opens new opportunities in the power generation and transmission market.

Vaisala expands its offering to air quality

Vaisala expands its offering to the growing air quality monitoring market

acquiring new products and technology.

Vaisala OptimusTM DGA Monitor for Transformers is a new online measurement device for transformer dissolved gas analysis.

Vaisala OptimusTM DGA Monitor for Transformers

is a new online measurement device for transformer dissolved gas analysis, building on unique technology to solve problems in transformer maintenance.

Vaisala acquires Finnish IT company Vionice specialized in computer vision and artificial intelligence

Vaisala acquires Finnish IT company Vionice

specialized in computer vision and artificial intelligence, bringing Vionice's product portfolio globally to its road and rail customers.

Vaisala acquires Leospere SAS in 2018

Vaisala acquires Leosphere SAS

and strengthens its position in remote wind sensing.

Vaisala acquires K-Patents in 2018

Vaisala enters liquid measurement market by acquiring K-Patents,

a pioneer in in-line liquid measurements for industrial applications.

Vaisala enters the biogas market in 2019

Vaisala enters the biogas industry.

Vaisala MGP261 is a groundbreaking biogas measurement instrument measuring methane, carbon dioxide and humidity in demanding environments.

Vaisala acquires the B2B weather services from Foreca in 2019

Vaisala acquires B2B weather services from Foreca,

strengthening its digital offering. The business serves weather-critical professional customers in transportation, energy, and industry segments.

Vaisala's technology onboard the Perseverance Rover

Mars in sight.

Technology from Vaisala and the Finnish Meteorological Institute heads to Mars onboard the Perseverance Rover and will form a small-scale measurement network together with the Curiosity Rover.

Vaisala uses 100 % renewable electricity in 2020

Vaisala uses 100% renewable electricity

in its facilities globally. The target was set in 2015 and achieved in 2020 with the combination of self-produced clean energy and green electricity contracts.

New R&D center opens in 2021

New R&D and innovation center is opened in Finland.

It is a unique arena for product development, located on the same campus area as Vaisala’s head office and production facilities in Vantaa.

Vaisala acquires AerisWeather in 2022

Vaisala acquires US-based AerisWeather,

accelerating growth of its weather and environmental data business.