What began as a chance meeting at a tech trade show in San Francisco, Zimmer and Peacock now develop biosensor products for companies around the world.

From their headquarters in Horten, Even Zimmer and Martin Peacock have established a globally successful technology company. The company tailors biosensors for various applications, a technology that can, among other things, be used to create new opportunities for direct diagnostics in healthcare.

And the market looks promising.

– The sensor industry is growing rapidly now, so we see great opportunities, says Even Zimmer, who is a daily
leader in the company.

– It is now the case that if you are going to control something, you have to be able to measure it. And without sensors
you don't get measured. That's why we see great opportunities with both our current and future customers in
the years to come.

CHANCE MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO

Today, Zimmer and Peacock are a well-established Horten success. However, the adventure began on the other side of the world; when the two founders coincidentally found the tone at a technology fair in San Francisco. The duo first founded a company together in England, but soon decided to move their business to Norway.

– We transferred all employees and all activities to Norway in 2016. We started the sales company in the US the following year, and now we are in the process of establishing ourselves in Asia .

SUCCESS IN MULTIPLE MARKETS

The company develops biosensors for several different industries. What these sensors have in common is that they measure the exact concentration of what customers are looking for.

“We usually call it biosensors, but specifically it is an electrochemical sensor,” explains Zimmer.

– Within the healthcare industry, we develop sensors intended to measure in blood, urine, saliva and tears.

Although they work across several different industries, it is within the healthcare industry that most of their customers operate:

– We have a number of large customers who rely on us. We act as their development department, and in the initial phase we are often also their production department. Approximately 80% of our revenue comes from customers in the healthcare sector, says Zimmer.

MANY WISE HEADS IN THE HORTEN

A lot has happened since its inception, and today the Horten company has loyal customers all over the world; from Japan to the USA, Europe to the Middle East. Zimmer is from Horten himself, and he believes that the choice of location has had a strong influence on the company's success.

– Horten is unique in Norway in the sense that it is a small town with a large technology environment. This allows us to draw on employees from other companies, both as partners and subcontractors in various projects, explains Zimmer.

– If you are going to be in Norway, and especially within the area we operate in, Horten is probably the best place to be.

It is also an advantage that Horten has established itself as a hub for new technology talent. Zimmer and Peacock depend on having a strong and competent team around them, and they are active in recruiting from the local student community at the University of Southeast Norway. This access to talent will become even more important in the years to come.

– Biosensors are a new wave coming, so we see that it could be a challenge for us to keep up with the times and grow in the right way, says Zimmer.

He is nevertheless optimistic about what the future will bring:

– We don't see any challenges when it comes to markets or customers, there are only great opportunities.
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