About us
It all started around IPC X-II in 2015. At the time, there was a common concern that there would be no more suppliers of reference radiometers. This convinced PMOD/WRC to restart production of the PMO6 radiometer series. A lack of personnel resources and strategic considerations then led to the formation of a new company. Davos Instruments was established to supply PMOD/WRC with a batch of 10 PMO6 radiometers for redistribution.
Davos Instruments was formally founded in April 2016 by former PMOD employees Markus Suter and Valeria Büchel, along with a team of other co-founders who brought a variety of skills to the company.
Between 2016 and 2017, Davos Instruments manufactured a series of PMO6 radiometers, including CC control units, according to the original plans. During this time, the idea of designing a new radiometer for ground-based use emerged.
In late 2016, Davos Instruments was awarded a grant from the Innovation Foundation Graubünden to support the development of a new radiometer. The following year, Davos Instruments was accepted onto the ESA-BIC programme, and soon after started developing the new Linard control unit, based on recent progress in space based radiometry. In 2018, a prototype of the Linard control unit was successfully operated at the NPC, controlling a PMO6.
Development shifted towards a new sensor unit in 2019. In collaboration with PMOD/WRC, a prototype for the receiver of the new sensor was developed as part of an Innosuisse innovation project.
By late 2020, the first PMO8 systems, consisting of Linard control units and Fliana sensors, had been delivered to customers.
Over the following years, manufacturing processes were optimised, and further developments and improvements were made. The Linard software has been continuously improved. Davos Instruments participated in several pyrheliometer comparisons in Switzerland, Japan, Sweden, the USA, Italy and France to test and improve the PMO8 system.
Several other projects and collaborations have also been pursued in parallel:
CSAR (2021)
In collaboration with PMOD/WRC, software has been developed to calculate adaptive diffraction corrections for the Cryogenic Solar Absolute Radiometer (CSAR).
MITRA detectors (2021)
Davos Instruments provided PMOD/WRC with receivers for the upgraded Monitor to Measure the Integral Transmittance of Windows (MITRA), a CSAR support instrument.
TRUTHS space mission (2021–2024)
Davos Instruments acted as consultants in the early phase of the Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio-Studies (TRUTHS) mission from ESA, providing performance and cavity models.
SnowImager (2021–2024)
In collaboration with the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, a new instrument for determining snow properties using optical methods has been developed. In 2025, the project is transferred to the start-up company Nivilux, co-founded by Davos Instruments AG.
DWD Radiometer Modernisation (2023/2024)
Davos Instruments has modernised the reference radiometers of the Regional Radiation Centre of the Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) in Lindenberg, Germany. The setup consists of two PMO6s, one HF and two AHF radiometers.
PMO5 modernisation (2024/2025)
The PMO5 instrument, a World Standard Group (WSG) member dating from the 1970s, has been upgraded with a new Linard control unit.
Pyroelectric detectors for NMIs (2025)
In collaboration with NIST in Boulder, pyroelectric detectors have been manufactured to serve as references in laboratory calibrations at NMIs.
Our philosophy
Swiss Precision
Switzerland stands for precision, our products are as precise and reliable as a Swiss watch.
Designed in Davos
Our products are designed in Davos, the home of the World Radiometric Reference and the World Radiation Centre (PMOD/WRC). We are experts in solar radiometry and collaborate closely with PMOD/WRC.
Made in Switzerland
Our products are manufactured in Switzerland. We rely on regional suppliers to ensure that we provide the high quality our customers expect.
In harmony with nature
Our products are named after our favourite mountains in the region. Like our products, they are solid and long-lasting, while also being our inspiration and passion. Seeing their glaciers melt reminds us of the need to take care of our planet. Through our products, we strive to improve understanding of climate change and promote sustainable solar energy.
Our team
Our interdisciplinary team comprises engineers and physicists with extensive expertise in both ground- and space-based solar radiometry, as well as mechanical and electrical engineering.
Markus Suter, physicist
Jon Buchli, electrical engineer
Samuel Suter, geoinformatics engineer
Thomas Uehlinger, physicist
Valeria Büchel, mechanical engineer
Daniel Frost, mechanical engineer
David Leuenberger, electrical engineer
Our customers
Our customers include WMO regional and national radiation centres, weather services, national metrology institutes, universities, government agencies and private companies working in the field of solar energy as well as calibration laboratories and manufacturers of pyrheliometers and pyranometers.
