Why Organizations Choose ATEK Over Rotronic
Since 1965, Rotronic has earned its reputation as the gold standard in capacitive humidity measurement. The HC2 probe series and AirChip 3000 sensor technology are specified by metrology labs, pharmaceutical facilities, and cleanroom operators worldwide. But when the requirement shifts from measuring humidity at a single point to continuously monitoring an entire facility with GxP compliance, alarm escalation, and audit trails, Rotronic’s instrument-first heritage creates a gap. The 2017 acquisition by Process Sensing Technologies and subsequent absorption into AMETEK Inc. brought enterprise-scale resources, yet the monitoring platform remains a secondary product in a company defined by its probes and calibration generators.
Understanding Rotronic
Rotronic AG was founded in 1965 in Bassersdorf, Switzerland, near Zurich. For nearly six decades, the company focused on precision humidity and temperature measurement instruments. In 2017, Process Sensing Technologies (PST) acquired Rotronic, bringing it under an umbrella that also includes Michell Instruments, Dew Point Technologies, and SensoScientific. In 2019, AMETEK Inc. (NYSE: AME) acquired PST, making Rotronic ultimately owned by a diversified industrial manufacturer with approximately $6 billion in annual revenue and roughly 200 employees in the Rotronic division.
Rotronic’s product ecosystem spans several categories: the HC2 humidity probe series (the company’s flagship, with AirChip 3000 sensor technology delivering +/-0.8% RH accuracy), HygroLog data loggers (HL-20D, HL-NT series) for recording environmental conditions, the RMS (Rotronic Monitoring System) for GxP-compliant continuous monitoring claiming FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and EU GMP Annex 11 compliance, the newer Rotronic@Cloud platform, and the HygroGen2 humidity generator used as a calibration reference standard. Rotronic also operates a SAS-accredited (Swiss Accreditation Service) calibration laboratory in Switzerland.
In North America, Rotronic’s presence includes a partnership with LDetek in Quebec for regional sales and support coverage.
Rotronic’s recognized strengths include:
- HC2 Humidity Probe Excellence — The HC2 series with AirChip 3000 technology is widely considered the capacitive humidity measurement reference, specified across pharmaceutical manufacturing, stability chambers, and cleanroom applications where +/-0.8% RH accuracy is a baseline requirement
- AMETEK Enterprise Resources — Ownership by a NYSE-listed $6B industrial group provides R&D investment, global supply chain stability, and institutional credibility that appeals to conservative procurement committees evaluating long-term vendor partnerships
- HygroGen2 Calibration Standard — The HygroGen2 humidity generator is recognized by national metrology institutes as a calibration reference, and paired with the SAS-accredited lab in Switzerland, gives Rotronic a vertically integrated humidity measurement and calibration ecosystem unmatched in the sensor category
Common Challenges with Rotronic
Organizations evaluating or currently using Rotronic for continuous environmental monitoring frequently encounter these considerations:
- Assembly-required monitoring ecosystem: Building a GxP-compliant monitoring system from Rotronic components means separately procuring HC2 probes, HygroLog data loggers, RMS software licenses, and calibration services. Each component has its own quoting process, lead time, and support channel. The result is a monitoring capability stitched together from an instrument catalog, not a purpose-built monitoring platform
- RMS platform maturity gap: The RMS monitoring system and newer Rotronic@Cloud are secondary products in a company whose identity and R&D investment center on measurement probes and calibration generators. Organizations comparing RMS to dedicated monitoring platforms often find differences in reporting flexibility, alarm escalation workflows, and cloud-native architecture
- Swiss calibration logistics: Rotronic’s SAS-accredited calibration laboratory is located in Switzerland. For North American facilities, this means international shipping, customs clearance, and multi-week turnaround times for accredited calibration. Probes sent across the Atlantic for calibration create monitoring gaps and logistical complexity
- European support time zone: Primary engineering and product support teams operate from Bassersdorf, Switzerland (CET/CEST). While the LDetek partnership in Quebec provides regional sales coverage, after-hours technical support for a 2 AM temperature excursion at an Eastern time zone facility routes through a 6-hour time zone offset
- Quote-based pricing complexity: Each component in the Rotronic ecosystem is priced separately through enterprise quotes. HC2 probes, HygroLog loggers, RMS licenses, HygroGen2 chambers, SAS calibration services, and IQ/OQ/PQ validation documentation are all individual line items, making total cost of ownership difficult to forecast without extensive procurement engagement
How ATEK Addresses These Needs
Unified Cloud-Native Platform: Where Rotronic requires assembling HC2 probes, HygroLog loggers, and RMS software into a functional monitoring system, ATEK delivers a single platform purpose-built for continuous environmental monitoring. Hardware, cloud software, compliance features, and alarm management are integrated from day one. Organizations managing cleanroom monitoring or stability chambers get a deployment-ready system rather than a component integration project.
24/7 Live Support from Montreal: The LDetek partnership gives Rotronic some Quebec presence, but it is not a 24/7 technical support operation. When a critical excursion alarm fires at 2 AM Eastern and the Bassersdorf headquarters is starting its morning at 8 AM CET, ATEK’s Montreal-based monitoring specialists are already on call with a guaranteed 5-minute response. The team provides native bilingual support for Quebec pharmaceutical facilities and understands Health Canada regulatory requirements firsthand.
A2LA-Accredited Calibration Without Customs: Rotronic’s SAS-accredited Swiss lab is respected for humidity calibration accuracy, but North American facilities face international shipping delays, customs paperwork, and probe downtime measured in weeks. ATEK’s in-house A2LA-accredited calibration lab in Canada eliminates cross-border logistics entirely. For organizations with facilities on both sides of the border, ATEK provides local calibration that Rotronic’s Swiss-based accreditation cannot match for turnaround time.
Single Price, Complete Solution: Rotronic’s component-by-component quoting model — separate prices for probes, loggers, RMS licenses, calibration, and validation documentation — makes budgeting unpredictable and procurement cycles lengthy. ATEK’s per-monitoring-point pricing bundles hardware, cloud platform, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, calibration, IQ/OQ/PQ documentation, training, and 24/7 support into one rate. No hidden line items, no separate professional services engagements.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Rotronic | ATEK | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humidity measurement precision | HC2 probes, +/-0.8% RH (AirChip 3000) | Monitoring-grade sensors | Rotronic |
| Humidity calibration reference | HygroGen2 generator | Not offered | Rotronic |
| AMETEK/PST corporate resources | $6B parent company (NYSE: AME) | Independent | Rotronic |
| Monitoring platform maturity | RMS + Rotronic@Cloud (secondary products) | Purpose-built cloud platform | ATEK |
| Deployment model | Assemble probes + loggers + RMS | Integrated plug-and-play | ATEK |
| 24/7 support response | European business hours, LDetek (Quebec) | 5-minute guarantee, 24/7 | ATEK |
| Calibration lab (NA proximity) | SAS-accredited (Switzerland) | A2LA-accredited (Canada) | ATEK |
| Bilingual EN/FR support | Limited (European multilingual) | Montreal-based, native French | ATEK |
| Canadian data hosting & PIPEDA | Not available | Canadian-hosted, PIPEDA-compliant | ATEK |
| Pricing transparency | Component-by-component enterprise quotes | All-inclusive per point | ATEK |
Who Benefits Most from Switching
- RMS customers approaching license renewal who want to evaluate a cloud-native monitoring platform before recommitting to Rotronic’s on-premises architecture and its associated IT overhead
- Organizations assembling Rotronic components into monitoring systems that prefer a unified platform over separately procuring and integrating HC2 probes, HygroLog loggers, and RMS software
- Canadian pharmaceutical facilities needing local calibration, Canadian data hosting, and bilingual support without depending on Swiss calibration logistics or the LDetek partnership for after-hours coverage
Making the Transition
Switching from Rotronic RMS to ATEK follows a structured approach that accounts for Rotronic’s multi-component architecture:
- Component mapping — We document your current Rotronic deployment: HC2 probe locations, HygroLog logger configurations, RMS alarm settings, calibration schedules tied to the SAS-accredited lab, and any integration points with LIMS or BMS systems
- Parallel monitoring — ATEK wireless sensors install alongside existing Rotronic probes and loggers. Both systems capture data simultaneously, allowing direct comparison of readings and establishing qualification baselines without interrupting your RMS monitoring
- Compliance transition — Complete IQ/OQ/PQ documentation is included. Our team handles the validation protocols for replacing Rotronic’s multi-component setup with ATEK’s unified platform, ensuring continuous compliance documentation throughout the changeover
- Calibration cutover — Probes previously shipped to Switzerland for SAS-accredited calibration transition to ATEK’s in-house A2LA-accredited lab. For organizations currently using the LDetek channel, we coordinate timing to avoid calibration gaps during the migration
When Rotronic May Be the Right Fit
Rotronic is the stronger choice for organizations whose primary requirement is best-in-class humidity measurement precision rather than continuous monitoring. The HC2 probe series with AirChip 3000 technology remains the capacitive humidity reference standard, and the HygroGen2 generator is a recognized calibration benchmark. Organizations with AMETEK purchasing agreements, existing PST ecosystem deployments (Michell Instruments, SensoScientific), or metrology applications that demand the SAS-accredited Swiss calibration lab may find Rotronic’s instrument ecosystem the right fit. Facilities with dedicated integration teams comfortable assembling probes, loggers, and RMS into a custom monitoring architecture can leverage Rotronic’s component flexibility.
When ATEK Is the Better Choice
Choose ATEK when you need:
- A purpose-built monitoring platform instead of assembling HC2 probes, HygroLog loggers, and RMS software into a monitoring system
- Cloud-native GxP compliance without maintaining on-premises RMS server infrastructure
- 24/7 live support with guaranteed 5-minute response from North America, not European business hours via Bassersdorf or the LDetek partnership
- A2LA-accredited calibration from a Canadian lab, eliminating multi-week Swiss calibration turnaround and customs delays
- All-inclusive pricing that replaces Rotronic’s component-by-component enterprise quoting with a single per-monitoring-point rate
Start with a free assessment to see how ATEK’s unified platform compares to your current Rotronic deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ATEK’s humidity measurement compare to Rotronic’s HC2 probes?
Rotronic’s HC2 probes with AirChip 3000 technology deliver +/-0.8% RH accuracy and are considered the capacitive humidity measurement reference standard. ATEK’s sensors are designed for continuous environmental monitoring accuracy that meets pharmaceutical and cleanroom requirements. For applications where metrology-grade humidity precision is the primary need, Rotronic probes remain the benchmark. For continuous GxP monitoring with integrated alerting, compliance, and support, ATEK provides a complete platform that Rotronic’s instrument-first approach does not.
Can ATEK replace Rotronic’s RMS monitoring system?
Yes. ATEK’s cloud-native platform replaces the functionality of RMS — continuous monitoring, alarm management, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, and reporting — without requiring the on-premises server infrastructure that RMS demands. Organizations migrating from RMS to ATEK typically complete the transition within weeks, including parallel operation and full IQ/OQ/PQ validation.
What happens to our Rotronic HC2 probes and HygroLog loggers during migration?
ATEK sensors install alongside existing Rotronic equipment during the parallel monitoring phase. Your HC2 probes and HygroLog loggers continue operating through RMS until ATEK is fully validated. Organizations that use Rotronic probes for standalone measurement tasks (not continuous monitoring) often retain them for those purposes after migrating their monitoring to ATEK.
Is ATEK more expensive than a Rotronic monitoring setup?
Rotronic’s total cost includes separately quoted HC2 probes, HygroLog loggers, RMS software licenses, Swiss SAS-accredited calibration services, IQ/OQ/PQ validation documentation, and training. ATEK bundles all of these into a single per-monitoring-point rate. When the full cost of assembling and maintaining a Rotronic-based monitoring system is calculated, ATEK’s all-inclusive pricing is typically competitive. Request a demo for a side-by-side cost comparison.
Does ATEK offer calibration for existing Rotronic instruments?
ATEK’s A2LA-accredited calibration lab focuses on environmental monitoring sensors. For Rotronic HC2 probes, HygroGen2 generators, and other Rotronic-specific instruments, Rotronic’s SAS-accredited Swiss lab or the LDetek partnership channel remain the appropriate calibration providers.
How does Rotronic’s AMETEK ownership affect the comparison?
AMETEK’s $6B enterprise backing gives Rotronic significant resources for R&D, supply chain, and global distribution. However, within the AMETEK and PST portfolio, Rotronic’s monitoring platform competes for investment priority against the company’s core strengths in measurement instruments and the broader PST sensor portfolio. ATEK is focused exclusively on environmental monitoring — every development resource is directed at the monitoring platform, compliance features, and support operations rather than spread across measurement instruments, calibration generators, and sensor technologies.