Xylem's YSI brand history

Xylem's YSI brand was founded in 1948 by three graduates of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The company began with a focus on precision instrumentation and quickly made its mark with innovations like the quartz crystal electronic stopwatch and the medical electronic thermometer in the early 1950s. Throughout the 1960s, YSI expanded its expertise into biomedical and environmental monitoring, introducing groundbreaking devices such as the heart-lung machine, blood-gas analyzer, and dissolved oxygen meter.

In the following decades, YSI continued to push technological boundaries. The 1970s and 1980s saw the development of enzyme-based sensors for measuring glucose, alcohol, and lactate, as well as strategic acquisitions that expanded its global footprint. By the 1990s, YSI had launched advanced environmental monitoring instruments and achieved key quality certifications, solidifying its reputation for innovation and reliability.

The 2000s marked a period of global expansion and product diversification. YSI opened offices across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and acquired companies like SonTek and Hydrodata to enhance its capabilities in water monitoring and data analysis. Notable product launches included the EcoMapper autonomous underwater vehicle and RiverSurveyor systems.

In 2011, YSI merged with ITT Analytics and became part of Xylem Inc., a global leader in water technology. Since then, YSI has continued to innovate, introducing the EXO multiparameter water quality platform and forming the Advanced Development Group to drive future breakthroughs. Today, YSI remains committed to environmental stewardship and scientific excellence.