About the company

B Hagner AB was founded in 1962 by Bo Hagner who at the time was head of the lighting laboratory at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

Although various types of luxmeters were frequently available on the market, Bo and some of his colleagues saw the need for a simple but accurate luminance meter with a narrow measuring angle. Extensive development work took place and within a year the first prototype was ready; a luminance meter with a measuring angle of 1º with an optics that made it possible to not only see what area was measured but at the same time read the luminance value. There was a small void within the casing; a cable connected detector for measurement of illuminance was placed there and the first Hagner Universal Photometer was born.

In 1971 the cadmium sulphide diodes were exchanged for silicon diodes. A great improvement as the latter are much more stable and reliable. Many models later, the Universal Photometer, together with a wide range of special detectors and accessories, is still a central part of Hagner's product range.

Another important development for B Hagner AB was in 1983 when the small but reliable and accurate luxmeter EC1 was introduced. This easy-to-use instrument has over the years been further developed into a range of different models with built-in or cable connected detectors measuring illuminance, luminance, UV and IR radiation and other photometric quantities.

During the last 15 years or so there has been a growing interest for the control of lighting inside road tunnels, i.e to balance the light inside the tunnels to the light to which an approaching car driver's eyes are adapted. For this purpose B Hagner AB developed a Tunnel Photometer measuring the luminace at tunnel entrances, according to CIE recommendations, as well as a PLC program for regulating the tunnel lighting.

One of the latest Hagner products is the ERP-105 luminace meter which can measure levels as low as 0.00001 cd/m². This was developed to meet the requirements for control measurements of the photoluminescent materials used in ships' escape routes.

As a manufacturing and development company B Hagner AB tries to respond to various photometric measuring needs in the market. Beside tunnel photometers and light sensors, which are for stationary outdoor use, the main aim of the company is to provide the market with reasonable priced, hand held, reliable and accurate photometric instruments, for use in the field as well as in the laboratory. The continuous work of improving existing instruments, together with the development of new instruments has given B Hagner AB its present strong market position.