Continuous engineering innovation has been at the heart of Detectortesters’ growth since its inception. Over decades, the business has evolved from mechanical to electrified fire detector testing solutions, and now to connected digital products that deliver robust testing and reporting.
For Robert Campbell – CEO of Detectortesters’ umbrella company Noventis Group – the ambition was clear: digitise fire detector testing to save customers time, automatically generate records, and give clients full control of the testing process. But while the vision was bold, the path to realisation was not straightforward. “Our previous investor was reluctant to disrupt a highly successful business,” Robert recalls.
That changed in 2021, when Inflexion invested in the business, bringing not only funding but also strategic expertise to accelerate the shift towards a digital proposition.
The connected product will help us accelerate the shift away from older aerosol testing towards modern electronic testing solutions and software, which is where we want to direct our business.
Product innovation is not always a revolution. It can be a steady evolution. Each generation of Detectortesters products reflects the evolving needs of the global safety market. With the right support and courage, even the most traditional industries can accelerate this evolution.
From concept to launch
Inflexion worked with Detectortesters from the ground up, supported by external advisers. Together they defined the proposition, pricing, and go-to-market strategy – clarifying what the product would offer, who it would serve, and how it would fit in the market.
Inflexion helped navigate challenges, such as Bluetooth integration to mobile app versioning. Crucially, they also helped build out the team, supporting the recruitment of an interim and later permanent CTO, as well as a Head of Product.
“We knew the direction we wanted to take but couldn’t get there quick enough without the capital,” Robert recalls. “Since then, we’ve leaned further into software and worked with external support to help us get there quicker. We’re now in-sourcing this to manage our own digital development going forward.”
It’s an expensive investment to build out the talent bench and I’d never have been able to do this without Inflexion’s help. They are about the mid- and long-term picture rather than the short-term costs.
Early momentum
Launching a new product is never without challenges. Inflexion’s dedicated value acceleration team stayed close during the early months, refining go-to-market plans, onboarding external providers, and optimising the customer journey.
The result: the XTR2, unveiled at a trade show in 2023 and launched publicly in early 2024. Today, more than a thousand tests are conducted worldwide each day using XTR2, and over 2,500 users engage with its mobile app – a number that continues to grow.
The launch has also opened new recurring revenue streams for Noventis Group, with digital services and subscriptions now part of the offer. Rapid prototyping and shorter time-to- market are helping the business develop the next generation of modern, accessible safety testing products.
Recognition has followed. Detectortesters won ‘Fire Safety Innovation of the Year’ at the 2024 Fire Safety Matters Awards, ‘Excellence in Fire Safety’ at the 2025 Intersec Awards, and, alongside Inflexion, the ‘Portfolio Innovation Award’ at the Actum Group Private Equity Value Creation Awards 2025.
Product expansion through M&A
Technology is also central to Noventis’s M&A strategy.
“Inflexion encouraged us to build a robust in-house technological capability, hiring experts in R&D, engineering, and product management, all with software backgrounds. This skillset gives us credibility when speaking to acquisition targets,” says Robert. “They see our technological experience and it helps get deals over the line.”
With Inflexion’s support, Noventis has completed four acquisitions so far – one in Ireland and three in the US – expanding geographic and product range.
The digital focus has made Noventis an attractive platform for other safety testing businesses on a similar journey. When Hose Monster joined, Noventis helped the company to rapidly improve its connected product and enhance its core offering through technology.
The Inflexion team has significant experience in supporting the growth of industrials businesses, including a number in the industrial safety space. All our partners have access to Inflexion’s sizeable in-house value acceleration team which focuses on digital enhancement, international expansion, M&A, commercial effectiveness, talent management and sustainability.
