Lenzkirch, 28th May 2010. Progressive technology from Testo AG is used globally, and has also proven its worth in the field of health, such as for the measurement of bodily temperatures. Last year, the fear of a pandemic attracted enormous global attention to the swine flu virus. The German Press Agency (dpa) has now awarded a photo with the infrared measuring instrument testo 845 the title of Photograph of the Year in the category “Miscellaneous”. The image shows how the body temperature of a passenger in an aeroplane in Shanghai is being measured. The health worker is using the infrared measuring instrument to record the surface temperature of the skin on the passenger’s forehead.

When the virus broke out, Testo provided suitable intrumentation at the right moment: The sales of Testo instruments in the field of infrared measurement, such as the Testo thermal imagers, for example, increased sharply last year. Thousands of infrared measuring instruments from Testo were used in the fight against swine flu. The authorities, especially in Asia, ordered the temperature measuring instruments from Testo for preventive measures. Travellers entering the country who showed increased body temperatures, and were possible carriers of the swine flu virus, could thus be identified and treated by doctors.

Marcus Brandt, the photographer who took the image, comments: “In spite of the threat of a pandemic, the passengers accepted the medical examination calmly, the atmosphere in the plane was relaxed.”

Testo AG is today among the world’s leaders in the development and manufacture of high-tech precision measuring technology, which is produced at the company's headquarters in Germany’s Black Forest. “We were delighted about the award. The photo also emphasizes how we see our work – with our technology and our instruments, we want to make a contribution to making life safer”, says Daniel Auer, department head of the Product Group Infrared at Testo.

Testo AG

Testo AG, whose headquarters are in the Upper Black Forest, is one of the leading producers of portable and stationary measurement technology worldwide. The high-tech company offers measurement solutions for, among other things, climate and environmental technology, industrial applications, emission measurement and the monitoring of food quality. True to the company motto “Committing to the future”, the firm invested roughly 17 percent of turnover in research and development in the crisis year 2009 alone, an above-average expenditure on future-oriented research. With 27 subsidiary companies and over 70 distribution partners, the company is represented all over the world, and has a worldwide staff of over 1,800.