Queen’s Award win at University of Exeter Innovation Centre

The award was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Mr Eric Dancer CBE JP, to Dr Walter King, Founder and Marketing Director of Dart Sensors Ltd. 

The Lord Lieutenant, supported by Mr Ben Bradshaw, Member of Parliament for Exeter; the Chairman of Devon County Council, Councillor Christine Marsh; and Mr Karime Hassan, Interim Director of Economy and Development of Exeter City Council, had a tour of the facilities at Dart Sensors led by John King, Technical Director. The Lieutenant then arrived at the Innovation Centre’s conference facilities where Walter King introduced a history of Dart Sensors and received the Queen’s Award and Warrant.

Dart Sensors began in a garden shed at the home of Walter King in 1994. Since then the company has blossomed and now has laboratories in Exeter, Shenzhen (China) and Totnes. Dart Sensors develops and manufactures electrochemical sensors, primarily for alcohol testing but also for air quality applications. The devices appear in a number of formats including police screening and ignition interlock devices and most recently the ‘smart phone.’

Dart Sensors has a wealth of experience in international trade and exports to over 16 countries including the United States, China, Germany, Korea and Turkey, increasing revenues by 139% to over £1,000,000 per annum in two years and exporting over 90% of its production. The future is very bright for the company as in a recent survey, 57% of International Trade winners of the Queen’s Award achieved increased recognition overseas following their win. 
They also have the honour of a special reception at Buckingham Palace and entitlement to use the Queen’s Award emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of 5 years as a symbol of their quality and success.