Airmotec – portable solutions for precision VOC detection

Airmotec AG, based in Bordeaux, France, is a developer and manufacturer of advanced analytical systems for volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis. As part of Chromatotec, an international leader with nearly 50 years of experience delivering turnkey gas and liquid analysis for industrial and academic applications solutions, Airmotec combines cutting-edge innovation with proven reliability. With extensive expertise in gas chromatography systems for biogenic VOC detection, it has played a key role in co-developing analytical innovations tailored to practical and actionable pest monitoring needs and evaluating the portable Sensor System Prototype (SSP).

In close collaboration with all PurPest partners, Airmotec has successfully tested both synthetic gas mixtures and plant-emitted VOCs under controlled conditions, helping to validate SSP performance and refine its core detection technology. Significant technical contributions include the development of a new heated photoionization detector combined with a gradient oven, enabling the SSP to detect polar compounds and differentiate subtle VOC signatures associated with specific pest infestations.

The result is an upgraded, portable SSP capable of identifying key infestation and infection markers directly from ambient air. With newly developed modular electronics and embedded Linux-based control, Airmotec’s ongoing hardware and software innovations enable reliable, scalable deployment in the field and real-time use by farmers, border control professionals, plant health authorities, and research institutions seeking smarter and faster solutions for plant pest management.