Chauvin Arnoux Group

About Chauvin Arnoux

Founded in 1893 by Raphaël Chauvin and René Arnoux, Chauvin Arnoux has had a considerable influence on the development of measurement technology. A long and prestigious list of inventions, such as the Universal Tester (the precursor of the Multimeter) and the ammeter clamp, bears witness to this fact. Throughout the 20th century, Chauvin Arnoux filed more than 350 patents and trade marks.

These last few years have been marked by the gain of some impressive brand names such as Metrix, Pyro-Contrôle, Enerdis, Oritel and Radio Contrôle.

Chauvin Anroux Ltd continues to be a family owned business and is subsequently managed with the same business and work ethincs that are attributed with being such.

1893
The company was founded by René Arnoux and Raphaël Chauvin. The current Paris premises stands on the original site.

1905
Invention of the magneto ohmmeter. In 1923, measurement became independent of the magneto's rotation speed.

1916
With André Arnoux, the founder's son, at the head of the company, industrial development takes a leap forward in Paris.

1927
Invention and patent application for the 'Contrôleur Universel', the forerunner to the Multimeter. Despite this patent, the invention was to become copied throughout the world.

1933
Launch of the first industrial needle contact temperature controller.

1934
Invention of the transformer-clamp, the very first current clamp.

1936
Invention of the first exposure meter for photographers, which was to become the exposure meter.
Opening of a factory in Poland, in Warsaw.

1947
Remote temperature measurement with 'Pyroptique', an optical filament thermometer.

1952
The Cellaphot, an ultra-light exposure meter, is incorportated into the cameras of the day.

1959
Launch of 'Miniascope', the first truely portable oscilloscope. It fits in a briefcase.

1960
Launch of the 'Monoc' multimeter, with single selector switch and scale, considered to be the 'reference' by several generations of electricians.

1962
Creation of the magnetic blow-out ultra-safe cut-off relays.

1965
Opening of the 1st factory in Normandy (France).
Founding of the company Manumesure, the group's service company.
Founding of German subsidiary.

1966
Founding of the 'Construction d'Appareillage' company, to produce professional instruments sold under the 'CdA' brand name by Specialised Distributors.

1968
Launch of the STATOP temperature controller, the reference instrument for several generations of thermal technicians.

1972
Launch of our first digital multimeter.

1973
Opening of a second factory in Villedieu-les-Poëles, Normandy.

1975
Founding of the Italian subsidiary in Lissone (Italy, in the suburbs of Milan).

1976
Creation of a sales company in Boston (USA, Massachusetts).

1977
Opening of a third factory in Vire, Normandy.

1979
Opening of a fourth factory in Normandy, in Pont-l'Evêque, currently the central warehousing facility.

1980
First edition of Contact Actualités, an external information newspaper, later to become Contact Actualités Mesures.

1982
Production of the Hall-effect clamp to measure DC current.

1983
Creation of the North American subsidiary in Dover (USA, New Hampshire).

1986
Opening of the British subsidiary.

1988
Opening of the Spanish subsidiary.

1989
TRIMARAN 1, the first remote-readable and remote-programmable energy meter, supplied to the French Electricity Board (EDF), for industrial consumers.

1991
Merger of Chauvin Arnoux with CdA with the conquest of international markets in mind.

1992
Inauguration in Paris of the new headquarters.

1993
Chauvin Arnoux celebrates its 1st centenary, brings out a new logo and sponsors the Measurement Prize, awarded by the Academy of Science.

1994
The C.A 6411 & C.A 6413 bring about a new concept, instant testing for interconnected earth loops.

1995
Chauvin Arnoux is the first measurement instrument manufacturer in France to be equipped with an anechoic chamber for the measurement of the electromagnetic compatibility of its products.

1996
Opening of the Swiss and Austrian subsidiaries.
Acquisition of 'Normandie Mesures' by Manumesure: Atmospheric pollution testing and dimensional metrology activities.

1997
Takeover of Metrix, France's n.2 leader in hand-held measurement instruments.
Takeover of Pyro-Contrôle from the American company Engelhard.

1998
Takeover of Enerdis, and the company's Measurement branch Oritel.
Group organized into 4 business divisions.
Inauguration of the group's internet site.
Takeover by the Group of a Chinese trading company based in Shanghai.

2000
Buyout of the Chinese company "Puji Wung", integrated into the Chinese subsidiary

2002
Opening of the lebanese subsidiary.

2003
Opening of the swedish subsidiary.

2006
Creation of a commercial structure within the Chinese subsidiary in order to strengthen sales in the Asian market. First Shanghai International Exhibition.

2008
Opening of new industrial Group AEMC located near Lyon.

2009
British subsidiary moves to Wakefield