After working some ten years in various capacities in the machine engineering industry, engineer Heikki Kalliomäki began developing differential pressure gauges in his own garage. He founded the firm bearing his name, HK ......After working some ten years in various capacities in the machine engineering industry, engineer Heikki Kalliomäki began developing differential pressure gauges in his own garage. He founded the firm bearing his name, HK Instruments Oy, in 1987. Kalliomäki began manufacturing differential pressure gauges for monitoring the status of air conditioning filters and for measuring positive pressure in air-raid shelters. The devices were manufactured efficiently and to high quality standards, using modern production techniques. This allowed the company to introduce competitive new products onto the market. Kalliomäki knew that a highly specialised product required an extensive market. Therefore, right from the very beginning, the company’s devices were marketed and sold internationally. At the end of the 1990s the product line expanded to include differential pressure switches and electronic pressure transmitters, used by manufacturers and installation companies in the building automation industry. Since the year 2000 the company has advanced strongly, with business turnover growing at about 30% annually. Products are exported to over 30 different countries, and about 75% of business turnover comes from export.