During 2013, GH Zeal, started to offer Tympanic thermometers with a cradle storage case and a ‘hands free’ probe cover dispenser. Two models were brought to the market ACT8000 & ACT8000R. Over the years, the ACT8000, has been improved & the ACT8001 was our next release. Last year we upgraded to the ACT8002.
A study found that over 60% of thermometers carry transmittable pathogens harmful to health. This is where the ACT8002 comes into its own.
A key feature of the ACT8002 Tympanic Ear thermometer is the integration of a certified antimicrobial agent molded into the device body and cradle. This innovative technology offers CONTINUOUS, built-in product protection against harmful bacteria pathogens, ensuring the thermometer remains hygienic throughout its use.
This technology makes this thermometer an important addition to the fight against infection in clinical environments.
Since 1888, GH Zeal has been at the forefront of thermometry and are pleased to introduce the ACT8002 – believed to be the world’s first ISO certified antibacterial and antiviral ear thermometer which will revolutionise healthcare and help protect patients and front-line medical staff from harmful pathogens.
Tried & tested
The new ZEAL ACT8002 has been tested to ISO 22196:2011 to show a considerable reduction of common HAI’S ESCHERICHIA COLI by ≥99.99% and MRSA by ≥99.93%.
Also, ZEAL’S ACT8002 has had proven success in helping eliminate SARS-COVID strains obtaining ISO 21702:2019 ANTIVIRAL CERTIFICATION SARS-COV-27
As you would expect, the thermometer is factory calibrated for accuracy and Zeal also offers a Black Body Infrared calibration tester to ensure accuracy. To ensure you are happy with the antimicrobial integration, we also offer a laser pen that will show the agent is present within the Tympanic Thermometers. Simple to use, turn the pen on, shine it on to the thermometer. If antimicrobial agent is present, the pen shines green on the unit. Not present, no light shows.
Back in the 1970’s Zeal was approached by S.G.S. Van Bree N.V., Antwerp, a member of the Societe Generale, to collaborate with the design of a highly accurate glass hydrometer to replace the then commonly used metal load line hydrometer. The hydrometer needed to be suitable for use in both sea or fresh water, and was needed to ensure that when carrying out a Draft Survey on cargo carrying vessels, the weight to volume relationship of the supporting water was precisely measured and accurately reported.
The resulting instrument is the now globally recognized Zeal Draft Survey hydrometer. It measures Kg/l apparent density in air, which allows for the simplification of bulk cargo weight calculations. It covers a range of 0.990/1.040 kg/l with very high accuracy divisions of 0.0005 Kg/L.
The hydrometer can be purchased direct from Zeal via their web site, or through many of their worldwide agents. They continue to be manufactured to the very high standards of Zeal whose quality is universally relied upon.
The story begins not with thermometers but surprisingly with the Zeal manufacture of umbrellas and walking sticks in London. When his son Giles Henry, born in 1860, went into the family trade he soon discovered that he was not interested in this, as it limited his capacity for producing ideas. At this time, he was a keen bicycle enthusiast joining a club riding a penny-farthing machine actually enjoying great success in races. As you can imagine this could be quite dangerous and he recorded many quite serious accidents including colliding with a cab horse in Oxford Street.
He made a friend in the club called Fred Barnes who was a thermometer maker. The young Zeal, then 19, decided to take up this trade and entered a two-year apprenticeship (usually 7x years) with his friend. He showed remarkable aptitude and at 21 was able to work as an outside blower for other firms.
He then went on to form G.H. Zeal in 1888 manufacturing thermometers, which proved very successful, and by 1921 had become a limited company and moved to Clerkenwell, London. Growth in the business continued and by having a developing workforce, by 1934 had to leave Clerkenwell and moved to Morden in Surrey. In 1936 they bought the company W Reeves, expanding into the brewing and distilling trade, which needed thermometers and hydrometers.
Giles passed away in 1938. However, mainly due to WW2, production continued to expand. During this period Zeal was one of the largest employers in Merton, including the author’s mother who was the assistant Manager of the clinical stockroom.
Another successful thermometer company at this time was A.C. Cosser and Sons Ltd. Due to the owner’s poor health, the company was about to close, and Zeal took over the company in 1947. This included the factory and it’s 200 staff at Vale Road, Finsbury Park, London. The products encompassed Mercury in Steel, Vapor Pressure and Bimetal dial thermometers, and liquid column Manometers. Much later in the 1960’s dial pressure gauges were also added to the mechanical dial instrumentation range of products.
The Zeal Merton premises had to be extended in 1948 and 4x years later the firm celebrated the 50th anniversary of the new chairmen Herbert Henry Zeal.
Worth mentioning I feel, in these early days, many of the glass thermometer innovators came from Italy. Two of these were Peroni and Luraschi who noted by accident that distorted glass seemed to magnify the mercury filling. They then took the standard round glass tube used in thermometer manufacture, had it grinded to a triangular shape, filled it with mercury, and found that the accidental discovery was indeed a scientific fact. The prismatic clinical thermometer with magnifying glass was born. This was quickly taken up and improved by Zeal and by the 1950’s had become the largest supplier of clinical thermometers to the then newly formed NHS.
I feel mention should also be made of the Whitefriars glassworks. A very important company in the history of UK glassblowing formed before the 1700’s. Up to 1914 they were the only firm in Britain making glass to compete with imported material, mainly from Germany. They did all in their power to help the relatively small British glass industry. They also helped to establish the Manufacture of Scientific Glassware in Britain, and also to set up the British Lampblown Scientific Glassware Manufacturer’s Association. Zeal purchased Whitefriars in 1952 and owned it until it closed in the 1980’s.
Moving into the 1960’s and 70’s, the company now being led by Michael Zeal and his cousin John Zeal, was now manufacturing many different types of thermometers including General purpose glass school thermometers, glass laboratory precision, ‘Sixes’ max mins, meteorological and many others, mason and whirling hygrometers, and industrial pipe and tank thermometers They were also a leading manufacturer of precision hydrometers. Continuing to innovate inventing the Zeatron GPE multi-channel digital thermistor thermometer, the potato hydrometer for agricultural use, and the now globally recognised Draft Survey hydrometer. They were supplying all the leading laboratory wholesalers, namely Baird and Tatlock Ltd, Griffin and George Ltd, A Gallenkamp and Co, and Fisons Co. They were also selling overseas via agents most notably in Australia, Malasia, India, Pakistan, and South Africa, which is continued to this day.
G.H. Zeal Ltd remains proudly based in Merton, surrey, although in new premises. It’s still family-rooted, and continues to innovate, recently introducing to the Medical Market the world’s first antiviral, antibacterial tympanic thermometer, using a certified antimicrobial agent molded into the device body and cradle. The ultimate digital thermometer to assist in infection control.
G.H. Zeal Ltd – still innovating and still trusted worldwide for precision measurement.
Author: Geoff Excell
Managing Director
G.H. Zeal Ltd.
