Solinst Canada Ltd Celebrates 50 Years in Business
Solinst Canada Ltd. proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, marking five decades of innovation and excellence in groundwater and surface water monitoring instrumentation.
Founded in 1975, Solinst has long had the vision to provide reliable, high-quality solutions for groundwater professionals worldwide. Over the years, the company has grown into a respected industry leader, known for its cutting-edge products and commitment to advancing water monitoring technology.
Solinst started out in a small industrial building in Burlington, Ontario, and is now located in a large facility in Georgetown, Ontario, remaining a successful Belshaw family-owned enterprise. Solinst takes pride in being able to have everything done in-house, from design, development, and production to technical sales support and customer service.
Throughout its history, Solinst has continuously expanded its product line, offering a range of instruments designed for precision and durability. From the iconic Model 101 Water Level Meter to the advanced Levelogger Series, Solinst’s instruments have become essential tools for hydrogeologists, environmental consultants, and water resource managers around the globe.
The company’s dedication to innovation is further highlighted by its recent acquisition of Flexible Liner Underground Technologies (now Solinst Flute), which enhances its ability to provide comprehensive solutions for complex hydrogeological challenges. More recently, Solinst Canada has acquired the complete assets of Eureka Water Probes, and the full line of Eureka water quality monitoring instruments are available through Solinst Eureka LLC
Solinst’s success is built on its commitment to high quality, customer support, and continuous improvement. The company takes pride in its strong relationships with customers, partners, and a worldwide distributor network, founded on trust and reliability.
Solinst commemorates this golden anniversary, reflecting on its rich legacy while looking forward to a future filled with new opportunities and advancements. With a steadfast focus on delivering innovative solutions and exceptional service, Solinst Canada Ltd. is well-positioned to lead the way in water monitoring for many years to come.
Solinst Celebrates 50 Years
- All
- 1975 to 1988
- 1989 to 1993
- 1994 to 2003
- 2004 to 2012
- 2013 to 2025
Solinst is Born
- Agreement with Soil Instruments to create office in Canada to resell Geotechnical Instrumentation
- Name 'Solinst' chosen from telex abbreviation for Soil Instruments "sol inst"
102 Water Level Meter
- Model 102 Coaxial Cable Water Level Meter Production Started
- Primary focus is Geotechnical Instrumentation resale
Burlington Office
- Douglas Belshaw takes over ownership at a small industrial unit in Burlington Ontario.
- Started to supply our signature red reels used for Water Level Meters
Engineering Scale 101 Water Level Meter
- Introduced Model 101 Water Level Meter with the 1st flexible flat polyethylene tape with engineering scale.
- Beginning of close relationship with University of Waterloo and Dr. John Cherry
401 Waterloo Multilevel System
- Started to manufacture and commercialize the Model 401 Waterloo Multilevel Monitoring System
- Jean Belshaw created and developed our company branding and logo, while also working as a Marketing Professor at Sheridan College
Company Focus Changes from Geotechnical to Groundwater
- Worked with University of Waterloo to bring the Model 411 Saturated Sand Sampler to market
- Started to change primary focus from geotechnical to groundwater monitoring instrumentation
- Jim Pianosi hired as first sales hydrogeologist
- Sarah Belshaw hired to develop and manage workflow processes
Office Location moves to Glen Williams
- Moved from original office in Burlington, Ontario to Glen Williams "The Williams Mill", (5,000 square feet)
- Model 615 Drive Point Piezometers released, leading to the development of Stainless Steel Double Valve Pumps, Bailers and Discrete Interval Sampler
- Jim Pianosi promoted to Sales Manager & Assistant General Manager
Solinst Patents Obtained
- Solinst obtains US Patents for Model 501 Well Casing Depth Indicator and Model 421 VOA Trap Sampler
- Solinst videos developed for the Model 401 Waterloo Multilevel System and Model 561 Sand Bentonite Injector (VHS NTSC; PAL; SECAM distribution formats)
Added 7000 sq ft for Production and Storage
- Added basement level for Waterloo System production and storage. (7,000 square feet)
- Solinst obtains US Patents for Model 101 P4 Environmental Probe
- Sarah Belshaw promoted to Sales & Technical Representative
- Model 415 In-Situ Bioremediation Test Monitor released
Expanded Machine Shop by 7,000 sq ft
- Leased additional space for larger machine shop (7,000 square feet)
- Introduced Model 405 Bladder Pump
- Model 412 Soil Core Sampler released
- Model 690 Sand Piper released
Solinst Aquires Combined CNC Mill - 1 of 3 in North America!
- Increased manufacturing and storage space to 11,000 square feet at the Williams Mill location
- First CNC purchase to enhance manufacturing capabilities. Combined CNC mill and lathe - one of only 3 in North America at the time!
- Solinst obtains US Patents for Model 121 Interface Meter design plus Waterloo Multilevel System Joint (double o-ring) and Bentonite Infill Packer
Solinst Moves to Georgetown
- Purchase of 35 Todd Rd. provides building and land to allow for future growth. (24,000 square feet)
- C4/T4 Conductivity and Termpature profiling Sleeves released for Model 101 P4 Water Level Meter
Bentonite Packer Patent
- Solinst obtains US Patents for Flexible Borehole Seal Device and Model 401 Bentonite Packer
Levelogger Released to Market
- New OEM Levelogger, Model 3001. First combined absolute pressure sensor and datalogger in the industry.
- New ergonomic Solinst reel designed in-house
- Solinst obtains US Patents for Sand Bentonite Injector and Syringe Sampler
- Solinst.com goes live
56K baud internet connection
403 CMT Multilevel System Released
- Second CNC Lathe (Hitachi Seiki HT) purchased to increase production capacity
- Model 122 Interface Meter and Model 410 Peristaltic Pump released
- Model 403 CMT Multilevel System introduced to market
Solinst Turns 25!
- 25 Years in Business
- Sarah Belshaw promoted to Vice President
- Solinst obtains Patent for Reelogger Model 2001 Multiparameter Probe
- Emitter produced for University of Waterloo
9100 STS Telemetry Released
- First of 400 STS Telemetry Systems designed for use with Solinst Leveloggers supplied to MOE (Ontario Ministry of the Environment - PGMN)
- Solinst obtains US Patent for CMT Double Acting Packer
- Model 9100 STS Solinst Telemetry System released
Solinst Expands
- Completed Expansion of Todd Road Facility (35,000 square feet)
- Jean Belshaw - President
- Solinst obtains US Patent for CMT Bentonite Packer
US Patent for CMT Mechanical Seals
- Model 107 TLC Meter released
- Introduced Model 408M Micro Double Valve Pump
- CMT Installer Training initiated
- Solinst obtains US Patent CMT Mechanical Plug Seals
- Narrow 3 Channel CMT Multilevel System Released
Solinst Designed Levelogger Gold Released
- Solinst celebrates 30 years in buisness with new 3 Year Warranty for all Solinst products
- Sarah Belshaw transitions into President of Solinst
- Jean Belshaw becomes Solinst Chairman
- Jim Pianosi promoted to General Manager
- Introduction of Solinst designed & manufactured Levelogger Gold
- 1st "On The Level" newsletter
- Released Solinst Model 703 Waterloo Emitter
- 800 Low Pressure Packers released
- New Leveloader 2 with USB released
Levelogger Series Expands
- Levelogger Junior released
- New Peristaltic Pump released
- Leveloader Gold Data Transfer Device released
- Solinst obtains US Patent 3-Channel CMT
3002 Rainlogger Released
- SDI-12 Protocol enabled for Levelogger Series
- Model 3002 Rainlogger released
- STS Gold Telemetry System Released
Solinst Enters Laser Era!
- 1st Solinst Symposium "Recent Advances in Watershed and HIgh Resolution Monitoring"
- New Laser Marking Machine designed and developed in-house
- New LTC Levelogger Junior released
- 9200 RRL Remote Radio Link
- Laser Marked Model 102 Water Level Meter and Model 103 Tag Line released
- New 464 Electronic Pump Control Unit released
- New Solinst.com rebuild Version 5 completed
New 101 P7 Water Level Meter
- New 101 P7 Water Level Meter with laser marked PVDF flat tape released
- Next generation Levelogger, Model 3001 Edge released with complete redesign
- Solinst molded well caps for Levelogger and Samplers
107 TLC Meter Complete Redesign
- New Levelogger Junior Edge released
- Laser Marked 107 TLC Meter, complete redesign
- First Solinst YouTube video TLC Meter User Calibration
- New 101 Power Reel released with more power for longer lengths
New Interface Meter Released
- New 122 Oil / Water Interface Meter Design released
- 103 Tag Line with Laser Marked Flat Tape released
Solinst Releases 1st Moble App!
- New Solinst Levelogger App released for iOS
- New 122M Mini Oil / Water Interface Meter version released
DataGrabber Released
- Levelogger App for Android Released
- New DataGrabber for Leveloggers released
- 102 Water Level Meter probes redesigned
- 3001 Artesian Well Fitting released
- New 101B Low Cost Water Level Meter released
LevelSender Telemetry Released to Market
- 3500 AquaVent Vented Datalogger released
- New 9500 LevelSender Telemetry System released
- Jim Pianosi promoted to President
Levelogger LTC Edge Released
- 201 Water Level Temperature Meter released
- 3001 LTC Levelogger Edge released
New 410 Peristaltic Pump Design Released!
- 101D Water Level DrawDown Meter released
- New 3250 LevelVent Water Level Datalogger released
- Redesigned 410 Peristaltic Pump released
Solinst Re-introduces 105 Well Casing & Depth Indicator with New Design
- New 3D Printed 12V Peristaltic Pump Battery Holder released
- Redesigned 105 Well Casing & Depth Indicator released
Levelogger 5 Released to Market
- New 102 Water Level Meter Laser Marked Yellow Cable released
- New Levelogger 5 Series released with new Levelogger design and upgraded optical connection
- Mike Hughes promoted to General Manager
New Deep Discrete Interval Sampler Reaches 1200m with a Bike Pump!
- 104 Sonic Water Level Meter released
- New portable Field Tables released
- 425D Deep Discrete Interval Sampler released
- 615ML Multilevel Drive Point Piezometer released
- Plug and Play 4G LevelSender 5 Telemetry with Built-in SIM Card released
- 4001 SRU. Solinst Readout Unit released
- 800M Mini Pneumatic Packer released
- 415 12V Submersible Pump released
- 101 Power Winder released
Discover Anywhere Monitoring
- 301 Water Level Temperature Sensor released
- 9700 SolSat 5 Satellite Telemetry System released (Discover Anywhere Monitoring)
Solinst Flute Joins the Solinst Family
- Solinst Cloud released to simplify monitoring, expand networks and extend data management
- Redesigned 407 Bladder Pump with Easy to Replace Cartridges released
- 4-20mA with Current Loop Adaptor released for 301 Water Level Temperature Sensor
- Solinst Field Services division starts up
- FLUTe Acquired by Solinst Canada Ltd. Solinst Flute joins Solinst family.
Solinst Eureka Joins the Solinst Family
- Eureka Water Probes Acquired by Solinst Canada Ltd.
Solinst Eureka joins Solinst family.
Solinst Canada Ltd. has been manufacturing high quality groundwater instrumentation since 1980 when company president Doug Belshaw recognized the need for innovative and easy-to use instrumentation for the growing hydrogeology field.
First Solinst introduced its Model 101 Water Level Meter for hydrogeologists in the United States. The sturdy design, stretch-resistant tape and special markings in feet and tenths of feet (now 1/100 ft) proved ideal. The Meter gained in popularity and soon became the Water Level Meter of choice for American groundwater monitoring.
Since then hard work, listening to our customers, and thinking creatively has enabled Solinst to flourish. We now offer a broad range of innovative and practical equipment, used by both hydrogeologists and hydrologists around the world. The range still features Water Level Meters, but has expanded into dataloggers, telemetry, Interface Meters, Drive-Points, Samplers and Multilevel Systems.
A bit of history – above article posted in local Georgetown / Acton Ontario Canada Newspaper May 1st, 1991 about Solinst equipment being used a tire fire site.
The Solinst product line is ideal for site characterizations, spill investigations, and long-term ground water monitoring.
Behind the full range of Solinst high quality groundwater monitoring instruments is the cumulative expertise of experienced hydrogeologists, geotechnical engineers, manufacturing & electronic professionals and technicians.
Solinst is dedicated to the manufacture of high quality instruments that are designed for accuracy, ease-of-use and to give reliable results over the long-term.
