But what many people don’t realize is that a company headquartered out of Richmond actually has a lot to do with the daily operations at Kennedy Space Center. In fact, detectors developed by QEL in conjunction with NASA are relied upon in determining whether the launch of one of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency’s (NASA) space shuttles proceeds or not That was exactly the case in April when the Space Shuttle Atlantis was called back from the launch pad due to a gas leak detected by QEL detectors. QEL manufactures and markets gas and combustion detection equipment for both the industrial and the commercial marketplaces. Their products can be installed in almost any location, as in the case of the Kennedy Space Center or even a swanky Las Vegas casino. They can detect almost any gas, from carbon monoxide, to carbon dioxide, to oxygen, to methane – you name it, if there’s a gas that needs detecting, QEL has probably designed and manufactured a product to suit.

The company’s 18,000-square foot head office on Ottawa Street in Richmond is a modern, yet modest affair. No mirror glass walls or marble floors that one sees at many hi-tech locations, certainly not the sort of place that you’d expect to find a company that is a supplier to NASA, but indeed that is exactly the case. For four years, now, the company has had an ongoing relationship with NASA to design and develop its custom 8000-series product line: gas detection equipment that enables the space agency to head off any potential problems at their source and ensure the safety of shuttle and crew on every launch. The prestige of working with an internationally renowned organization like NASA is a source of pride for the 30-person team at QEL. Company president David Jenkins explains that the lessons learned from NASA, in terms of quality control, have filtered throughout the company and its products and has paid off in terms of doing business with other major international companies. “NASA are, of course, very strict when it comes to quality control and operational procedures - more so than ISO standard, so for us to be audited by NASA and approved to their standard, tells us a lot about the way in which we’re doing business.”

It’s also a bonus for other customers who may look upon the company with some skepticism. The value of QEL’s being able to point to its relationship with a multibillion- dollar organization like NASA as proof of its ability in the marketplace is, as they say, priceless.

Closer to home, QEL’s products can be found in almost any application. From the Corel Centre, to the World Exchange Plaza, to the Canadian Museum of Nature, and through to Place du Portage in Gatineau as well as various office buildings, sewage-treatment facilities, pumping stations and fire stations across greater Ottawa.

“Take a commercial or an industrial application of our product, for example. In an underground parking garage, when vehicles idle, they emit carbon monoxide, which is toxic. Our products can be tied to the garage’s ventilation system so that when the CO emissions exceed a certain level, the exhaust fans are turned on and the area is ventilated. In that case, we’re protecting lives and we’re helping a building owner save money in the process. Everyone wins.”

And for QEL, the beautiful thing about their product lines is that they can be adapted for almost any use. IAQ, or indoor air quality, is a major concern of building engineers, owners and occupants. Consider, for instance, a casino. People scuttle in and gamble for hours on end. For the casino owner, the key is to ensure that people remain inside the building, gambling, for as long as possible. In order to maintain a comfortable and safe environment, the owner may pump oxygen-enriched air into the building to minimize the build-up of carbon dioxide thereby keeping the patrons fresh, alert and ready to play. With a simple QEL gasdetection module, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air can be monitored and again linked to the ventilation system to inject fresh air. A similar product could be used in an elementary school or office building, where an excess of carbon dioxide causes students and workers to doze off, reducing their attention span and productivity.

There are many other examples of the application and implication of various gas detectors. In greenhouses, the level of oxygen needs to be regulated and carbon dioxide channelled in, in order to provide optimal growing conditions for plants. The economic benefit to the grower is substantial.

The detection of methane gas at landfill sites throughout the world is critical not only for the safety of people but also in determining the ultimate use of the gas. The gas was traditionally released to the atmosphere but now is burned off or quite often used as a fuel source for heating or the production of electricity. The economic and improved environmental impact is obvious. “We are always looking at different market possibilities. We are very flexible and able to design products to suit almost any user’s needs,” says Jenkins. “In much the same way as smoke detectors became and now carbon monoxide detectors are becoming commonplace in homes, we see the future of our industry as one where many other types of gas detection will become standard in many applications. Certainly in schools and offices or where people gather,” says Gene Quesnel, account manager at QEL, “but also in government, industry and private sector business.”

QEL ships to clients all across the globe. Its biggest market share is in the United States with key operations in Canada and emerging opportunities in the Far East and in Europe. While you might expect a huge warehouse humming with activity and heavy machinery, the reality is that the majority of QEL’s products are developed, assembled and tested individually and by hand. If any products are to be mass manufactured, they are typically outsourced for production. What sets the company apart from others in the business is that all of QEL’s products are designed in house. The company’s team of five engineers designs and manufactures all their components according to their own stringent specifications.

It was this commitment to inhouse design and production that impressed officials at NASA so much that they awarded the Canadian firm with contracts – something not often done by the American space agency. “By designing in house, we are able to ensure that our products meet the highest standards for quality in design and assembly,” says Jenkins. “That means that our products will last longer, and will be the best value for money, even if they are not the least expensive products out there.” And while the company’s focus has been principally on the industrial market, given its price points, it has recently embarked on an ambitious campaign aimed at the commercial market, which tends to treat cost much more seriously. “Our new M-series line ofproducts is aimed at the commercial market and fosters our commercial commitment,” says Quesnel. “The products are designed and assembled with the same quality as our industrial series of products and have all the options and features but are lower-cost alternatives to their industrial counterparts.”Now just over a year into its new commitment to the commercial market, Quesnel and Jenkins report that early returns are positive. “It’s our goal to be as responsive as possible to the marketplace,” says Jenkins. “Down the road, we hope to strengthen our presence in the commercial market and continue to do business with partners like NASA and other major industrial players.”

For QEL, the beautiful thing about their business is its flexibility and the company’s own ability to design and manufacture new products for new applications. Their only limiting factors are imagination and market needs.