Whether you need to ensure your lab equipment is fully sterilized or track the storage temperature of vaccines throughout transport, documenting precision is paramount. Founded nearly 30 years ago in Warner, MadgeTech’s data loggers are used in several industries, including life sciences, to make sure every trial and every product is perfectly tracked.
Designed and built in New Hampshire, MadgeTech’s devices are shipped to countries worldwide to monitor environmental conditions critical to innovation in pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.
The company, which joined NH Life Sciences in 2025, embodies the spirit of invention and entrepreneurship that helps fuel success in this growing industry.
Founder Norm Carlson started the company in his basement, designing the first devices himself. These portable, self-contained electronic tools automatically measure and record data from sensors over time.
Today, MadgeTech has products for temperature, humidity, pressure, electrical current/voltage, vibration, water level, wind speed, pH and more. In life sciences, its most commonly used products are for autoclave validation, vaccine shipment monitoring and organ transport – all processes that depend on precise temperature control.
The company has grown significantly since 1996, but every product is still designed and manufactured in-house. Except, instead of Carlson in his basement, 11 engineers contribute to a staff of 83 operating out of a more than 25,000-square-foot facility.
“Every single thing that MadgeTech sells is designed by us,” Carlson says. “Everything we sell, we make right here, and most of our ideas come from customers. They tell us what they want, and we design something to accommodate them. We don't only ship to New Hampshire. We ship worldwide.”
MadgeTech stands out for its vertical integration, designing and producing every component in Warner.
“Any sub-component that's going into our product we bring that in-house,” says Meredith Orbacz, MadgeTech marketing manager. “Our probes are all made here. A couple of years ago, we purchased the surface mount technology machine so that all of our printed circuit boards (PCBs) are made here.
Carlson says MadgeTech ships to more than 100 countries — virtually everywhere except those with U.S. trade restrictions. While many electronics companies manufacture in Asia and import to the U.S., MadgeTech reverses that model.
“We design everything in New Hampshire, and we sell to Asia,” he says. “We sell about $1.5 million worth of products, 10% of our sales, to Asia, but it’s built in New Hampshire.”
Carlson appreciates the place where he lives and has grown his company, but it’s not without challenges. With a population of fewer than 3,000, Warner can make it difficult to find workers with the technical skills MadgeTech requires.
“One of the benefits of NHLS that I've seen is the job boards and networking locally,” Orbacz says. “New Hampshire is great, and everybody should want to live here. You don't have to go down to Boston or New Jersey or the Research Triangle in North Carolina to have these high-caliber life sciences jobs.”
The company recently hired a wireless engineer from Boston who is helping develop a wireless version of its flagship HiTemp140. The updated model enables real-time readouts during autoclave validation, allowing users to identify issues before the sterilization cycle ends.
Many of MadgeTech’s existing New Hampshire customers are already NHLS members, but the company is excited to get involved and continue to grow its network. Joining NHLS provides MadgeTech with networking, advocacy, and a community that shares similar workforce and innovation challenges.