The Dosimetry Company
The use of ionizing radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is an integral part of today’s medicine. Since the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895, scientific and technological progress has led to better diagnostic testing and safer radiotherapy treatments.

As a pioneer in medical radiation measurement, PTW has always been – and will continue to be – at the forefront of advancing patient safety through innovation and cutting-edge measurement technology.

From a backyard workshop to a global market leader
Our roots go back to 1922 when Dr. Wilhelm Hammer decided to market the first X-ray therapy dosemeter based on an electrostatic relay, a revolutionary new electromechanical component which he had invented three years earlier. He set out to establish his own company - Physikalisch-Technische Werkstätten. Hammer’s invention, which for the first time made it possible to accurately measure radiation dose on X-ray therapy units, marks an important milestone in making radiation treatments safer and laid the foundation for PTW’s success story.

In 1927, Hammer passed on the business to his former student. Under the pioneering leadership of Dr. Herbert Pychlau and his successors, PTW expanded into new markets and geographical areas and gradually grew from a six people backyard workshop to a worldwide operating company that continues to set standards in modern dosimetry.

Family-owned, quality-driven.
The entrepreneurial spirit, engineering excellence and strong commitment to quality through constant innovation of the early times are part of our culture and still guide our company to this very day.

Today, PTW is a key player in the dosimetry market, holding the No. 1 position in many countries and product categories. Supported by the largest sales and service network worldwide, PTW offers the most extensive portfolio of dosimetry technology in the industry – from detectors to water phantoms, from dosemeters and electrometers to intelligent solutions for quality assurance of complex clinical radiation equipment.

As a family-owned business, now in the third generation, PTW is independent in its decisions and actions, aiming at organic growth and long-term partnerships with its many associates – customers, employees as well as business and research partners. More than 350 dedicated colleagues work at our headquarters in Freiburg, including two manufacturing sites, and at nine international branch offices to deliver the best quality in technology and service to medical radiation experts in over 160 countries worldwide. Their commitment and passion has always been a key factor for our success.

Our promise to deliver first-class quality goes far beyond developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art technology in house. It is the essence of what drives us forward.

More than 12,000 calibrations per year
Quality starts with calibration. At its headquarters in Freiburg, PTW also operates one of the oldest and largest accredited dosimetry calibration laboratories in the field of ionizing radiation.

As a member of the IAEA / WHO/SSDL network, the PTW Calibration Lab provides calibrations directly traceable to national and international standards, thus ensuring that radiation instruments are always safe and compliant with current legislation.

Sharing knowledge, inspiring practice
As technology evolves and radiation treatments become more complex, the access to up-to-date knowledge in clinical dosimetry is vital. In 2014, PTW established THE DOSIMETRY SCHOOL to meet the need for basic and advanced dosimetry education.

True to its motto “Sharing knowledge, inspiring practice”, the Dosimetry School not only offers a great variety of training opportunities, but also provides a global platform where participants from all over the world are invited to share knowledge and experience, discuss topics of interest and engage in professional networking.

100 Years of PTW - Video