The world leader in UV-C LED disinfection systems, AquiSense, has undergone a name change following a company buyout from former owners Nikkiso. Formerly known as AquiSense Technologies LLC, the company has become AquiSense Incorporated, with Oliver Lawal remaining as president and CEO.
Founded in 2014, AquiSense Technologies LLC, was one of the first to commercialise UV-C LED (ultraviolet-C light-emitting diode) technology for disinfection applications. It was acquired in 2016 by Nikkiso Co Ltd, a Japanese supplier of UV-C LED devices. In 2025, employees and external investors bought back substantially all of the company assets from Nikkiso America, a member of the Nikkiso Group, a multinational manufacturing corporation.
Oliver Lawal, founder and CEO, AquiSense Inc., said: “Our mission to provide the best mercury-free disinfection products continues. We are clear market leaders in every UV-C LED water treatment sector, and our vision will be executed with the passion the market has come to expect.”
Kyosuke Watanabe, executive officer of Nikkiso, added: “We have enjoyed a positive collaboration with AquiSense and are proud to have played a key part in commercialising and helping to scale UV-C LED technology globally. We’re looking forward to the continued relationship with AquiSense in the domestic Japanese market.”
AquiSense Inc will continue to have a strong partnership with Nikkiso in Japan for regional production and sales distribution. The company is also moving into the Indian market, using a franchise model.
The management is working on securing modest additional investment to help accelerate its growth in the water, food and beverages, and pharmaceutical sectors.
UV-C LED disinfection is gaining traction as water companies seek alternatives to traditional mercury-based lamps, with mercury use and mining facing restrictions and a potential ban in the future.
Currently, the majority of the UV disinfection market uses mercury-based lamp technology, but these face global usage restrictions over the next few years, with an eventual new mining ban expected in 2032, as set out by the UN Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The convention was adopted in 2013 and entered into force in 2017 and aims to reduce mercury pollution which is one of the World Health Organisation’s top 10 chemicals of ‘major public concern’.
