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Measuring a small flow rate is where generic flow meters fall over. The turndown goes wrong, the velocity drops below the meter's useful range, and the accuracy on the datasheet quietly evaporates. Specifying a low flow meter for a chemical dosing duty, in particular, is one of the most common places where the wrong technology ends up in the pipe.

The problem is that "low flow" is not really a flow rate question. It is a velocity question, dressed up in litres per minute. A meter that works perfectly at 10 litres per minute on a 25 mm pipe may be completely outside its useful range at 10 litres per minute on a 50 mm pipe, because the velocity has dropped by a factor of four. Picking a meter by looking at the flow rate column alone is the specification error we see most often on small-bore and dosing duties.

This article explains what actually makes a flow meter a low-flow meter, why chemical dosing is a special case that demands particular care, and where Nixon's NS Pelton Wheel and M21 metal tube rotameter each fit into the specification puzzle.

A rotameter is the single most misunderstood instrument in UK industry. It is dismissed as old-fashioned, patronised as a backup gauge, and treated as something to replace with an electronic meter when budgets allow. And yet every year Nixon Flowmeters ships thousands of them into duties where no electronic meter would do a better job. The physics have not changed since 1908, and neither has the usefulness.

A rotameter, also known as a variable area flow meter, is the kind of instrument you can walk up to, read, and trust. It needs no power. It needs no comms. It needs no configuration. A float sits in a tapered tube, rises to a height where gravity and drag balance, and the scale on the tube tells you the flow rate. That is the entire theory. It is why the design has outlived half a dozen electronic competitors.

This article walks through how a variable area meter actually works, when it is the right answer and when it is not, and maps Nixon's six-strong VA range onto the duties we see across UK process industry.

Transit time ultrasonic flow meters get most of the attention. They are the meter of choice for clean water, large diameter mains, retrofit survey work and any situation where a clamp-on sensor is more practical than cutting into a pipe. We wrote about transit time at length in our previous article on ultrasonic flow meters and how they work.

Doppler is the other half of the ultrasonic family. Same basic technology, different physics, different applications. Where transit time needs a clean fluid to work, a Doppler flow meter needs the fluid to be full of scatterers: particles, bubbles, or solids that reflect sound back to the transducer. On a sewage effluent, a mine slurry or an aerated industrial wastewater, Doppler is not just an option, it is the only ultrasonic technology that will give a reading at all.

After four decades of flow meter specification across UK water utilities, chemical plants and industrial sites, we know Doppler sits in a narrower band of duties than transit time. But within that band, nothing else does the job as well. This article explains how Doppler works, where it excels, and why Nixon offers both a portable and a permanent non-contacting unit.

Positive displacement flow meters have been measuring liquids accurately for longer than most process instruments have existed. The design is mechanical, the principle is simple, and the accuracy on viscous fluids is something that a lot of more fashionable technologies struggle to match.

Every few years another industry article writes positive displacement off as legacy technology. Every year Nixon Flowmeters ships oval gear flow meter and oscillating disc units into oil distribution, lubricant batching, chemical dosing and fuel monitoring applications where nothing else gives as clean a reading. The technology is not going anywhere because the physics have not changed.

After four decades of specifying flow meters across UK industry, we have a simple rule for positive displacement: when the fluid is viscous, clean, and needs to be measured accurately on a small or medium pipe, a PD meter is usually the right answer. This article explains why, how the different variants work, and where we would recommend one over a turbine, magnetic or ultrasonic alternative.

Most flow meter specification happens by email. A datasheet goes out, a question comes back, a revised model is quoted, and a decision is reached weeks later. It works, but it is a slow way to learn whether a meter is actually right for the job.

CHEMUK Expo 2026 offers a better alternative for a few days in mid-May. The UK's leading chemical and process industry exhibition brings specifiers, plant engineers, buyers and manufacturers together at the NEC Birmingham, and Nixon Flowmeters will be there alongside our Spanish manufacturing partner, Tecfluid, on Stand F14.

This short preview sets out what visitors will find on the stand, who is available to talk to, and how to get the most out of a visit if flow measurement is on your agenda.

Flow meters play a vital role in ensuring accurate, consistent measurement across countless industries — from utilities and manufacturing to pharmaceuticals and food production. But even the most advanced flow meter will gradually drift out of specification over time, especially under harsh or variable operating conditions.

Flow measurement is a critical element in countless industrial and commercial applications – from water utilities and food processing to chemical dosing and energy management. Regardless of how advanced or accurate a flow meter is designed to be, its performance will always depend on one key factor: proper installation. Even the most precise instruments can yield unreliable results if installed incorrectly, leading to costly consequences down the line.

Accurate flow measurement plays a critical role across countless industries – from water treatment and food production to pharmaceuticals, energy management, and chemical processing. Whether measuring liquids, gases or steam, reliable flow data is essential for maintaining product quality, regulatory compliance, cost control, and operational efficiency.

In modern manufacturing, efficiency, precision, and consistency are critical factors that determine competitiveness and profitability. Advanced Process Control (APC) plays a pivotal role in optimising industrial processes by leveraging real-time data, predictive algorithms, and automated adjustments to enhance production quality while reducing costs and waste. As industries strive to meet increasing demand, regulatory standards, and sustainability goals, APC has emerged as a crucial enabler of smart manufacturing.

Accurate flow measurement is essential across a wide range of industries – from chemical processing and food production to pharmaceuticals, energy management, and environmental monitoring. While many applications can be adequately served by traditional volumetric flow meters, there are situations where knowing the exact mass of a fluid flowing through a system – rather than its volume – is critical to process control, efficiency, safety, or billing.

Energy consumption is one of the largest operational costs for businesses across all sectors, from manufacturing and industrial plants to commercial buildings and retail spaces. As energy prices fluctuate and regulatory requirements tighten, organisations are under increasing pressure to optimise their energy usage, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. Implementing an Energy Management System (EMS) provides businesses with the tools to monitor, analyse, and control energy consumption, leading to financial savings, enhanced sustainability, and improved operational performance.

Efficient control of cooling water flow is critical in both HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems and industrial cooling applications. Whether managing temperature in a large commercial building, protecting heat exchangers in manufacturing, or optimising energy use in a hospital chiller plant, one thing is clear: precise flow measurement makes a significant difference.

As the world accelerates towards net zero, the energy landscape is undergoing a radical transformation. Traditional fossil fuels are steadily giving way to cleaner, more sustainable alternatives such as hydrogen and biofuels.

Water is one of the most vital resources on the planet, yet it is increasingly under pressure due to population growth, climate change, and industrial demand. Efficient water management is no longer an option but a necessity, with businesses, municipalities, and agricultural sectors all seeking ways to optimise water use while minimising waste.

Accurate water measurement is a fundamental requirement across various industries, from municipal water supply and wastewater treatment to manufacturing and agriculture. Precise flow measurement ensures that businesses and utilities can effectively manage water resources, prevent wastage, and comply with regulatory standards. However, even the most advanced flow meters can experience drift and inaccuracies over time due to environmental factors, wear and tear, or improper installation.

In recent years, the conversation around water usage, conservation, and infrastructure efficiency has intensified significantly. With mounting concerns over climate change, resource scarcity, and the ageing of water delivery systems across the UK, the spotlight is now firmly on smarter ways to monitor and manage water.

Selecting the right water flow meter is a critical decision for businesses and industries that depend on accurate water measurement. Whether it is for monitoring consumption, optimising industrial processes, or ensuring regulatory compliance, choosing the most suitable flow meter can lead to increased efficiency, reduced waste, and significant cost savings. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how to select the best water flow meter based on industry requirements, fluid properties, and operational conditions.

Water is one of the most valuable resources on the planet, and managing its usage efficiently is crucial across various industries. Whether for residential water supply, industrial processes, or agricultural irrigation, the ability to measure and monitor water flow accurately ensures resource conservation, cost savings, and regulatory compliance.

In today’s dynamic industrial landscape, precise measurement and monitoring of liquid and gas flow are crucial for optimising efficiency and ensuring safety.

Flow meters play a vital role in both industrial and commercial settings, providing essential measurement of liquids, gases, and steam.

Electromagnetic flow meters, commonly referred to as magmeters, are a crucial technology in the measurement of conductive liquids.

Well, perhaps not 20,000 but, at least 4,000 metres.  That’s the depth you can take our Subsea-rated Turbine meters down to. Our in-house designed & manufactured range of Turbine flow meters are also available in specially adapted Subsea versions. 

In 1831, Michael Faraday discovered Electromagnetic Induction. This became known as Faraday's law. As a result, we now have electromagnetic-type flow meters.

They go by many different names; variable area flow meter, rotameters, float type flowmeters, and even carrot flow meters. They can be deployed in many varied applications – dosing, monitoring, and control applications are just a few examples.

Accuracy is very important when specifying & recommending the most suitable flow meter for an application. Once the flow meter leaves our factory, you naturally want to ensure you achieve the same high accuracy in your application.

Alcoholic Flowmeters... Or rather, flow meters for use on alcohols. The UK brewing industry has increased by around 60% over the past few years. There are now estimated to be around 3000+ micro-breweries in the UK alone, 300 of which were only started in the past year.

Tecfluid is proud to celebrate its collaboration with Nixon Flowmeters Ltd as one of its main partners for many years. Therefore, we would like to interview Mr. David Nixon, Managing Director, to understand from his point of view about all these years doing business with Tecfluid.

One of the most common questions we get asked about flowmeters is - ...’ what flowmeter would you recommend for my application?’...To the untrained eye, flow meter technology may initially seem like navigating a minefield. There are so many varied and different types of flow meter technology available.