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This section provides an overview for ion counters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 7 ion counter manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked ion counter companies as of August, 2025: 1.Kilter Electronic Institute Co. Ltd, 2.Less EMF, 3.System Incorporated.
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An ion counter is a device that is supposed to measure air ions, which are charged particles suspended in the air, especially negatively charged small ions.
With the negative ion boom in the 2000s, various types of ion counters are now available to measure the amount of negative ions in the environment.
For highly accurate measurement, it is desirable to measure both negative and positive ions at the same time, but there are also types that display only negative ions. This type is often used for sales promotions of home appliances, etc., where only negative ion values are to be displayed.
Ion counters are used for research and industrial purposes at universities and companies. They are also used as sales promotion equipment to indicate the amount of negative ions generated by home appliances.
Since negative ions have become a popular topic of conversation about their health benefits, they have become more and more visible to the public as a machine that detects negative ions.
The Ebert measuring device is the basic principle for measuring air ions, and the Gerdien method, an application of the Ebert measuring device, is the current mainstream method. In the Gerdien method, a voltage is applied to the outer cylinder of a double-cylinder device, and when a fan is used to inject a constant flow of air into the cylinder, positive ions are measured when the voltage is positive, and negative ions are measured when the voltage is negative.
Since each ion in the air has a different mobility, the mobility of the ions that can be supplemented by the ion counter is called the critical mobility. Ions with mobility greater than the critical mobility are captured by the Ion Counter, while ions with mobility less than the critical mobility are not captured.
If the voltage is increased, a point appears at which the current becomes constant, and if there were only small ions, all small ions would be captured by the ion counter. The following equation expresses the concentration of small ions at this time.
Concentration of small ions = saturation current/eΦ (e = elementary amount of charge, Φ = flow rate of air through the cylinder per unit time)
What is important here is the mobility of the ions. This is because some people believe that small ions are better for the body. When measuring ions, it is important to know the mobility of the ions being measured by the ion counter. It should be noted, however, that the question of which ions are beneficial to health is still under debate, and not all small ions are beneficial.
The current mainstream of ion counters is the double-cylinder type described as the principle, but there are several other types.
The parallel plate type is inexpensive and suitable for simple measurements. Although it is not expected to be highly accurate, it is used to determine the approximate amount of ions and for pre-shipment inspections of ion generators.
Ion counters are used for measuring the ions in natural ores that emit radiation. They measure the ions of natural ores, such as radium and monazite.
The ion detection type is a simpler device than the parallel plate type. Also called an ion checker, this device is used to determine whether ions are generated.
The idea that negative ions are good for your health at this time should be viewed as a scientifically untenable view. First of all, the term "negative ion" is not a technical term, although it is widely used in the world.
One way to understand negative ions can be found in the "Science of Pseudoscience" research report collection published by Osaka University in 2019. It concludes, "As long as negative ions cannot be clearly defined, we cannot discuss their effects in general. We should not easily jump to information on TV and other media."
In addition, "We are required to acquire the ability to question, or in other words, media literacy, rather than just believing information on TV, magazines, and the Internet. Particularly today, with so much information around us, we need to be even more careful."
*Including some distributors, etc.
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AlphaLab, Inc. is a manufacturer of industrial and scientific measurement devices founded in 1982 and based in Utah, USA. The company’s products are mainly designed for measuring static electricity, electromagnetic fields, and other electrical parameters. These include air ion counters, electrostatic voltmeters for measuring static charge voltages, and gaussmeters. The company also offers OEM, calibration, and technical support for customers with unique project parameters. Its products are mainly used by clients in the research, environmental, and engineering sectors.
Com-System, Inc., established in 2001 and based in Japan, is a manufacturer of advanced ion measuring instruments and detection systems. The company specializes in negative ion measuring instruments for ores, oil corona detectors, and earthquake prediction systems. It aims to enhance safety and precision in various industrial and environmental sectors. Its products, such as the high-sensitivity Geiger counter equipped with a GM sensor, are renowned for measuring low-level radiation across a spectrum of rays. Its air leak detectors are equally adept at identifying gaps, ensuring integrity in sealed environments.
Ranking as of August 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilter Electronic Institute Co. Ltd |
25.8%
|
| 2 | Less EMF |
15.7%
|
| 3 | System Incorporated |
13.5%
|
| 4 | Com-System, Inc. |
13.5%
|
| 5 | SUNJE |
12.4%
|
| 6 | Filtrion |
10.1%
|
| 7 | AlphaLab, Inc |
9.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the ion counter page as of August 2025. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
3 | 50.0% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 16.7% |
|
Republic of Korea
|
1 | 16.7% |
|
China
|
1 | 16.7% |
