The Edward J. Orton Jr. Ceramic Foundation was started in 1896 as the Standard Pyrometric Cone Company by Dr. Edward Orton Jr. Dr. Orton was a pioneer in developing and applying scientific principles to ceramic manufacturing. The Orton ceramic Foundation has three distinct areas of products and services: Pyrometric Monitoring Devices, Analytical Instruments and Material Testing Services.

Expert System Solutions S.r.l. established in 1989 in Modena, Italy, develops of materials analysis such as: Automatic Heating Microscopes and innovative Optical Dilatometers and creates applications for several industrial sectors, especially for the ceramic industry, using optimization technique and algorithm of artificial intelligence.