Chris Towle, a founding figure of MTL and a leading authority in the field of Intrinsic Safety, has been awarded the Sir Harold Hartley Medal for 2005 by the Institute of Measurement and Control. The award was presented to Chris Towle by Professor Peter Payne, the President of the Institute during the annual Thomson Dinner at The Royal Society.

The award for outstanding contributions to the technology of Measurement and Control recognises Chris Towle's technical vision, courage and commitment in being part of the founding team behind Measurement Technology Limited in 1971. As a director and first Chief Electronics Engineer of MTL, Chris Towle has been a key figure in developing the company's international reputation as a leader in the field of intrinsic safety and in developing hazardous area safety products such as barriers and isolators that for the past three decades have helped make the world of work far safer for many people.

Before MTL, Chris Towle, as a mechanical engineering graduate of Durham University , worked in electronic engineering and design for George Kent Ltd/Kent Instruments after service in REME. He has been an active member of the Institute of Measurement and Control both nationally and locally, whilst at an international level, he has been involved in drafting many international standards and promoting safe working practices for hazardous environments.