The first ThermoProbe digital thermometer for petrochemical gauging was conceived by Larry Shelton of Ergon Inc., circa 1979. The need for the ThermoProbe was generated by the fact that glass thermometers were fragile and inaccurate for the application and the only electronic device for temperature gauging petroleum products was manufactured by (Marine Moisture Control) MMC. The design and construction of the first ThermoProbe instrument was conducted at Diversified Technology/Ergon Systems in Ridgeland, Mississippi. The first units were available to Ergon companies and other petroleum companies in 1980.

In May of 1983 Ergon Inc. purchased the inventory and took two employees from Diversified Technology to start a separate ThermoProbe Division. The location of the original ThermoProbe site was in the southeast corner of the Ergon Nonwovens building on 282 Carrier Boulevard, Richland Mississippi. Due to the growth of both the Nonwovens operation and ThermoProbe, ThermoProbe was moved to its present location on Court St. in May of 1990. ThermoProbe was incorporated in 1992 and sold to management in 1993.

	FIRST PRODUCTION DATES TP-1/TP-2 1980         TP-3 February 1985         TP-4 July 1988         TP-5 December 1990         TP-7 September 1994         TP-8 February 1996         TL-1 July 1998