Two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are exciting materials for future applications in nanoelectronics, nanophotonics and sensing. In particular, sulfides and selenides of molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) have attracted interest as they possess a band gap, which is important for integration into electronic device structures. However, the low throughput synthesis of high quality TMD thin films has thus far hindered the development of devices, and so a scalable method is required to fully exploit their exceptional properties. Within this work a facile route to the manufacture of devices from MoS2 and WS2, grown by vapour phase sulfurisation of pre-deposited metal layers, is presented. Highly homogenous TMD films are produced over large areas. Fine control over TMD film thickness, down to a few layers, is achieved by modifying the thickness of the pre-deposited metal layer. The films are characterised by Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The thinnest films exhibit photoluminescence, as predicted for monolayer MoS2 films, due to confinement in two dimensions. By using shadow mask lithography, films with well-defined geometries were produced and subsequently integrated with standard microprocessing process flows and electrically characterised. In this way, MoS2 based sensors were produced, displaying sensitivity to NH3 down to 400 ppb. Our device manufacture is versatile, and is adaptable for future nanoscale (opto-) electronic devices as it is reproducible, cost effective and scalable up to wafer scale. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.