LONG BEACH, CA, Sept. 26, 2005 -- Neptune Technology Group Inc. and Landis+Gyr Inc. announced Sept. 19, during the annual Automatic Meter Reading Association international symposium Autovation 2005, an alliance to develop and market an AMR endpoint which combines Neptune's R900® module with Landis+Gyr's solid-state, residential FOCUS® meter platform. The endpoint will be compatible with Neptune's ARB® Utility Management Systems™ mobile applications.
Already in development, the R900 module for the FOCUS meter takes advantage of the field-proven R900 technology which utilizes a high power radio frequency (RF) transmission for better range, and thereby provides improved reading efficiency and reading success. The R900 module is fully compatible with Neptune's handheld and mobile drive-by reading systems for water, electric and gas utilities.
According to Richard Mora, CEO and President of Landis+Gyr, "The synergies between Neptune and Landis+Gyr, like our companies' histories of innovation and a mutual customer focus, suggests that collaboration between us makes sense and will provide benefits to multi-service utilities. Landis+Gyr currently offers an extremely broad AMR endpoint portfolio that utilities can employ to custom configure solutions based on their individual terrain and consumption loads. We're looking forward, with Neptune's help, to expanding that product set in the very near future."
The design of Landis+Gyr's FOCUS meter is well suited for AMR and advanced metering applications such as the R900 FOCUS endpoint. When combined with a communications module, such as Neptune's R900, the FOCUS meter's single-circuit board design facilitates an easy and inexpensive retrofit. Fewer connectors and fewer parts increase reliability and contribute to better overall endpoint performance. Furthermore, the FOCUS platform supports four energy metrics, allows meter reprogramming via the configuration port and supports all residential socket- and K-base forms.
In addition to outstanding mobile-reading performance, the R900 FOCUS endpoint provides another key benefit. The R900 protocol allows the voltage information available in the FOCUS meter to be communicated via RF to the reading system. This is a unique capability that will allow a utility to monitor line voltage available at any point in its system where an R900-equipped FOCUS meter is installed.
"Landis+Gyr is an ideal partner for Neptune," commented Chuck DiLaura, President of Neptune Technology Group. "Our companies share a set of common values that are based on providing our customers with value-added solutions. We complement each other in technology and market coverage and together we enhance our customers' Power of Choice."
The R900 FOCUS endpoint is expected to be commercially available in first quarter 2006.
Neptune Technology Group Inc. (www.neptunetg.com), a pioneer in the development of Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology for nearly 40 years, is a leading provider of data collection systems, reading more than 38 million meters per month. Since 1892, it has continually focused on the evolving needs of utilities -- revenue optimization, operational efficiencies, and improved customer service. The company continues to broaden its focus beyond automatic meter reading and metering to include service orders and meter asset management and to extend this capability to electric and gas utilities as it further integrates with DB Microware and its alliance partners. It provides utility automation software touching over 50 million connected customers throughout North America.
Landis+Gyr (www.landisgyr.us) is a leading global provider of precision, commercial and industrial, and residential electric meters, as well as innovative metering systems, including its open architecture, communication-neutral, Advanced Data Infrastructure™ (ADI). Globally, the company employs over 3,000 people, with the North American headquarters in Lafayette, Indiana responsible for marketing throughout the worldwide ANSI markets. The U.S. company also oversees operations at its Reynosa, Mexico, manufacturing facility.
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