Cellular-Based Metering Solution Wins Milwaukee BizTimes I.Q. Award
for Innovation
MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 6, 2014--
Badger
Meter, Inc. (NYSE: BMI) a leading global innovator and manufacturer
of flow measurement and control solutions, today reported positive
marketplace acceptance for its innovative new BEACON Advanced Metering
Analytics (AMA) solution. With the January 2014 launch of BEACON AMA,
Badger Meter became the first major water meter company to release a
cost-effective cellular-based metering solution for system-wide
deployment.
Since the introduction of BEACON AMA into the marketplace just over four
months ago, the company reported nearly 50 BEACON AMA Starter Kits have
been sold, and over 130 BEACON AMA systems have been quoted. This update
comes in advance of the American
Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual
Conference and Exposition (ACE14), which takes place in Boston,
Mass., June 8-12. Badger Meter is a platinum sponsor and exhibitor at
ACE 14, the world’s premier event for water professionals.
“As utilities across the country adapt to changing technology, this
simple and innovative approach has been met with great acceptance from
our sales force, distributors and customers,” said Richard A. Meeusen,
chairman, president and chief executive officer of Badger Meter.
“Initial BEACON AMA performance in the field is excellent, with test
customers experiencing ease of installation and rapid deployment
schedules through our cellular endpoint technology, easier access to
information using the powerful web-based software analytics platform,
and greater insight into end-water user consumption.”
The BEACON AMA Starter Kit allows utilities to test their managed
solution with 10 ORION® Cellular endpoints and access to the
complete BEACON AMA system, including its hosted software suite.
Utilizing cloud-based software and the power of ORION Cellular
endpoints, utilities can experience the benefits of BEACON AMA without
the need to install servers or gateways.
“Our starter kits are proving to be an effective way for utilities to
test BEACON AMA prior to deploying a complete system. Because of BEACON
AMA’s cellular endpoint technology, we are able to implement fast and
easy trials, giving utilities access to powerful decision-making
information, without the costs and infrastructure requirements
associated with traditional fixed network systems,” said Meeusen.
Meeusen also added that consumer engagement tools, including the
EyeOnWater consumer portal and smartphone/tablet app, which provide
end-water customers with the opportunity to view and manage their water
usage activity, are another positive benefit for conservation-minded
utilities.
Badger Meter will exhibit BEACON AMA, along with its complete line of
flow measurement and control products and technologies, at ACE14. The
company will exhibit at Booth 1911.
The company also announced it received a BizTimes I.Q. Award for
Innovation from Milwaukee
BizTimes Media LLC for BEACON AMA. The I.Q. Awards salute
southeastern Wisconsin businesses for their innovative products,
services or processes.
About BEACON AMA
BEACON AMA combines the BEACON AMA hosted software suite with proven
ORION Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology using a
combination of fixed and cellular endpoints to give utilities greater
control, more information and enhanced customer service. Configured by
Badger Meter for each utility, the managed solution approach includes
built-in infrastructure management services and endpoint upgrades,
eliminating maintenance and technology concerns and allowing utilities
to focus their people and resources on core competencies. To learn more
about BEACON AMA and the BEACON AMA Starter Kit, visit: http://www.badgermeter.com/BEACONAMA.
About Badger Meter
An innovator in flow measurement and control products, Badger Meter
serves water utilities, municipalities and commercial and industrial
customers worldwide. Measuring water, oil, chemicals, and other fluids,
Badger Meter products are known for accuracy, long-lasting durability
and for providing valuable and timely measurement data. For more
information, visit www.badgermeter.com.
Certain statements contained in this News Release, as well as other
information provided from time to time by Badger Meter, Inc. (the
“Company”) or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. The
words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “think,” “should,”
“could” and “objective” or similar expressions are intended to identify
forward looking statements. All such forward looking statements are
based on the Company’s then current views and assumptions and involve
risks and uncertainties. Some risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in
forward looking statements include those described in Item 1A of the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2012 that include, among other things:
-
the continued shift in the Company’s business from lower cost,
manually read meters toward more expensive, value-added automatic
meter reading (AMR) systems, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)
systems and advanced metering analytics (AMA) systems that offer more
comprehensive solutions to customers’ metering needs;
-
the success or failure of newer Company products;
-
changes in competitive pricing and bids in both the domestic and
foreign marketplaces, and particularly in continued intense price
competition on government bid contracts for lower cost, manually read
meters;
-
the actions (or lack thereof) of the Company’s competitors;
-
changes in the Company’s relationships with its alliance partners,
primarily its alliance partners that provide radio solutions, and
particularly those that sell products that do or may compete with the
Company’s products;
-
changes in the general health of the United States and foreign
economies, including to some extent such things as the length and
severity of global economic downturns, the ability of municipal water
utility customers to authorize and finance purchases of the Company’s
products, the Company’s ability to obtain financing, housing starts in
the United States, and overall industrial activity; unusual weather
and other natural phenomena, including related economic and other
ancillary effects of any such events;
-
the timing and impact of government programs to stimulate national
and global economies;
-
changes in the cost and/or availability of needed raw materials and
parts, such as volatility in the cost of brass castings as a result of
fluctuations in commodity prices, particularly for copper and scrap
metal at the supplier level, foreign-sourced electronic components as
a result of currency exchange fluctuations and/or lead times, and
plastic resin as a result of changes in petroleum and natural gas
prices;
-
the Company’s expanded role as a prime contractor for providing
complete connectivity systems to governmental entities, which brings
with it added risks, including but not limited to, the Company’s
responsibility for subcontractor performance, additional costs and
expenses if the Company and its subcontractors fail to meet the
timetable agreed to with the governmental entity, and the Company’s
expanded warranty and performance obligations;
-
the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses
or products;
-
changes in foreign economic conditions, particularly currency
fluctuations in the United States dollar, the Euro and the Mexican
peso;
-
the loss of certain single-source suppliers; and
-
changes in laws and regulations, particularly laws dealing with the
use of lead (which can be used in the manufacture of certain meters
incorporating brass housings) and the United States Federal
Communications Commission rules affecting the use and/or licensing of
radio frequencies necessary for radio products.
All of these factors are beyond the Company’s control to varying
degrees. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are
urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward
looking statements contained in this News Release and are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements. The
forward looking statements made in this document are made only as of the
date of this document and the Company assumes no obligation, and
disclaims any obligation, to update any such forward looking statements
to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Badger Meter company news is available
24 hours a day, on-line
at: http://www.badgermeter.com.
Source: Badger Meter, Inc.
Badger Meter, Inc.
Dawn O’Neill, 414-371-7276