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THE CUSTOMER MAGAZINE OF ZENNER INTERNATIONAL 03|17

smart & easy

From vision to practice The future picture of the digital energy industry is becoming clear

Editorial Contents

Cover storySmart solutions for municipal utilities 03 – 06

ZENNER worldwideInnovations from Switzerland 07

ServiceThe Internet of Things for water providers 08 – 09

InterviewMatthias Behrens and Dr. Niklas Klein, Managing Director of ZENNER IoT Solutions 10 – 11

NewsZENNER is becoming a full-range provider 12 – 13

PracticeThe company GoGas is relying on the remote reading system Z.RTU 14 – 15

Contents

Dear readers,

The idea of the digital energy industry is fascinating but also produces concerns for energy suppliers, network operators and municipal utilities. Net IT startups are entering the market and challenging previous business models. Many market participants are wondering how they can lead companies, that have grown over many years, into the digital future. At ZENNER we say: Just do it! You should start putting your personal vision of a smart infrastructure into practice today. Whether you monitor consumption and networks using remote readout, undertake the intelligent management of parking spaces or keep an eye on environmental data – we will develop the right solutions with you and with our partners. We present strategies and projects in our current issue of smart&easy that we have already realised with our customers. The approach: not all at once, but focused. Step by step.

ZENNER supports its customers in converting the risks of digitalisation into opportunities. We have already developed technological solutions for this. For example water providers can read all the meter data at once on the basis of a so-called LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network), recognise leakage remotely or monitor ground water levels on the monitor. This makes the processes substantially more efficient. We also want to support meter-reading companies more in a more integrated manner in the future: The heat cost allocator is allowing ZENNER to cover the entire range in the radio-ready sub- metering area starting in 2018. So there are many new products to see at the upcoming autumn trade fairs – European Utility Week and Kommunale! I hope you enjoy reading our magazine,

Sascha SchlosserManaging Director of ZENNER International GmbH & Co. KG

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smart & easy 03|17 THE CUSTOMER MAGAZINE BY ZENNER INTERNATIONAL

With smart measuring instruments, sensors, gateways and low power networks the utility industry can uncover data treasure. “But the technology is merely the means to an end. Only once the data is turned into concrete solutions that allow for more efficient processes and new business models will the digital update become worthwhile for municipal utilities, energy and water suppliers”, says ZENNER Managing Director Sascha Schlosser. ZENNER and its partners have already realised many digital solutions for customers that could also inspire other companies. The examples that are shown are all based on the same technology: Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN). They make it clear: Great future visions such as Smart Utility and Smart City are best realised step by step, using individual goals and projects. »

Current solutions from ZENNER and its partners show how the utility industry and energy service providers are already profiting from digital technologies.

Digitalisation? Just do it!

Cover story smart solutions for municipal utilities 3

Fast and comprehensive readoutsOne important starting point for the optimisation of processes is measuring and billing. Because the classic readout by service staff of the municipal utilities but also self-readings by customers take a lot of time and effort, digital technology also greatly increases efficiency. Many municipal utilities are already putting their trust in walk-by radio systems in order to collect the consumption data from the meters without having to enter the property. With a LPWAN you can reach the next stage of automation: fast and comprehensive reading on the relevant day, for several supply sectors if desired. No more travel is necessary to the measuring points. Municipal authorities can use the meter data for different applications that go beyond the creation of consumption bills. The high degree of automation allows variable readout schedules and even daily readings. Further areas of application result from

the fact that the LPWAN infrastructure works bidirectionally. The connected equipment not only provides its information but can also be actively controlled, for example in order to re-programme the specified reading date for the billing.

Intelligent sub-meteringThe energy service provider Minol has shown that this principle can also be applied within residential and commercial buildings. In future it will use the LPWAN solution Minol Connect in order to automatically read the consumption data for the creation of heating and water cost bills. The consumption values of the individual residential and commercial units can thus be called up within a very short time and on-site appointment with the residents are no longer necessary, so that the consumption of absent tenants no longer needs to be estimated. This makes the billing more exact and more transparent. Apart from

The technical basis for the applications that are presented are Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN), wireless communication networks with a range of up to 15 kilometers, lower energy consumption and excellent building penetration. LPWAN are optimally suited in order to transfer data from sensors or consumption meters and also to transfer control signals in the opposite direction. During this the terminal devices communicate via a radio-ready microchip with special gateways that then send the data packages to a network server and can transfer control commands on from there. IoT platforms and applications can be connected to the server using interfaces. With LoRaWAN (,Long Range Wide Area Network‘) an international, open LPWAN transmission standard is available in order to set up and operate these kinds of stationary radio networks. A variety of different terminal devices can be integrated as this is an open standard. The LoRaWAN gateway can be connected to the Smart Meter gateway via the CLS interface.

Technical basis: LPWAN

Cover story smart solutions for municipal utilities4


measuring technology for heat and water other objects and sensors can also be integrated into this kind of system, for example smoke detectors, temperature and humidity sensors or smart home solutions. This enables further services such as the remote inspection of smoke detectors.

Monitoring the networkComplete water, power, gas and district heating networks can also be monitored more easily with LPWAN. Using the correct web applications the employees of the supply operations can see all the relevant data: the consumption values on the meters, the meter status or any error messages. If the data is always current every day, it is also possible to carry out constant network monitoring without additional work. Municipal utilities and providers can thus exactly juxtapose the purchase and sale of water or energy and precisely calculate and understand possible losses. In unusual operational conditions such as particularly high or lasting water consumption the end devices can be send a warning so that providers can react quickly and resolve the defect. This ensures safe operation and correct consumption billing for the end consumer.

Offering value-added servicesAn LPWAN not only improves the internal processes in the utility industry but it also allows new sources of income once the infrastructure is in place. The upcoming Smart Meter roll-out is a current reason to address this topic. In accordance with the measuring point operating law the electro-mechanical power meters that were used previously must be replaced with digital equipment by 2032. For large-scale consumers with an annual power consumption of more than 6,000 kilowatt hours Smart Meter gateways are also compulsory that process and automatically transfer measured values and that can process access rights. “Municipal utilities need to develop a new infrastructure because of the upcoming Smart Meter-roll-outs and this can hardly be re-financed from »

In order to be able to develop the presented applications from A to Z and support customers in the digital revolution, the Minol-ZENNER- Group has begun a digitalisation offensive. This involves participation in three companies in the IoT environment: TrackNet, SmartMakers and ZENNER IoT Solutions. ZENNER in Switzerland also recently established ZENNER Connect AG. This partner network can offer complete IoT solutions: LoRaWAN-ready meters and sensors, the technical infrastructure for the transfer of data, i.e. networks and gateways, a highly scalable and secure IoT data cloud that is operated in Germany, including big data management, advice when developing individual IoT networks and finally software platforms and applications for the concrete use of the data.

From terminal devices via gateways to applications

Cover story smart solutions for municipal utilities 5

within itself because of the tight upper price limits – thus the utility industry needs further digital services and business models”, says Sascha Schlosser. ZENNER is preparing the technical basis for this kind of value-added services with a new LoRaWAN-ready CLS gateway that can be connected to Smart Meter gateways. Measuring point operators can then read the consumption data from all supply partners and further connected end devices and develop value- added services from this – for example consumption billing for the housing industry or monitoring apps for commercial customers or end consumers.

Networking infrastructureThe Internet of Things also plays a major role in the concept of the Smart City, beyond the sectors of water and energy. Depending on which objects are integrated, municipal authorities and municipalities can use

an LPWAN for many other tasks, for example for continuous monitoring of environmental data such as air pollution or water levels, the monitoring of transformer stations, the smart control of street lighting or automatic operation of parking spaces. Current projects by ZENNER IoT Solutions show the direction that is being taken: In Karlsruhe the company is working on a project for the monitoring of underfloor garbage containers with the help of ultrasonic sensors. When the container is full a message with this condition is sent by LoRaWAN and visualised with an app so that the garbage disposal operations can plan their route accordingly. It is often this kind of pilot project that municipalities and municipal utilities use to test business models. Once this first step has been taken the Internet of Things opens up almost endless opportunities for more efficient operating processes and new services.

www.zenner.com www.zenner-iot.com www.zennerconnect.com www.minol.de www.smartmakers.de/en www.tracknet.io

Weblink

Developing an LPWAN and using it means that the utility industry must extend its focus to all the added value in measuring technology: from concept and realisation of the IoT project through selection of the measuring technology, the measuring data collection and distribution to application for the end user.“

Sascha Schlosser, Managing Director at ZENNER

„

Cover story smart solutions for municipal utilities6


New IoT solution provider for Switzerland

85 percent of the Swiss energy providers consider digital solutions as a great opportunity. The Minol-ZENNER- Group can now support you and other companies on your entry into the Internet of Things (IoT) with a subsidiary on site.

The Swiss energy sector is extremely ambitious regarding digitalisation: According to the platform digital.swiss 56 percent of the companies already have a corresponding strategy and 85 percent consider smart solutions to be very important. “The potential is enormous”, says Alexander Lehmann, Managing Director of the Minol-ZENNER-Group. “However to date there is a lack of concrete realisation – this is where we come in.” In July the Minol-ZENNER-Group established a Swiss subsidiary with a focus on IoT solutions. ZENNER Connect AG, headquartered in Regensdorf (Canton of Zurich) is the first foreign company in the group with a focus on the Internet of Things. It offers energy suppliers, cities and companies will intelligent IoT total solutions on the basis of low power networks like LoRaWAN.

Innovative end-to-end solutions and individual advice The newly established company develops innovative end-to-end solutions and advises customers from the beginning in accordance with their individual needs: “Together with our parent company ZENNER International, the partner company TrackNet and ZENNER IoT Solutions and other leading IoT companies we offer energy providers, cities and companies with an entire package of sensor and actuator technology, through gateways and network servers to web applications. We also develop further solutions, for example for the smart control of street lights or for intelligent park systems”, explains Alexander Nanzer, Managing Director of ZENNER Connect AG. “The objective of our projects is to combine the many years of experience of our customers with our IoT expert knowledge in order to create new, custom-fit solutions.” In order to be as close as possible to the new Swiss customers ZENNER Connect AG has another office in Sachseln (Canton Obwalden) and is planning additional locations in Switzerland.

ZENNER Connect AG works closely with ZENNER IoT Solutions: The Hamburg sister company already advises and support cities in Eastern Switzerland in the development of a comprehensive smart network. The objective is to lower environmental pollution and to make public services such as parking space management, the monitoring energy meters and filling levels and control of street lights. Connect AG ties in to these projects: “The IoT subsidiary of the Minol-ZENNER- Group in Germany and in Switzerland will cooperate closely and bundle their advisory expertise”, says Alexander Nanzer. “In this way we can serve the needs of the customer quickly and professionally.”

Bundled Expertise

Successful contract agreement: (left) Borislav Stöckermann, digitalisation expert, Managing Director Alexander Lehmann (second from left) and Zeljko Petrina (far right, all Minol-ZENNER- Group) with Alexander Nanzer, Managing Director of ZENNER Connect AG.

ZENNER worldwide Switzerland 7

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Reading on the

specified reading date

There were already efficient alternatives to manual reading of water meters on the market – many municipal

utilities use walk-by radio readings for example. But an LPWAN can do much more: It allows

completely automated, comprehensive reading on the specified reading date. The consumption data in

entire districts can be collected in minutes. The automated transmission of data means that readers

no longer need to travel to the properties. This disposes with personnel and travelling costs as

well as costs for mobile reading devices and software. Water providers and consumers can rely on precise measuring results and

consumption estimates are no longer necessary for absent users.

Making data flowHow the water industry can profit from the Internet of Things

Read all meter data at once? Detect a pipe burst remotely? Monitor ground water levels on the screen? The Internet of things and specifically lower energy networks with a long range (LPWAN) are ideal for efficient processes in the water

industry. ZENNER has been developing corresponding LPWAN-ready water and heat meters since 2016. The following examples show what thus becomes possible.

Checking

water networks

Reading on specified reading dates

means that providers can exactly juxtapose water consumption and sale as well as calculate and understand possible water loss more precisely. As the data is always up-to-date, it is also possible to carry out constant network monitoring without additional work. Thus water providers always have consumption

in sight and can react quickly in the event of irregularities.

Billing in the course of the year

More frequent readings also mean that water providers can bill more often, for example every month or

quarter. This is optimal, precisely with a view to large customers: While

readings are currently usually only taken in private households once a

year many special contract customers in commerce and

industry use monthly invoicing.

Service LPWAN for water providers


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Recognising leakages and

defects

In the event of unusual operating situations such as particularly high or

constant consumption – maybe because of leakage, pipe bursts, defective toilet flushes or dripping taps – the microchip in the meters will send a warning. Municipal utilities and water

providers can then react quickly and arrange for repairs. Consumption patterns can be documented

as the data from the water meters is being read more frequently and at the same time recorded

regularly in the radio module of the meter. Thus disputes concerning consumption and associated costs, for example for

evaluation of results, can be easily avoided.

Making data flow

Monitoring ground and waste water

Networking the water meters is just

the beginning. Depending on which further equipment and sensors are integrated into

the LPWAN water providers can also carry out many other tasks remotely, for example keeping an eye on ground water levels, controlling flow regulators or monitoring treatment plants and rainwater basins. LPWA networks thus allow

water suppliers and municipal utilities to develop new services beyond the automated

readout of condition and consumption as well as particularly efficient and

economical processes.

Report

malfunctions

Thanks to special algorithms the microchips in the water meters can recognise incorrect installation or

functioning as well as any manipulation and transfer corresponding reports to the database. Thus water suppliers receive

notification of over or undersized equipment or incorrect installation

of the meters, for example against the direction

of flow.

Service LPWAN for water providers

Mr. Behrens, Dr. Klein: You and your team work on Smart City solutions every day. How exactly do you contribute to making cities smart? Behrens: When people hear key terms like the 'Internet of Things' and 'Smart Cities' they have the wildest imaginations. They are often a step too far because the infrastructure is not even there in most cases. Advancement does not begin with a speaking fridge or a smart toaster. Quite different things are important to our customers from the utility industry: Work processes are to be shortened and costs reduced. Klein: We are talking about automated parking space management, intelligent street lighting or the remote reading of water, heat, gas and power using long range low energy networks like LoRaWAN.

And how do you support your customers in this? Klein: Together with our partners we offer them complete services relating to the topic of IoT. While

“...then the customers realise their possibilities”Matthias Behrens and Dr. Niklas Klein, Managing Director of ZENNER IoT Solutions on their new IoT platform, innovative municipal utilities and startup clichees.

Matthias Behrens (on the right), 37, is mainly responsible for topics other than programming as the Managing Director of ZENNER IoT Solutions GmbH. Everything relating to strategy, partner and cooperation planning, sales, project management and human resources passes over his desk.

Dr. Niklas Klein, 36, has taken over the technical leadership of ZENNER IoT Solutions in his role as Managing Director. Klein is not a 'presentation slide technician', but rather is deeply rooted in both the hardware and software technology of operational business.

Interview ZENNER IoT Solutions10


ZENNER, Minol, TrackNet and ZENNER Connect offer Internet-ready meters, networks, gateways and IoT advice our, main task is the visualisation and processing of the collected data. Our most important product is the IoT platform that has been online since August. It allows our customers to realise their individual applications quickly and simply and to keep them in sight. Thus added value can also be created in the future that the municipal utilities might not even thinking of today.

Do you have an example of what this 'creation of added value' could look like in concrete terms? Behrens: The municipal utilities in Karlsruhe are a prime example. At the time of the first contact they initially only wished to read the voltage and performance values of the local network transformer stations as easily as possible. We supported them in the development of their own LoRaWAN and fed the collected data into our IoT platform. At some point the contact told us that the sister companies of the municipal utilities were unable to record the filling levels of the underground waste containers, which made requirement-oriented disposal impossible. Following this we developed an ultrasonic sensor together with the municipal utilities that measures the filling level to the centimetre and reports this to the IoT platform using LoRaWAN. Forecasts can then be created from this to state when the container needs to be emptied. This allows the waste disposal drivers to better plan their routes. This reduces petrol consumption – and thus CO2 emissions. Klein: This shows: Once the infrastructure is in place, most customers realise the possibilities they have. The municipal utilities in Karlsruhe now also feed data on CO2 levels in rooms with co-generation units into our platform. And the trainees working there are thinking about how they can use LoRaWAN in more ways. They are working on sensors that can be connected with the IoT platform.

So the customer can also work out for himself how he can optimise the Internet of Things? Behrens (laughing): Yes, we have no objections if our customers work things out with us. On the contrary: It is their network after all. So if they have a good idea, we are happy if this adds value for the company at some point with the help of our IoT platform. In the best case this even opens up new business ideas for our customers.

Your company is young but it has the structure of a large, traditional company that was established in 1903. What effect does this have on your customers, projects and daily work? Behrens: ZENNER International is a brand. When we had the choice of whether to include the ZENNER brand in our company name we didn't even take five minutes to decide. Because of our name alone we already receive an unbelievable amount of trust from our customers – even though we have only been on the market for a few months. In return we feel an

obligation to meet the customers at the level of quality that they are used to from ZENNER. At the same time we are also a bit proud that we complete the overall strategy of the company: ZENNER International uses us as a pioneer – and can derive a recommendation for action for coming years, for example based on our pilot projects. Klein: Having such a strong partner at our side of course also makes us more flexible: For example, if we need an expert on a topic, ZENNER International can give us a direct contact. And for marketing support we only need to call Saarbrücken. At the same time ZENNER gives us the freedom that a startup needs.

Talking about startups, is the cliché of getting coffee, programming, table clickers and working late into the night correct? Klein (laughing): Honestly we are probably closer to a little toy shop than to a startup as you would imagine it. Of course we also focus on a pleasant working atmosphere and a balanced work-life balance. The team should be happy to work here and identify with our company. But we also know: Nine out of ten startups fail. Usually because the objectives are not followed seriously enough. Everyone in our team knows this and that is whey they are all pulling together.

That sounds as though you have a special relationship to your employees. Behrens: Absolutely. We all have the same motivation: We want to offer IoT solutions tangibly and from a single source. The whole team are partners in the company. There are also very many democratic decisions. That is why we talk less today about 'employees' or 'colleagues' and more about partners.

Your company is still relatively young. Where will the journey take you in the next five years? Behrens: For LPWAN solutions, for example LoRaWAN, we want to be the market leader in German-speaking countries. But it is important to use that we achieve this goal with a sense of proportion and not with unhealthy growth. Klein: And who knows, maybe we will even have a football table in five years time.

Weblink

www.zenner-iot.com

Interview ZENNER IoT Solutions 11

Measurement services are a science in themselves: Consumption data for various sectors such as gas, water and heating must be read increasingly efficiently, frequently and precisely as part of the energy revolution. Numerous types of measuring equipment are used for this and these must satisfy widely varying technical requirements. Thus anyone who wishes to persist successfully on the mar-

ket as a measurement service provider needs smart, custom solutions. This is where ZENNER comes in and offers measuring service providers a comprehensive range of products that is tailored specially to their requirements. Up to now this included water and heat meters, smoke detectors and powerful system solutions for remote readouts. ZENNER is now becoming a smart full-range

ZENNER is positioning itself as a smart, full-range supplier with new, future-ready products and solutions.

Everything that measuring service providers need

Water meter measuring capsule programme

The measuring capsule program from ZENNER offers radio-ready water meters for nearly all interfaces fitted in Germany connection interfaces according to DIN EN 14154-2 or DIN EN ISO 4064-4. Among other things this also allows calibration exchange from more than 80 of the most popular third party producers without an adapter. At HeiKo 2017 ZENNER is presenting both the current portfolio and two new mater meter models for the connection interfaces HT2 (Brunata-Metrona) and WE1 (Wehrle).

Heat cost allocator caltos EThe new ZENNER EHKV 'caltos E' will enter the market in 2018 and has several technical improvements compared with the earlier ZENNER HKV models. The further development of the previous model, which was installed in its millions, can be ready via the Opera radio system thanks to a corresponding interface. Commissioning is also simple: The fitters can use the cloud solution that was developed by ZENNER to record all the technical heater sizes with all the relevant values on site and digitally. On the same online portal the individual evaluation factors can then be derived for almost all the heater models available on the market.

News Full range for measuring service providers12


provider with the development of the new wireless M-Bus-ready heat cost allocator caltos E. Measuring service providers will receive all the necessary meters and systems from a single source and can thus fit properties of any type and size efficiently with future-ready measuring and function technology. “As we produce almost all the equipment that we offer ourselves we have the whole process chain from product development to technical support in our sights. This means we can attend to individual requirements particularly quickly and support our customers quickly and easily with technical quesitons”, explains Klaus Gilbert, head of sales and product manager for measuring technology for thermal energy and measuring services.

Offer also directed at municipal utilitiesIn future municipal utilities can also profit from the wide ZENNER range: The 'law on the digitalisation of the energy revolution' allows you to read out both power and further sectors such as water or heat using the obligatory Smart Meter gateway from 2020 and to offer this service to the housing industry or provide your own sub-metering services. Many energy providers have already tendered the corresponding measuring equipment and systems.

Radio smoke detector

The smoke detector service, i.e. the assembly and annual function test of smoke detectors, is increasing falling into the remit of measuring service providers. The EASY PROTECT radio by ZENNER was specially developed for the housing industry. As a particular feature it has so-called environment monitoring that recognises and records whether the prescribed minimum distance to walls, ceiling beams or pieces of furnishing. With its fixed 10-year battery the EASY PROTECT radio is optimally suited for long term use. The situation data for the equipment can be read using the wireless M-Bus radio interface. This makes the annually prescribed function test possible without entering the apartment.

All equipment with a uniform radio interfaceAT HeiKo 2017, the congress trade fair for the professional association of independent heat cost billing companies in Kassel, ZENNER is presenting its entire sub-metering range, where all the equipment is fitted with a wireless M-Bus interface. “A uniform radio system that can read the measured values on all integrated equipment – like the wireless M-Bus radio system OPERA by ZENNER – offers great advantages and gains a level of acceptance with system integrators”, says Thomas Buchholz, Head of Product Management Smart Metering at ZENNER. The walk-by solution was developed specially in accordance with the requirements of the European Open Metering System (OMS). This open, cross-manufacturer standard offers the measuring point operators investment security because the corresponding meters are compatible with the obligatory Smart Meter gateways independently of the manufacturer. In connection with the Z.RTU gateway (also see p. 14) of ZENNER OPERA can also be used as a fixed network solution or be combined with an existing, wired M-Bus system. “The new full range in the sector of wireless M-Bus can thus be used very flexibly and is future-ready”, says Buchholz.

Compact heat meter celsius® C5

The three compact heat meter models that are also fitted with a radio interface celsius C5 IUF (with ultra-sonic flow sensor), ISF (with single beam flow sensor) and CMF (with measuring capsule flow sensor) have already proven themselves on numerous projects and are particularly user-friendly. The joint operating concept for the electronic heat calculator makes an important contribution to the reduction of reading errors. The identical structure of the data telegrams in the reading via radio, M-Bus or the serial optical interface (IrDA and ZVEI) also makes system integration easier. ZENNER has developed new universal temperature sensors for simple assembly. They fit into standard sleeves with temperature sensors with six mm internal diameters and thus allow simple processes, even if the exact type of sleeves for temperature sensors is not known at the time of order.

News Full range for measuring service providers 13

The company GoGaS has been developing heat concepts, heating systems and large technical drying systems for approximately 70 years. The company offers its customers tailored, energy-efficient solutions. “It is our objective that the heat arrives exactly where it is needed and in the quantities that are needed”, says Thorsten Eickelberg from the technical customer service at GoGaS Goch GmbH. “Apart from heating technology a comprehensive heat concept also includes an exact recording of the consumption and continual monitoring.” An enormous amount of energy can be saved with a few well thought out measures, especially in the industrial sector. This is also the case at the industry part of Gotthold Haller Spedition GmbH in Ebersbach on the Fils River at Göppingen. The approximately 120,000 square meter industrial area comprises a total of six buildings with different users and different sectors. Production areas, warehouses, offices and a cafeteria. A central steam heating system supplied the six buildings up to approximately one year ago. The heat losses were high and the heat and gas consumption for the different areas were billed at a fixed rate and not by consumption. This is why a new, energy- saving solutions was to replace the previous concept. GoGaS installed modern, gas-powered dark radiators that emit their infrared radiation via steel pipes and for which the distribution losses are very low, as well as hot air heating. This heat technology specialist was looking for the right company for measuring and system technology. “We had clear criteria: it had to happen quickly and that is why we wanted a reliable partner and a simple system that could be installed easily, could be expanded in principle and was thus suitable for such a large area”, says Eickelberg. “It also needed to allow exact, consumption-dependent reading and regular monitoring – without a lot of effort.”

Simple installationThe choice was made of the stationary radio reading system Z.RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) by the Saarbrücken measuring technology and system solution provider ZENNER. “We had already had good experiences on other projects with this company's meters”, says Eickelberg. “Fast reaction to our enquiry, professional advice and the

Smart gateway for industrial systemsThe company GoGaS has created a new heat concept for a large business park near Göppingen: This includes the continual, secure and economical remote readout of the heat and gas meters with the smart metering gateway Z.RTU by ZENNER.

At the industrial park of Gotthold Haller Spedition GmbH in Ebersbach on the Fils River the consumption data is recorded using the remote reading system Z.RTU by ZENNER.

Practice remote reading system Z.RTU14


smart radio solution convinced us.” The order and the installation of the system were fast: Within only a few days the four required compact heat meters with integrated M-Bus module, 23 pulse modules that make the existing gas meters radio-ready and the reading system, comprising a data logger (RTU) with integrated web server and 13 radio repeaters had been delivered. With the professional support of ZENNER Thorsten Eickelberg was able to install the system into the industrial park in a short time. “The operation is very intuitive – after two weeks everything was fitted. If we had chosen a wired solution two or three employees would have been busy for several weeks on the large area with the laying of cables – in fact I only had to fit the radio heat meters and gas meters with added pulse module and then add them via the graphic display on the data logger.”

Continuous energy monitoringThe reliable remote reading is optimum for the industrial park, above all else: The data logger with integrated web server can record the consumption of up to 500 heat, water and gas meters in parallel with heat cost allocators. The repeaters increase the radio range on large industrial sites and thus guarantee the accessibility of all meters. The saved data can then be called up online. “Compared to manual reading or the central reading on site this saved our customer a lot of time and costs in this case”, says Eickelberg. There are no appointments and agreements regarding access rights and travel routes. In their place the responsible facility manager calls up the data from his PC outside the industrial park using an additional router. The consumption from all the meters is saved automatically every 15 minutes, which allows continual energy monitoring of the individual rooms. “Beyond this the administrators can, for example, create reports or send consumption data via automated e-mails”. The consumption for the different users is billed separately once a month. In this way the users always have an exact overview of consumption and controls and can take countermeasures if there are unusual developments.

Subsequent integration of metersEickelberg put the reading system into operation in April 2016 and it has been running without problems since then. “Every six to ten years the meters need to be changed – otherwise the whole thing practically runs by itself.” What is important, particularly for industrial parks: The Z.RTU system can easily be expanded. The industrial park will add another hall this year, where an additional gas meter and other things will be installed. “Integrating the meter into the

system only needs a few clicks on the graphic display of the data logger”, says Eickelberg. “I search the network on the screen and simply add the new equipment, it only takes a few minutes.” The Z.RTU gateway is therefore very flexible: It can be expanded as desired and various wired and wire-less measuring instruments integrated. “It is also very user friendly and thus a smart solution for all participants.”

The operation of the RTU data logger is simple and intuitive.

Via the remote reading system Z.RTU:

The stationary reading system Z.RTU comprises a data logger (RTU, see image) with integrated web server that records the consumption data from M-Bus and wireless M-Bus meters in parallel. The data can then be exported and called up form outside using an additional router on a PC.

Practice remote reading system Z.RTU

Publisher: ZENNER International GmbH & Co. KGRömerstadt 6, 66121 Saarbrücken; www.zenner.com

Coordination: Patrik Sartor E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (0681) 99676-3157

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THE FUTURE BEGINS WITH ZENNER.

www.zenner.com www.zenner-iot.com twitter.com/zenner_news

Digitalisation is a challenge and an opportunity at the same time.Together with our partners ZENNER IoT Solutions, Minol Messtechnik, SmartMakers and Tracknet we are pro-viding innovative and viable solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) around the world. From project development and the collection and processing of measurement data through to finished applications we support private and public companies sustainably and profitably in the realisation of viable projects in the sectors of Smart Utility, Smart City and Smart Metering.

Smart IoT complete solutions from a single source

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