By Greentech Lead Asia: Itron has opened a new
manufacturing facility in Suzhou Industrial Park, China. This new facility will
help Itron strengthen its presence in China. The new facility will produce
residential water meters, industrial water meters and residential heat meters
for both Chinese and global markets.
“Our continued investment in Itron’s heat and water meter
business in Suzhou is indicative of our strong commitment to the Chinese
market. This marks an important step forward as we sharpen our focus on
delivering local products that meet local needs and provide a platform for
building a sustainable future,” said said LeRoy Nosbaum, president and chief
executive officer, Itron.
Chinese government’s current Five Year Plan encourages
decreasing energy consumption by 16 percent as compared with 2010 levels and by
32 percent as compared with 2005 levels. In line with the plan published by the
State Grid Corporation of China in 2009, initial smart grid constructions and interactive service
systems will be deployed before 2015.
Itron’s heat metering products will assist Chinese
utilities with achieving energy reduction objectives.
Itron’s water
meters for residential as well as commercial and industrial
applications aims to reduce water wastage and empower water providers with the
critical information they need to better manage vital water resources.
Aside from continuing to produce residential heat meters
for the North China market, the Suzhou factory will also design and produce
Itron’s next-generation heat meter, Ultramaxx, by the end of this year.
Itron smart grid solution selected by BED to manage electric
grid
Recenty, lItron announced that Burlington Electric
Department (BED) of Burlington, Vt., selected Itron’s smart grid solution to
efficiently and reliably manage its electric grid. BED is serving approximately
16,000 residential customers and more than 3,600 commercial customers.