February 2017 - The Minol-ZENNER Group has acquired a stake in SmartMakers GmbH. The young Karlsruhe-based company specializes in consulting, development and implementation of network and application solutions for the Internet of Things ( IoT). The Minol-ZENNER Group is thus further expanding its strategic partnerships in the IoT sector. It was only in January that the measuring device manufacturer and energy service provider acquired a stake in the Swiss start-up TrackNet, which also develops IoT-based solutions. "We have the clear goal of becoming one of the leading providers of IoT-based products and services. With our second investment in a short space of time, we are forging important alliances in order to make the best possible use of future technology and develop smart solutions for our customers," emphasizes Alexander Lehmann, Managing Director of the Minol-ZENNER Group. "We got to know each other as part of a municipal IoT project. This gave rise to the desire on both sides to work together intensively over the long term. We are delighted that we have now laid the foundations for this," says SmartMakers Managing Director Robert Koning.
SmartMakers was founded in 2016. The Karlsruhe-based company builds individual IoT networks for municipal utilities, cities and energy suppliers and offers the software platform for professional data management and suitable applications. Like Minol-ZENNER and TrackNet, SmartMakers relies on the wireless LPWAN network ("Low Power Wide Area Network") and the open transmission standard LoRa ("Long Range"). The particular advantage of this technology lies in the fast and energy-saving remote reading of sensors and measuring devices over long distances. The transmission standard is therefore optimally tailored to the requirements of cities, municipal utilities, energy suppliers and metering service providers. The existing product and solution portfolios of the partner companies complement each other perfectly. In future, Minol-ZENNER and SmartMakers will jointly develop new IoT solutions and add digital products and services. In this way, customers will benefit from the holistic IoT consulting expertise.
Measurement technology manufacturer ZENNER began adding smart IoT consumption meters to its product portfolio around a year ago. This provides the basis for integration into the Internet of Things. Further modules and solutions are planned, including for smart cities, which will include all important components such as sensors, gateways and corresponding network control software through to specific applications. In future, sister company Minol will add further IoT-based services to its range of suitable metering and billing services. Together with its partner companies, the group intends to offer all devices, software and services from a single source.
Minol-ZENNER and SmartMakers will be exhibiting together at the E-world energy & water 2017 trade fair in Essen: Stand 6-518 in Hall 6.
