Fleet Management and Meter Monitoring Emerge as Key M2M Applications in Asia

Fleet Management

Dario Betti, Innovation Manager at Indonesian mobile operator XL, said M2M is already powering fleet management solutions in the country -- including navigation, ID management, geo-fencing, route tracking, alarms, and remote immobilisation.

Sunzay Passari, Executive Vice President, VAS & Devices at Essar Telecom Business Group, addressed some of his mobile operator’s M2M initiatives as well. “There is oil pilferage in tanker fleets in India. We use SIM-embedded sensors on tanker lids and taps to detect unusual usage patterns and trigger alarms,” he said.

Telematics is the most promising M2M segment for Essar (which operates in India and Africa). 16,000 vehicles of a radio taxi operator in Mumbai have also been fitted with M2M devices and services from Essar.

Fleet management applications are emerging in Bangladesh on the M2M front, said K. M. Tariquzzaman, Deputy Director for Technology at GrameenPhone. GrameenPhone (a joint venture of Telenor and Grameen Telecom) has 34 million subscribers and is the first GSM+EDGE network in Bangaldesh.

Vehicle monitoring applications of M2M are also promising. Abraham Joseph, founder of M2M Insights, shared a number of case studies, such as Nissan LEAF owners checking their car battery status via mobile phones thanks to a Telenor M2M service. Viper SmartStart (from DirectedElectronics) lets users track their car via smartphones.

Meter Monitoring

“We get the most M2M revenue from automated metering services. For instance, we offer M2M services to Coke for monitoring its vending machines,” said Betti of Indonesian’s operator XL. But standardisation challenges hold back full M2M device management, eg. digital meters for utilities and GPS receivers in vehicles.

“M2M can revolutionise enterprise productivity, reduce costs, and add new value to consumer apps. M2M can help Indonesia leapfrog its IT and infrastructure gap,” Betti predicted.

Anil Prakash, Secretary General of the ITU-APT Foundation of India, also urged that more attention be paid to energy monitoring and usage using mobile devices. The mobile operators themselves should be using M2M to keep energy costs down; countries like India are witnessing huge increases in diesel usage by mobile operators for powering their transmission towers.

M2M Success Factors

“Successful device management for enhanced customer experience is a science as well as an art for operators,” said GrameenPhone’s Tariquzzaman. Operators needs advanced strategies for mobile application management and remote device diagnostics.

A panel of M2M experts also concluded that a glossary is needed on the definition of devices, assets, modules and objects in the M2M world. Mobile operators will need to learn from the innovation, investment and alliance strategies of companies such as Apple and Google, who have entered the industry from the outside and set major trends.

Major M2M trends to watch include worldwide adoption of LTE. The LTE Working Groups Program includes a focus on M2M, but more work is needed on toolkits, standards and application developers, said Robert Waaler, Official Representative of the SIM Alliance and product marketing director at Giesecke and Devrient.

“Monitoring millions of machines is tough; monitoring millions of machines in motion is even tougher. It requires scale, security and trust. Furthermore, M2M cross-border transfer of data will raise regulatory challenges in future, especially in sectors like health and automotive,” predicted Waaler.

“India will become a key player in LTE adoption and a wave of M2M innovations and deployments will emerge, especially in urban centres,” Waller added.

Based on my research from my “Asia-Pacific Internet Handbook” series and the MobileMonday innovation projects, I explained the typical structure for M2M services launched by mobile operators. The services usually involve a partnership between the operator, a device specialist, domain experts, and enterprise CEOs/CIOs.

A successful M2M partnership will begin with research and sense-making, followed by scoping and rollouts. Knowledge management and analytics will be needed to extract value from the application experience, and clear attention will need to be paid to intellectual property ownership, business model innovation and government regulations.

I have developed a useful framework for analysing M2M ecosystems, called the “8 Cs” framework: connectivity (devices), content (sensor information), community (of M2M experts), culture (organisational attitude towards innovation), capacity (technical and design skills), cooperation (between industry players), commerce (payment features of M2M services) and capital (budgeting and RoI).

In sum, the conference revealed a wealth of facets of M2M and the major role of Asia, which will no doubt be further expanded upon at upcoming events such as SIMposium in Malaysia and M2M World Congress in China.

Numerex Reports Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results

• Increased subscriptions by 23% to 1,266,000 at the end of the second quarter of 2011, compared to 1,027,000 recorded at the end of the second quarter of 2010.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the Company added 42,000 net subscriptions, as compared to 50,000 net subscriptions added in the second quarter of 2010.

• Reported M2M revenues of $14.2 million in the second quarter of 2011, compared to $14.4 million in the second quarter of 2010.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the Company reported M2M service revenues of $9.4 million and M2M hardware revenues of $4.7 million compared to $8.1 million in service revenues and $6.3 million in hardware revenues, respectively, during the same period in 2010.

• Consolidated gross margin for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was 43.8% compared to 43.0% during the same period in 2010.

• GAAP net earnings for three and six months ended June 30, 2011 were $340,000 and $570,000 respectively compared to $387,000 and $356,000 for the same periods in 2010.

• Numerex ended the second quarter of 2011 with cash and cash equivalents of $10.5 million compared to $4.1 million at the end of the first quarter of 2011.  The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to the drawdown of $6.0 million from our credit facility as well as positive cash flow from operations.

The Company's Operational Highlights include:

• Announced it is a member of two gold Value Chain Award winning teams recognized during the recent Connected World Conference sponsored by Connected World magazine.  The company won awards in both the Hospitality and Supply Chain and Logistics categories.

• Opened its London office and announced a collaboration with Arkessa Limited, a UK-based M2M wireless service provider to foster Numerex's advance in the European M2M market.

• Announced that the Company's GSM communicators for commercial burglary and fire applications have received Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Listing.

• Continued to actively participate in M2M standards-related activity with major standardization organizations from around the world.

Mr. Nicolaides continued, "While we achieved strong growth in subscriptions from our M2M Business Solutions and Residential and Commercial Security businesses, the combination of a continuing lag in economically sensitive markets, such as sub-prime vehicle tracking and real estate, extended trials of our broadband customers' home automation and security products, and our focus on higher-value vertical markets has lead to a slower growth rate in our subscriptions.  As a result, we are lowering our annual subscription growth guidance to a range of 20% to 25%.  We are re-affirming our previously issued guidance that M2M service revenue will grow in the range of 18% to 23% for 2011."

About Numerex
Numerex Corp is a leading provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) business services, technology, and products used in the development and support of M2M solutions for the enterprise and government markets worldwide. The Company offers Numerex DNA® that includes hardware and smart Devices, cellular and satellite Network services, and software Applications that are delivered through Numerex FAST® (Foundation Application Software Technology). Customers typically subscribe to device management, network, and application services through hosted platforms. Business services enable the development of efficient, reliable, and secure solutions while simplifying and speeding up deployment through streamlined processes and comprehensive integration services. Numerex is ISO 27001 information security-certified. "Machines Trust Us®" represents the Company's focus on M2M data security, service reliability, and round-the-clock support of its customers' M2M solutions.

Source: Numerex

Numerex Schedules Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results Conference Call

Dial in information for the conference call is as follows:

Domestic USA & Canada: (877) 551-8082
International: (904) 520-5770

A live webcast of the call will be available via Numerex's web site at http://www.numerex.com under the Investor Relations section.

A recorded replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the end of the call on the Numerex web site or by dialing the replay numbers below:

Domestic USA & Canada: (888) 284-7564
International: (904) 596-3174
Please use pass code: 2674111

About Numerex
Numerex Corp is a leading provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) business services, technology, and products used in the development and support of M2M solutions for the enterprise and government markets worldwide. The Company offers Numerex DNA® that includes hardware and smart Devices, cellular and satellite Network services, and software Applications that are delivered through Numerex FAST® (Foundation Application Software Technology). Customers typically subscribe to device management, network, and application services through hosted platforms. Business services enable the development of efficient, reliable, and secure solutions while simplifying and speeding up deployment through streamlined processes and comprehensive integration services. Numerex is ISO 27001 information security-certified. "Machines Trust Us®" represents the Company's focus on M2M data security, service reliability, and round-the-clock support of its customers' M2M solutions.

Source: Numerex

LogMeIn Acquires Pachube

"We believe the volume of devices coming online and the amount of data they will generate will dwarf the Internet as we know it today," said Michael Simon, CEO of LogMeIn. "This investment extends our Gravity platform for scalable, secure connectivity and storage into the universe of smart and embedded devices and the complex systems that the Internet of Things makes possible. The Pachube team has a deep understanding of the technical challenges and opportunities that this phenomenon represents, and we believe they've built a service that will change the way people interact with their devices, their environment and each other."

"We are very excited to join LogMeIn, an ideal partner for Pachube. Together, we are in a strong position to bring our shared vision for the Internet of Things to fruition," said Pachube's founder, Usman Haque. "We believe uniting the Pachube and LogMeIn teams, who have an expertise in building both large-scale user communities and the secure platforms to support them, will accelerate the growth of Pachube's global community, introduce Pachube to new people and markets and enable companies to develop products that leverage our service. LogMeIn understands Pachube's mission and brings the resources, knowledge and experience that will help us deliver our goal of providing the world's leading open, interoperable platform for the Internet of Things."

Under the terms of the transaction, LogMeIn acquired Pachube for approximately $15 million in cash, a portion of which is performance and retention based and is expected to be paid over time.  In addition to the amortization of the acquisition cost, LogMeIn will absorb approximately $1 million per quarter in ongoing operating costs related to the operation of the Pachube business.

About LogMeIn, Inc.
LogMeIn provides cloud-based remote access, support and collaboration solutions to quickly, simply and securely connect millions of internet-enabled devices across the globe — computers, smartphones, iPad™ and Android™ tablets, and digital displays. Designed for consumers, mobile professionals and IT organizations, LogMeIn's solutions empower nearly 12 million users to connect more than 100 million devices. LogMeIn is based in Woburn, Massachusetts, USA, with offices in Australia, Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands, and the UK.

About Pachube
Pachube is a web-based service connecting people, devices and the Internet of Things. By making it simple to publish, discover and utilize data from any device or sensor connected to the Internet, Pachube is making the Internet of Things accessible to its growing community of users including people, developers and businesses. Built to manage the world's real-time sensor and environment data, Pachube gives people the power to share, collaborate and make use of information generated from the world around them.

LogMeIn is a registered trademark of LogMeIn in the U.S. and other countries. iPad is a trademark of Apple, Inc., and Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries around the world.

Source: LogMeIn

Quake Global and BIGmate Monitoring Services Announce New Integrated M2M Modem and Software Asset Tracking and Monitoring Solution

Designed for fixed and mobile use, the Q4000 and Q-Pro modems provide cost-effective global M2M communications with land, marine or aviation based assets and equipment such as heavy machinery, fleets, ships and containers. Though small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, these modems are rugged, power efficient and capable of communicating across any satellite or terrestrial network, an industry first. The QUAKE designs are also highly customizable. In addition to multiple network configurations and optional GPS to serve a variety of markets and price points, options include CAN bus, memory, antenna detection, and multiple analog and digital inputs/outputs and relays.

If it can be measured, QUAKE can capture it. BIGmate’s servers process the raw data and then transform and deliver valuable information to the customer via its secure web portal. BIGmate’s user friendly, intuitive web based service provides full asset audit trails of all activity, both live and historical. Highly structured information such as asset location, condition monitoring, engine hours, and driver safety and behavior monitoring enable customers to better optimize asset utilization, safety and productivity.

“QUAKE is excited to bring BIGmate’s highly sophisticated solution to our customers,” said QUAKE CEO Polina Braunstein. “BIGmate has developed a simplified, robust interface and service that will benefit users with unrivaled worldwide asset monitoring capabilities anywhere, anytime.”

“This partnership provides QUAKE and BIGmate customers with an unprecedented level of performance, usability and value,” said BIGmate CEO Andre Wessels. “QUAKE’s track record of providing highly durable and functional hardware is a perfect complement to our service and will make a difference for customers that require reliable communications in harsh and severe environments.”

About QUAKE
QUAKE manufactures industrial M2M modems and controllers for advanced asset monitoring, data acquisition, and machine, process and motion control through satellite, cellular, GPS and other technologies. QUAKE is the only manufacturer of truly network agnostic modems. QUAKE products serve companies in the heavy equipment, aviation, maritime and trucking industries, as well as in utility, oil & gas and rail applications. QUAKE is proud of its world-wide reputation for providing reliable, rugged, high-quality communicators to major international OEMs like CATERPILLAR, FARIA, FLEET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, HITACHI, HYUNDAI, KOMATSU and VOLVO.

About BIGmate
BIGmate specializes in providing tracking and monitoring solutions to suppliers, owners and operators of mobile and fixed assets. BIGmate offers a variety of solutions ranging from simple location tracking to more comprehensive condition monitoring of many parameters. Various cutting-edge hardware and communications technologies are seamlessly integrated into a universal true web based service, designed to enable customers to significantly improve on safety, efficiency and productivity of their equipment fleets and operators. BIGmate is proud to partner with distributors and leading-edge companies such as QUAKE, Iridium and ORBCOMM to provide integrated solutions that differentiate our customers from the pack.

Quake Global and BIGmate Monitoring Services Announce New Integrated M2M Modem and Software Asset Tracking and Monitoring Solution

Designed for fixed and mobile use, the Q4000 and Q-Pro modems provide cost-effective global M2M communications with land, marine or aviation based assets and equipment such as heavy machinery, fleets, ships and containers. Though small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, these modems are rugged, power efficient and capable of communicating across any satellite or terrestrial network, an industry first. The QUAKE designs are also highly customizable. In addition to multiple network configurations and optional GPS to serve a variety of markets and price points, options include CAN bus, memory, antenna detection, and multiple analog and digital inputs/outputs and relays.

If it can be measured, QUAKE can capture it. BIGmate’s servers process the raw data and then transform and deliver valuable information to the customer via its secure web portal. BIGmate’s user friendly, intuitive web based service provides full asset audit trails of all activity, both live and historical. Highly structured information such as asset location, condition monitoring, engine hours, and driver safety and behavior monitoring enable customers to better optimize asset utilization, safety and productivity.

“QUAKE is excited to bring BIGmate’s highly sophisticated solution to our customers,” said QUAKE CEO Polina Braunstein. “BIGmate has developed a simplified, robust interface and service that will benefit users with unrivaled worldwide asset monitoring capabilities anywhere, anytime.”

“This partnership provides QUAKE and BIGmate customers with an unprecedented level of performance, usability and value,” said BIGmate CEO Andre Wessels. “QUAKE’s track record of providing highly durable and functional hardware is a perfect complement to our service and will make a difference for customers that require reliable communications in harsh and severe environments.”

About QUAKE
QUAKE manufactures industrial M2M modems and controllers for advanced asset monitoring, data acquisition, and machine, process and motion control through satellite, cellular, GPS and other technologies. QUAKE is the only manufacturer of truly network agnostic modems. QUAKE products serve companies in the heavy equipment, aviation, maritime and trucking industries, as well as in utility, oil & gas and rail applications. QUAKE is proud of its world-wide reputation for providing reliable, rugged, high-quality communicators to major international OEMs like CATERPILLAR, FARIA, FLEET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, HITACHI, HYUNDAI, KOMATSU and VOLVO.

About BIGmate
BIGmate specializes in providing tracking and monitoring solutions to suppliers, owners and operators of mobile and fixed assets. BIGmate offers a variety of solutions ranging from simple location tracking to more comprehensive condition monitoring of many parameters. Various cutting-edge hardware and communications technologies are seamlessly integrated into a universal true web based service, designed to enable customers to significantly improve on safety, efficiency and productivity of their equipment fleets and operators. BIGmate is proud to partner with distributors and leading-edge companies such as QUAKE, Iridium and ORBCOMM to provide integrated solutions that differentiate our customers from the pack.

Telenor Connexion enables Stepac real time wireless monitoring of “what’s cool” all over the world

The Xsense solution works in real-time mode, providing vital information about produce quality from inside the carton or package. It contains temperature and relative humidity sensors, which collect and transfer data by wireless communication to a communication unit (CU) via standard mobile and/or LAN networks. Data is available in real time throughout the shipment and alerts can be sent via SMS or email. GPS tracking lets you view the geographic progress of the shipment as well.

"The partnership of Xsense and Telenor Connexion highlights a growing trend of wireless innovations occuring in business and life critical solutions. Everyday, billions of dollars of temperature-sensitive goods are transported from one location to another. By using wireless connectivity it is now possible to seamlessly monitor the entire cold chain from end-to-end in real time, thus providing an accurate picture of the treatment of goods in transit and enabling true asset management," says Gwenn Larsson, CMO at Telenor Connexion.

“To wirelessly monitor the temperature of shipments as they travel along the cold chain - and the world - has a large impact not only on the quality of the produce, but also on the financial success of our customers. The return on investment of cold chains depends mainly on the reduction of food waste. However, improved efficiency such as implementing First Expired First Out (FEFO) management, can potentially also save millions of dollars annually”, says Udi Aviran, Commercial Manager at Stepac.

The Xsense solution has been purchased, in the fresh produce and the meat industry, by more than 200 customers all over the globe.

About Stepac and Xsense®
In the fresh produce industry since 1995, our global sales and support teams have gained intimate knowledge of cold chain logistics. Through the development and marketing of  our Xtend®modified atmosphere/modified humidity packaging for the fresh produce industry, we identified an unmet need for real time monitoring of temperature and relative humidity from inside produce cartons.
To meet this challenge, we developed a new concept in cold chain monitoring: Xsense™, a comprehensive program that enables cold chain stake holders to make critical decisions about their perishable products in real time. Xsense monitors the quality of perishable items, as dictated by temperature and humidity, during all stages of the cold chain—from palletization in the packing house to arrival at retail outlets.
StePac LA Ltd. is a part of DS Smith Plastics, a division of DS Smith Plc.

About Telenor Connexion
Telenor Connexion is the leading provider of premium M2M solutions for business and life critical applications, regardless of the vertical market. Building on more than 10 years of M2M experience, Telenor Connexion provides customers with tools that allow for full control of status, location and performance of their connected devices.

Telenor Connexion has provided reliable, international M2M solutions to a number of global customers such as Volvo, Nissan, Daimler, TomTom, Omron, Scania, Qualcomm Enterprise Services, Hitachi and Securitas.

The company was established in 2008 and originates from the successful M2M business within Telenor Sweden. With headquarter in Stockholm, tech center in Karlskrona and regional offices in London, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, Telenor Connexion has a global presence serving customers around the world.
Telenor Connexion is wholly owned by Telenor Group, one of the world’s major mobile operators.

Source: Telenor Connexion

OnAsset Intelligence and Flemming Cargo Securement Partner to Mitigate Risk in the Supply Chain

OnAsset’s SENTRY technology senses the temperature; pressure; humidity; light; motion; speed; shock and vibration of any asset transported via truck, plane, rail, or intermodal freight. SENTRY is used by many of the world’s largest airlines and freight forwarders to track the whereabouts and environmental conditions of their cargo.

FCS provides 24x7 monitoring services for the OnAsset tracking devices, and other services such as security evaluations, covert shadowing of cargo in high-theft areas, reverse logistics, and multi-phased recovery plans in the event of a theft. FCS maintains a network of 189,000 law enforcement contacts throughout North America and provides the immediate capability to dispatch these contacts in case of emergency.

The combination of OnAsset and FCS produces a turnkey solution that takes the worries out of transporting high-value cargo across the supply chain.

“FCS is an expert at interpreting the SENTRY data, and turning it into actionable intelligence,” said OnAsset’s President and CEO Adam Crossno. “With more than 20 years of experience in the trucking industry, and a robust database of law enforcement contacts, FCS’ services provide a perfect complement to our asset tracking technology.”

“OnAsset’s technology has helped us identify and prevent dozens of heists, which have saved our clients millions of dollars this year alone,” said Ray Flemming, CEO of Flemming Cargo Securement. “Given the unprecedented rise in cargo theft on our nation’s highways, any company that ships high-value goods should consider deploying a solution like ours, to enhance their visibility, and provide the capabilities needed to stop theft in their supply chain.”

About FCS
Flemming Cargo Securement provides monitoring and recovery services for high-value load shipments and offers immediate capability to dispatch police and security officers in case of emergency. The FCS team is comprised of a group of professionals in all aspects of risk, cargo loss prevention, and security in the trucking industry. With contacts available domestically and internationally, the FCS team assists to recover loads in real-time theft situations as well as post recovery, investigations, and provides claims and insurance consulting services.

About OnAsset Intelligence
OnAsset Intelligence Inc. is a leading provider of wireless devices and software solutions focused on helping customers wirelessly locate, track, connect, and manage fixed and mobile assets in real-time. The company’s M2M products and services include SENTRY™ wireless hardware with its flagship product line FlightSafe™ for air cargo tracking and ContainerSafe™ for shipping container security, its web-based Vision Platform™ and global wireless connectivity services. OnAsset is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

Hirschbach Motor Lines Inc. Selects StarTrak’s ReeferTrak® Sentry Management System for its Entire Fleet

The deployment of more than 800 systems are expected to be fielded over the next 100 days will include valuable applications like Tractor ID, advanced Fuel Monitoring, and Geo-Fencing, all fully integrated to Hirschbach’s dispatch system. When the Sentry management system is fully deployed Hirschbach will have one of the most sophisticated two-way monitored and controlled reefer fleets in North America.

“Hirschbach Motor Lines is a dynamic and innovative company and we are excited to welcome them as a customer. We will be working with the Hirschbach team to deploy innovative cost saving applications as well as enhanced assessorial control functions,” said David Gsell, General Manager of StarTrak.

“StarTrak’s ReeferTrak® Sentry platform, supporting network and integration gateway products are industry leading and will help us meet the challenges ahead,” said Brad Pinchuk, President, Hirschbach Motor Lines Inc. “The two-way communication capabilities when fully integrated to our dispatch systems will give us greater control, helping us manage our fuel costs and our assets in the field. This will ultimately allow us to provide greater service to our customers.”

About ORBCOMM Inc.
ORBCOMM is a leading global satellite data communications company, focused on Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. Its customers include Caterpillar Inc., Doosan Infracore America, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Asset Intelligence a division of I.D. Systems, Inc., Komatsu Ltd., Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc., and Volvo Construction Equipment among other industry leaders. By means of a global network of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and accompanying ground infrastructure, ORBCOMM’s low-cost and reliable two-way data communication services track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets in four core markets: commercial transportation; heavy equipment; industrial fixed assets; and marine/homeland security. ORBCOMM based products are installed on trucks, containers, marine vessels, locomotives, backhoes, pipelines, oil wells, utility meters, storage tanks and other assets. ORBCOMM is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey and has its network control center in Dulles, Virginia.

About StarTrak Information Technologies, LLC
StarTrak is an innovator and leading provider of tracking, monitoring and control services for the refrigerated transport market. Under its ReeferTrak® and GenTrakTM brands, the company provides customers with the ability to proactively monitor, manage and remotely control their refrigerated transport assets. Their information services also help industry leaders realize better fleet efficiency and utilization while reducing risk by adding safety monitoring of perishable cargo. In addition to relationships with leading refrigerated unit manufacturers such as Carrier and Thermo King, StarTrak’s customers include well-known brands such as Tropicana, Maersk Line, Prime Inc, CR England, FFE Transport, Inc. and Exel Transportation.

About Hirschbach Motor Lines Inc.
Hirschbach Motor Lines Inc., is a refrigerated carrier holding both common and contract carrier authority. The primary market areas extend from the upper Midwest to/from the Southeast, Southwest and the West Coast.

Hirschbach’s reputation for personal service has accelerated the company’s growth. Manufacturers and producers, who once relied exclusively on rail transportation, recognized Hirschbach’s uncommon ability to provide for their specialized needs both economically and on time.

That uncommon ability became the Hirschbach trademark and foundation.

Source: Orbcomm

ORBCOMM-Enabled Solution by Novus for Inventory Management Receives AFIA IT Innovation Award

12 uly  2011 - ORBCOMM Inc., a global satellite data communications company focused on two-way Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications, today announced that Novus International, Inc. (Novus), a global leader in animal nutrition and health, has received the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA) first-ever Information Technology (IT) Innovation Award for their bulk liquid inventory management solution enabled by ORBCOMM’s satellite network.

Based in metropolitan St. Louis, MO, Novus pioneered a vendor-managed inventory for bulk liquid feed ingredients with the introduction of a patented, automated remote monitoring system known as AIMS® in 1993. In 2009-10, Novus upgraded the AIMS infrastructure by incorporating ORBCOMM’s robust satellite communications network with Novus’s enhanced remote monitoring technology to improve inventory management throughout the bulk liquid supply chain. The new platform is Internet-based and provides precise, dependable and near real-time inventory readings for any customer 24/7, and has been implemented at over 500 locations across North America.

“We congratulate Novus for receiving this national award in recognition of their vision and innovation in technology development,” said Marc Eisenberg, Chief Executive Officer of ORBCOMM. “We are pleased to play a role in enabling Novus’s customer inventory management system by integrating our satellite communications network with their leading-edge remote monitoring technology to provide a solution that improves the efficiency and performance of their bulk liquid supply chain.”

“Our AIMS® system along with the inclusion of ORBCOMM’s satellite network have improved the reliability of our entire supply chain operation and upgraded the telemetry system to a sustainable technology platform,” said Thad Simons, Chief Executive Officer of Novus International, Inc. “Our partnership with ORBCOMM and the resulting improvements in these areas have helped Novus attract new customers, retain existing customers and yield measurable improvements to our liquid feed business operations. This system also embodies our concept of Innovation Through Integrity –a key theme of our company’s 20th anniversary celebration this year.”

About ORBCOMM Inc.
ORBCOMM is a leading global satellite data communications company, focused on Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. Its customers include Caterpillar Inc., Doosan Infracore America, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Asset Intelligence a division of I.D. Systems, Inc., Komatsu Ltd., Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc., and Volvo Construction Equipment among other industry leaders. By means of a global network of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and accompanying ground infrastructure, ORBCOMM’s low-cost and reliable two-way data communication services track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets in four core markets: commercial transportation; heavy equipment; industrial fixed assets; and marine/homeland security. ORBCOMM-based products are installed on trucks, containers, marine vessels, locomotives, backhoes, pipelines, oil wells, utility meters, storage tanks and other assets. ORBCOMM is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey and has its network control center in Dulles, Virginia.

About Novus International, Inc.
Novus International, Inc. is headquartered in metropolitan St. Louis, MO, and serves customers in more than 90 countries around the world. An industry leader in animal nutrition and health, Novus’s products include ALIMET® and MHA® feed supplements, ACTIVATE® nutritional feed acid, ACIDOMIX® preservative premix, CIBENZA™ feed additive, MINTREX® and MAAC® chelated trace minerals, SANTOQUIN® feed preservative, MERA™MET aquaculture feed additive, AGRADO® feed ingredient, and many other specialty ingredients. Arenus is a division of Novus Nutrition Brands, LLC (a subsidiary of Novus International, Inc.), that focuses on developing health and dietary supplements for the equine and companion animal markets. STRATUM® Nutrition, a division of Novus Nutrition Brands, LLC, focuses on human nutrition through specialty and functional ingredients for manufacturers of foods, beverages and dietary supplements.

Novus is privately owned by Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc. and Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.

Source: Businesstwire