Business
Wi-Fi controller acquisition
Major investment in Internet of things
Hunter Industries recently announced the acquisition of Hydrawise, a manufacturer of Wi- Fi based irrigation controllers and web-based software. This acquisition marks a significant step by Hunter into the internet of things space for control, management and optimization of residential and commercial landscape irrigation.
Many new and exciting products will evolve from this strategic move, bringing simplicity to irrigation control and information on water savings impact. We believe this an important step as we continue to evolve our products to meet the growing need for water management and resource conservation. This acquisition allows Hunter to enter the Wi-Fi enabled controller market with its new HC irrigation controller. The HC offers contractors internet accessibility enabling them to efficiently manage all of their sites from anywhere they are connected. |
Easy way to operate system
“ We’ re excited about bringing this technology to professionals and end users around the world. This fills an important niche and helps our contractor customers efficiently manage all their sites remotely. It also allows their customer, the homeowner, an easy way to operate their own system,” said Greg Hunter, president of Hunter Industries.
The HC Controller offers easy configuration using a standard web browser or smart device
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app. All that’ s needed is a wireless password. With the HC Controller, users can select a local weather station and set watering triggers for predictive watering |
adjustments. These adjustments offer significant water savings since they are made based on the local weather conditions. |
Commercial pool sector expansion With fountain manufacturer acquisition
Barcelona’ s Montjuïc fountains and the installations at the Puerto Venecia shopping resort( Zaragoza), in addition to numerous international projects in cities such as Moscow, Jakarta, Sochi and Baku, where the company installed the world’ s third tallest geyser-type fountain, lifting water to a height of 140 metres.
Extensive
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Fluidra has this year acquired Somhidros, Spain’ s leading fountain manufacturer.
The operation, worth approximately 1 million euros, forms part, say Fluidra of its strategy to expand in the commercial pool sector,“ within the framework of its 2018 Strategic Plan, and will allow Fluidra to take advantage of the firm’ s stock,
SABI | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2016
machinery and know-how.”
Founded in 1997, Somhidros is a company based in Mataró( Barcelona) with longstanding experience in the design, technolo ¬ gical development and installation of ornamental fountains, water features and artificial lakes and ponds, amongst others.
Recycling
With a clear focus on sustainable innovation, the company’ s projects offer low power consumption, as well as the complete recycling of the water used.
Amongst Somhidros’ latest creations, it is worth highlighting the complete renovation of
Fluidra has extensive experience in the world of fountains and has worked alongside Somhidros as a strategic partner on many of its projects, such as a number of shopping malls in Russia, for example.
The acquisition of Somhidros’ s ornamental fountain business is an operation that falls within the framework of Fluidra’ s recently presented 2018 Strategic Plan in which Fluidra anticipates a turnover of 750 million euros as a result of this ambitious growth