Meter&Control Developing Products for Smart Energy Management – First in Serbia with IDIS Certificate

Meter&Control is a member of the Science-Technology Park Belgrade (STP Belgrade) which produces state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions for smart energy management in industrial and residential environments.

As Vladan Lapcevic, the company's CEO, says for eKapija, all the participants in the energy chain in Serbia recognize the importance of smart metering as the key infrastructure for economic and sustainable business operations:

– State companies even have adopted strategies and technical specification matching those in Europe. The implementation of infrastructure is slower than the producers of metering devices might want and industrial and commercial users, as big consumers, are the priority. There is no doubt that the entire system should also cover households, enabling them to monitor and adjust their own consumption, helping them become “greener”.

All devices and solutions result of local knowledge and expertise

The company was founded in 2008, and its portfolio features products such as: integrated and modular smart electricity metering devices, data concentrators and gateways, communication and switch modules, as well as AMM/AMI software for remote and local reading of metering devices, setting parameters and managing the consumption of commercial and industrial users and households.


First company in Serbia to get IDIS certificate

Meter&Control is the first company in Serbia to get the IDIS certificate. As our interviewee explains, the systems for smart energy management are very complex and consist of various devices, software and protocols.

– In order for such complex and heterogeneous systems to function at all, a mutual language of communication needs to be established between various components and producers. It's called interoperability. IDIS is the leading interoperability standard in our industry, jointly defined by the four largest smart metering companies. Meter&Control is not only the first company in Serbia, but also the first producer in the world, after said four companies, to be able to qualify for the IDIS certificates. Owning these certificates guarantees that our devices will integrate into the existing systems and networks based on this standard and is without any doubt an important comparative advantage in the market – says Vladan Lapcevic.

Regarding their operations within STP Belgrade, eKapija's interviewee believes that it is a natural environment for the company, which is based on entrepreneurship and innovations.

– An important segment of Meter&Control is research and development, so we are able to establish not just a closer contact and cooperation with companies and startups from the ICT sector, but to also expand the integration of our technologies with related fields, such as Smart City and Smart Home. Furthermore, we are greatly focused on development of young talents and experts whom we can support, through cooperation, in their development from the initial idea to a successful company, which is the road we've gone down as well. What's most important is that we are open to new ideas – he adds.

Planning to make 2020 another record year when it comes to business results

Just like all other companies in Serbia and the world in 2020, Meter&Control is putting a lot of effort into adapting to the new health and business circumstances.

– The economy stimulus package of the Government of Serbia certainly played the key role in us being able to maintain liquidity during the slowdown period, when international flows of goods and money are sometimes even interrupted. Despite this, we have managed to maintain the production process and even double our production capacities. With the employment of 15 new colleagues, we have managed to fulfill our obligations toward buyers in the EU. Furthermore, we have even secured new orders in the international market. Our plan, despite the global situation, is for 2020 to be another record year when it comes to business results and we are working on making it so – says Vladan Lapcevic.



Energy sector aiming for ecological and sustainable goals

The company took part in the international consulting event on Zlatibor “Energy 2020”, at the panel “Challenges of Energy Transition in the Republic of Serbia”. Lapcevic says that the challenges that the energy sector is facing in the world are numerous and not easy at all and that Serbia is not an exception in that sense.

– On the other hand, the energy sector is also aiming for ecological and sustainable goals, formulated in the European Green Deal strategy, and which are not always possible from the technical aspect or fully justified. By taking part in the “Energy 2020” event, we reminded that the implementation of smart energy management in the energy system of the Republic of Serbia is an important factor of its transition regarding the planning of production and supply, reducing the losses and achieving sustainable consumption – says Vladan Lapcevic.

Aleksandra Kekic

Meter & Control d.o.o. Beograd

Naučno-tehnološki park Beograd

Meter and Control Belgrade

Meter and Control

Meter Control

STP Belgrade

Vladan Lapčević

smart energy management

smart metering

integrated smart metering devices for electricity

modular smart metering devices for electricity

smart metering devices

data concentrators

gateways

communication modules

switch modules

AMM software

AMI software

IDIS certificate

IDIS

interoperability

Smart City

Smart Home

international consulting event on Zlatibor

Energy 2020

energy transition

European Green Deal