i2O, the smart water network company, has announced that it has doubled its manufacturing capacity by creating a new state-of-the-art technology assembly facility in Woolston, Southampton, close to its UK headquarters.

The new 2,300 square foot facility will be used to assemble the data loggers required by water utilities to understand and gain insight from points of interest on their distribution networks, and the controllers which enable them to regulate flow and pressure of water in their networks. The facility will be staffed by six full time employees initially and is capable of producing almost 20,000 units a year.

Joel Hagan, Chief Executive Officer of i2O, commented:

“Water companies around the world are making their networks smarter, seeking to avoid or delay the huge capital investment that new supply and pipe replacement require, in order to meet the supply and customer service challenges associated with rapid population growth, urbanisation and more frequent extreme weather events.”

“By doubling the size of our manufacturing facility and investing in state-of-the-art assembly lines we have created the capacity required to meet growing demand for smart water networks as well as the ability to make products that conform to i2O’s quality standards. Quality is key because water companies need to be able to rely on the long-term accuracy of data which generates actionable insight.”

The company, which was founded in 2005, is headquartered in the UK and has offices in Malaysia, Spain and Colombia. i2O’s smart water network technologies are already used by more than 100 utilities around the world to reduce leakage, burst frequency, energy use, operational costs and customer complaints.

They include oNet, technologies providing water utilities with the ability to monitor and manage the pressure and flow of water across their networks, and dNet, a system of low-cost loggers to gather detailed data relating to water demand, flow, pressure, asset condition and transients from a wide variety of points of interest on the network.

Caroline Nokes MP, whose Romsey and Southampton North constituency is home to i2O’s UK headquarters and who opened the new facility commented:

“i2O is a shining example of how cutting-edge technologies developed in the UK are being exported around the world, creating growth and opportunities. There is huge potential for i2O to help water companies here in the UK and around the world to deal with the major challenges they face and I am delighted that it has chosen to open its new technology assembly facility here in Southampton.”