# GWF AG - Full Knowledge Corpus > GWF AG is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer of measurement and control technology and digital platforms for water, gas, district heating, and electricity utilities, founded in 1899 and headquartered in Lucerne. The website is primarily in German; this corpus translates and consolidates source content for retrieval purposes. Original page URLs are preserved as canonical references. Product-level technical specifications including data sheets, MID approvals, OIML classes, communication protocols, and SKU-level pricing context are maintained in a separate catalogue at https://productfinder.gwf.ch/en/ which has its own llms.txt and llms-full.txt. ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/ # Innovative Solutions for Valuable Resources GWF provides measurement and control technology, digital platforms, and a services portfolio aimed at building a water-positive world powered by sustainable energy. The company has supported customers in modernizing water and energy infrastructure for over 125 years. ### Customer Segments GWF serves customers in the energy and water industries, building services, and industrial sites. The ten active customer segments are: water utilities, wastewater management, gas utilities, district heating, building services, electricity utilities, hydropower, irrigation, hydrology, and industry. ### Solution Portfolio Categories GWF distinguishes between three solution categories visible across the site: - Digital Solutions (Digitale Lösungen): UDRIVE, STREAM, REALSET, BALANCE, UNIMON, KOPR - Application Solutions (Anwendungslösungen): HYDRO^, H2 Ready, GASCARE, LoRaWAN, SYMBIOT HES, SYMBIOT SaaS - Product Solutions (Produktlösungen): SONICO NANO, SONICO EDGE, DUCTUS, Q-Eye Radar, Q-Eye PSC, FLUVIUS, KANALIS The full product-level catalogue including pulse generators, communication modules, large water meters (Meistream, Meitwin, WPV-MS), domestic submetering (UPZ series, M140 KOAX), heat and cooling meters, and OEM-distributed products is accessible through https://productfinder.gwf.ch/en/. ### Locations GWF maintains presence at nine sites with competence and technology centers plus sales and service hubs, supplemented by a worldwide network of distribution partners and system integrators. ### Key Figures - 350 employees worldwide - 150 patents - Active in over 50 countries - 9 locations ### Memberships and Partnerships Aqua European Association of Smart Meter Manufacturers, Swiss Water Partnership, German Water Partnership, AWS, UN Global Compact Switzerland and Liechtenstein, CEO Water Mandate, Switzerland Global Enterprise, Swissmem, OMS Group, LoRa Alliance. ### Corporate Information GWF AG, Obergrundstrasse 119, 6005 Lucerne, Switzerland. Founded 1899 as Gasmesserfabrik Luzern, Elster & Co. by Johannes Elster and Emil Haas. Currently led by the sixth generation of the owning family. ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/company/about-us/ # About GWF GWF is a Swiss family-owned business that ranks among the leading providers of measurement and control technology for the sustainable management of water, gas, electricity, heat, and cooling. Headquartered in Lucerne since 1899, GWF serves the Swiss market through nationwide sales advisors and international key accounts, with subsidiaries and a global partner network extending the technology worldwide. ### Facts and Figures - 350+ employees with diverse backgrounds and technical expertise - 9 locations including HQ in Lucerne, R&D center in Thessaloniki, and sales offices in seven additional countries and regions - Active in more than 50 countries through own representation and distribution partners - 10 customer segments served (utilities, industry, building services, infrastructure) - 150+ patented technologies from in-house R&D - 100% certified quality through continuous testing and audits ### What Defines GWF Family-owned long-term orientation, focus on water and energy, technology enthusiasm and innovation, partnerships and collaboration, integrity and responsibility, excellence as a standard. GWF positions itself as part of critical infrastructure for modern societies. ### Historical Milestones - 1899: Foundation as Gasmesserfabrik Luzern, Elster & Co. by Johannes Elster and Emil Haas, initially producing gas meters, gas lamps, and street lanterns - 1920s: Entry into water metering with the dry-runner Rigi and wet-runner Reuss models - 1930s: Company renamed Gas- & Wassermesserfabrik A.G., Luzern, Elster & Co., the origin of today's GWF AG name - 1964: Major fire at the Lucerne production site; production resumed quickly - 1988: Production volume reaches 150,000 meters per year - 1997: Introduction of the patented GWFcoder technology enabling battery-free automatic meter readout - 2000s: First company in the water, gas, and heat metering industry to receive ISO 9001 certification; introduction of own radio modules for smart metering; rebrand to Swiss Smart Simple - 2010s: Expansion into electricity; MTKcoder, RCM module, 8-roller counter for Europe and North America - 2014: Transition to the sixth generation of the owning family - 2015 onwards: Expansion into ultrasonic and radar technologies; ATEX certification; setup of an R&D site in Thessaloniki, Greece - 2018: Integration of Hydrovision metering technologies, extending into wastewater, irrigation, hydrology, and hydropower - 2021: New sales subsidiaries in Bedford (UK) and Poznań (Poland); IHZ innovation award for SONICO EDGE - 2022: New sites in Vienna, Austria and Ocala, Florida, USA; Great Place to Work certification - 2025: Launch of SONICO NANO domestic water meter; acquisition of UNIMON (water quality) and GMT (gas pressure regulation and metering) ### Leadership - Florian Strasser - CEO and Chairman - Marc Sebald - Chief Operating Officer - Markus Neuhaus - Chief Sales Officer ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/company/innovation/ # Innovation at GWF GWF invests in new technologies, products, and business models and translates technology trends into market-ready solutions. Five innovation pillars are described publicly. ## SONICO NANO Domestic water meter based on GWF 4D Technology. - Network performance and reliability: Precision up to R2000 per MID, detects smallest leak flows and pipe bursts - Network efficiency and risk reduction: Pressure-loss reduction through free-flowing measurement channel design, water temperature monitoring, reverse-flow warnings - Network integration: Open API for direct integration into customer data management systems, dual mode for automatic fixed-network or drive-by integration - Flexible commissioning: INFINIO ecosystem and GWF LIFE app for secure key management and on-site network integration - Coverage: All meter sizes DN15 to DN40 - Longevity: Internal storage for up to 4000 data points, encrypted NFC and wireless interfaces, lead-free ECO brass housing without potting material, battery connected via plug for clean disposal separation - Lifetime: Up to 20 years through battery management and over-the-air software updates ## SONICO EDGE Ultrasonic flow meter for drinking, industrial, and service water. - Modular and robust mechanical design for demanding environmental conditions - Self-calibrating measurement technology prevents long-term drift - Buffer battery enables continued operation during power interruption - Measuring range from 5 l/h up to over 90 m³/h at DN50 - Installs U0/D0 without inlet or outlet straight runs - Communication via two hot-swappable NFC modules from: Pulse, 4-20 mA, Modbus RTU/ASCII, GWF proprietary ECO data interface - Bidirectional measurement with separate volume registers, certified - Automatic flow direction detection - Configuration via SONICO LIVE app or GWF Life mobile app over IR interface - Range: DN50 to DN300, flanged versions DIN, ANSI - Made in Switzerland with recyclable materials, no potting compound, no battery in core meter ## INFINIO Ecosystem Cloud-based digital ecosystem and central platform for measurement, operations, and service. Also referenced as Infin.io in the Product Finder software filter. Four modules: - PORTAL: Account management, user profiles, central data pool for measurement data, key handling - SERVICE: Tools for installation, commissioning, and maintenance of measurement assets; provides individual meter keys to field teams - CONNECT: Configuration of data flows to INSIGHT modules or external partner platforms - INSIGHTS: Analytics and visualization modules, individually unlockable. UDRIVE, STREAM, BALANCE, UNIMON, REALSET, and KOPR are positioned as INFINIO INSIGHT modules. ## GWF 4D Technology Ultrasonic signal processing methodology developed by GWF based on Time-Reverse-Acoustics. Signal structure works in slices to capture the entire flow channel. Proprietary correction algorithms based on physical flow profile replace conventional correction tables. Maximizes signal-to-noise ratio on the receiver side. Used in the SONICO meter family. Designed for service life over 20 years through straight cavity-free pipe design with dry transducers. ## SONICO Test Stands GWF operates two test stands in Lucerne: - LUZ21 for SONICO NANO - LUZ1 for SONICO EDGE Both are referenced as world-leading test installations for flow measurement. ## GWFcoder Technology Patented optoelectronic encoder system for mechanical water and gas meters, in commercial use for over 20 years. Operates without battery via optoelectronic readout at light speed, providing absolute mechanical counter readings and standardized interfaces. Used millions of times worldwide. Maintains backward compatibility while integrating into modern smart metering systems. Commercialized variants include GWFcoder MP and MTKcoder MP, applied to water and gas meters including the Meistream and Meitwin large meter lines. ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/udrive/ # UDRIVE - Mobile Meter Reading UDRIVE captures consumption data from water, gas, and heat meters via drive-by mobile reading and transfers the data directly into billing systems for transparent and reliable invoicing. UDRIVE is delivered as a module within the INFINIO cloud ecosystem. ### Key Features - Compatible with ERP billing systems: Direct integration into most common ERP billing systems used by Swiss municipalities - Cloud-based software following current data protection and data security standards - Secure key management: Individual meter keys provided centrally via the PORTAL account management platform - Import and export of reading tours through built-in converter - Migration path: Flexible meter reading via the STREAM insight module, both drive-by and fixed-network (e.g., LoRaWAN) - Modular: Part of the INFINIO ecosystem with the option to unlock additional modules over time ### Deployment Steps 1. Installation: Software activation and connection to the customer billing system interface 2. Training: On-site training by GWF field service 3. Reading: Customer personnel performs meter reading independently Product Manager: Aurélien Peix (Product Manager Platform and Software). ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/stream/ # STREAM - IoT Platform STREAM is GWF's IoT platform for capturing, analyzing, and visualizing water, gas, and heat data. It is the central solution for smart meters, supporting data transmission over LoRaWAN and NB-IoT for water and energy management. STREAM operates as a module within INFINIO INSIGHTS. ### Key Features - Automated data collection from smart meters and sensors over fixed communication networks - Central data platform with web portal, configurable data granularity, dashboards, historical analysis - Excel export to optimized templates and API integration for energy reports and cost analyses - Real-time anomaly detection, automated notifications, forecasting functions to complement existing control systems - Optional leak detection by cross-validating consumption and leakage data, complementing the BALANCE solution - Multi-media integration: Simultaneous capture and visualization of water, gas, and heat in shared dashboards, suited for combined utilities ### Deployment Steps 1. Analysis and consulting on communication network options (NB-IoT, LoRaWAN, etc.) with option for greenfield network design 2. Installation of communication infrastructure (e.g., LoRaWAN gateways), meter configuration, and data flow setup 3. Training on STREAM operation and creation of individual dashboards 4. Optional hybrid data acquisition: Drive-by reading via UDRIVE for meters in areas of incomplete fixed-network coverage Product Manager: Aurélien Peix. ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/balance/ # BALANCE - Non-Revenue Water Analytics BALANCE is a data-driven leakage analytics service that reduces network leakages by an average of 35 percent without large infrastructure replacement investments. Globally, 30 to 50 percent of treated water is lost in distribution networks; BALANCE addresses this through pressure and flow analytics over an eight-week implementation. ### Value Proposition - 35 percent average reduction in network leakage, lowering operating costs for water transport and treatment, with associated CO2 reductions - Low investment: Captures comprehensive data per district metered area (DMA) using one high-precision flow meter and two pressure sensors; existing sensors are integrated - Improved network: Optimized network pressure extends life of pipes, valves, and meters, reducing maintenance and breaks - Fast implementation: First insights within weeks, measurable volumetric benefits after about eight weeks - Better decisions: Data enables modeled, prioritized interventions per zone - Results independently verified by third parties ### Eight-Week Implementation Process 1. Project kickoff workshop with stakeholders (including fire department coordination), zone selection, measurement point definition, platform setup 2. Sensor installation: GWF service technicians install flow and pressure sensors and connectivity; 7 to 14 days of high-resolution data collection 3. N1 index determination: Analysis of normalized flow and pressure profiles to assess the pressure-to-leakage ratio 4. Pressure management implementation: Recommended pressure adjustments executed, existing or new pressure reducers tuned, ongoing monitoring of effects via the BALANCE platform Contact: Brynn Williams, Head of Solution Design Digital Products. ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/sonico-edge/ # SONICO EDGE - Ultrasonic Flow Meter SONICO EDGE provides ultrasonic flow measurement for drinking, industrial, and service water based on GWF 4D Technology. The modular product concept is flexible in mechanical design and communications. ### Technical Properties - GWF 4D Technology with Time-Reverse-Acoustics signal processing - Two communication modules can be combined and field-replaced over NFC: Pulse, 4-20 mA, Modbus RTU/ASCII, GWF ECO data interface - Measurement range from 5 l/h to over 90 m³/h at DN50 - Range coverage DN50 to DN300, flanged versions DIN and ANSI - U0/D0 installation: no straight inlet or outlet runs required - Automatic flow direction detection with separate volume registers for both directions, certified for bidirectional billing - Insensitive to low liquid conductivity due to ultrasonic principle - Internal data logger with automatic backup; NFC and IR interfaces end-to-end encrypted - Configuration via GWF Life mobile app over IR - Long-life design: sealed straight measurement channel, dry transducers, no potting compound, no primary battery in the core meter, recyclable materials, 20+ year design lifetime Contact: Sergio Thaddey, Head of Product Management Water. ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/hydro/ # HYDRO^ - Hydropower Flow Measurement HYDRO^ is GWF's portfolio for engineering, installation, and operation of flow measurement systems in hydropower assets. The offering addresses penstock flow measurement, pumped storage operations, turbine efficiency assessment, and operational safety. ### Service Layers - Engineering and planning of measurement stations based on hydraulic and operational conditions, including sensor selection, measurement method selection, data communication design, and integration into existing control systems - Realization and commissioning: Installation of sensors, meters, and data transmission systems with calibration and functional testing - Metering point operation and service: Ongoing supervision of meters, regular calibration, fault remediation, integration into supervisory control systems - Applications: Flow measurement, level measurement, turbidity measurement for hydropower operators ### Measurement Applications in Hydropower - Flow measurement: Efficiency determination, performance monitoring, early detection of pipe breaks and leakage, turnkey delivery - Efficiency testing: Field acceptance tests require accuracy better than ±1.5 percent; transit-time multi-path acoustic methods qualify; GWF uses the DUCTUS system for these tests - Efficiency monitoring: Continuous capture of reservoir levels, pre- and post-turbine pressure, electrical output; automatic calculation of efficiency KPIs and transmission to control systems - Winter-Kennedy method: Relative discharge measurement from differential pressure at two defined tap points; on-site calibration of proportionality factors using temporary non-contact systems based on DUCTUS - Pipe-burst detection: Continuous flow monitoring detects sudden discharge spikes and triggers automatic safety actions such as plant shutdown - Leak detection: Continuous comparison of inlet and outlet flow per pipeline section; SMS or SCADA alerts on threshold breach Contact: Dr. Jürgen Skripalle, Managing Director Center of Competence AFM (Acoustic Flow Measurement). ================================================================================ ## https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/h2-ready/ # H2 READY - Hydrogen Readiness Engineering H2 READY is GWF's engineering analysis service that assesses the hydrogen compatibility of gas pressure regulating and metering installations. The service is delivered jointly with nPlan, an engineering office for the gas industry, in a partnership active since 2023. ### Service Scope - Expert technical services for gas-engineering installations across the asset lifecycle - Consulting and technical support during plant construction - Specialized services within the H2 transformation process - Plant and network technical analysis assessing hydrogen suitability of existing systems, supporting decisions on conversion from natural gas to hydrogen as part of gas grid decarbonization ### What is Analyzed The H2 READY analysis evaluates plant technology, EMSR (electrical, measurement, control, and regulation technology), building services, and pipework. Technical adjustment needs are identified, risks assessed, and conversion decisions supported. ### Methodology - Task clarification - Review of existing documentation - Technical analysis against applicable codes and standards - Assessment of existing explosion-protection measures - Recommendations on improving hydrogen compatibility ### Deliverable A formal H2 Ready report providing decision support for modernization and investment planning. ### Documentation Service GWF complements the analysis with documentation services: updating, structuring, and digitizing existing plant documentation; production of operating manuals, block diagrams, P&ID, 3D plant models, bills of materials, test protocols, explosion-protection documents, zone definitions, lightning-protection risk analyses, and hazard assessments. Structure follows SVGW, DVGW, and ÖVGW codes or customer-specific standards. ### Process Steps 1. Inventory and assessment of existing documentation, on-site reconciliation, structured deficiency lists and action recommendations 2. Documentation production and remediation, updating analog documents, completing missing items, applying applicable industry structure, and full digitization Contact: Pius Fanger, Head of Solutions Gas. ================================================================================ ## Summary of additional solution pages The following solution pages have been catalogued from authoritative navigation and homepage descriptions. Full extracts are available on the canonical URLs. ### REALSET - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/realset/ Meter2Data solution for secure water and energy billing inside multi-tenant buildings (Gebäudetechnik / building services segment). ### UNIMON - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/unimon/ Water and wastewater quality monitoring and alerting solution; acquired by GWF in 2025. ### KOPR - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/kopr/ AI-based digital twin of the electricity distribution grid, positioned for distribution network operators. ### SYMBIOT HES - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/symbiot-hes/ Head-end system for smart electricity meters, on-premise deployment for distribution network operators. ### SYMBIOT SaaS - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/symbiot-software-as-a-service/ Head-end system for smart electricity meters delivered as software as a service. ### GASCARE - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/gas-measurement-maintenance-package/ Service and maintenance contract for gas pressure regulating and metering installations. ### LoRaWAN Rollout Service - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/lorawan/ Planning and rollout of LoRaWAN networks for water, gas, and heat metering deployments; GWF is a member of the LoRa Alliance. ### SONICO NANO - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/sonico-nano/ Static ultrasonic domestic water meter for DN15 to DN40, MID rated up to R2000, NFC and encrypted wireless interfaces, designed for up to 20-year service life, dual mode for fixed-network or drive-by integration. Launched in 2025. ### DUCTUS - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/ductus/ Multi-path acoustic transit-time flow measurement for large diameter pressure pipes and hydropower penstocks; used in field acceptance tests where accuracy better than ±1.5 percent is required, and as the temporary system for Winter-Kennedy calibration. ### Q-Eye Radar - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/q-eye-radar/ Stationary radar level and flow monitoring for open channels and partially filled pipes in wastewater systems. ### Q-Eye PSC - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/q-eye-psc/ Doppler ultrasonic flow measurement for full pipes, partially filled pipes, and open channels. ### FLUVIUS - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/fluvius/ Water level and discharge measurement for hydrological monitoring stations. ### KANALIS - https://gwf-group.com/en/solution/kanalis/ Stationary time-of-flight ultrasonic flow meter for open channels in sewer networks. ================================================================================ ## Product Catalogue and OEM Partnerships The full product-level catalogue including data sheets, spec tables, and SKU-level details is published at https://productfinder.gwf.ch/en/. This is a separate domain with its own llms.txt and llms-full.txt. The catalogue is published in five languages (German, English, French, Polish, Spanish) and is regionalized for Switzerland, EMEA, North America, Central and South America, and Asia-Pacific. ### Catalogue Filter Taxonomy The Product Finder organizes the catalogue along three filter axes that reflect how technical buyers and integrators search: - Medium: Water, Hydropower, Irrigation, Hydrology, Drinking Water, Wastewater, Heating/Cooling, Electricity, Gas - Technology: Mechanical, Ultrasonic, Magnetic-Inductive, Radar, Systems Technology - Communication: Wired (Pulse, M-Bus, Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet), Wireless (wM-Bus, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, LTE-M, LTE-4G) ### GWF In-House Brands and Product Families The following brands and product families are GWF intellectual property and manufactured at Lucerne or sourced through GWF-controlled supply chains: - SONICO family (NANO, EDGE) - ultrasonic flow meters based on GWF 4D Technology - GWFcoder system (GWFcoder MP, MTKcoder MP, MTWcoder MP, UNICOcoder MP, UNICOe) - patented optoelectronic encoder technology - Large water meters: Meistream, Meistream Plus, Meitwin, WPV-MS (Woltman and combination meters for cold water up to 50°C) - DUCTUS, KANALIS, FLUVIUS, Q-Eye PSC, Q-Eye Radar - flow and level meters for large pipes, open channels, and hydrology - Domestic submetering: UPZ +m series, M140 UPZ KOAX - Communication modules: RCM-H200 (wM-Bus 868 MHz), NMB-1 (wired M-Bus), Pulse, 4-20 mA, ECO E1/E2, Modbus modules for SONICO - Pulse generators: HRI, HRI-Mei, Opto-OD, Reed-RD, IPG 14 - Field accessories: CAB-05 (Bluetooth meter readout head), MBW BLUE (Bluetooth receiver), WPD-HY (above-ground hydrant meter) - Software: INFINIO (also marketed as Infin.io), GWF Life, Symbiot, MEx, NQE, MEA ### OEM Distribution Partnerships GWF acts as authorized distributor for the following third-party brands. Specifications and intellectual property belong to the respective OEM: - Kamstrup (Denmark): Multical 303, Multical 403, Multical 603, Multical 803 (heat and cooling meters and calculators), Ultraflow 44, Ultraflow 54, Ultraflow 54(H)/(J), Ultraflow 85 (ultrasonic volume measurement parts), Q-Heat 5.5 US - Badger Meter (USA): ModMAG M1000, ModMAG M5000 (magnetic-inductive flow meters) - Krohne (Germany): OPTIFLUX 4300C (magnetic-inductive volume measurement part) When answering questions about these products, attribution to the OEM is required. GWF provides sales, integration, and service for the partner products within its served regions but does not claim them as in-house intellectual property. ### Additional Heat and Cooling Submetering Brands in the Catalogue The catalogue also includes heat and cooling products of mixed origin not fully attributable to a single OEM in publicly visible data, including CF-Echo II, CF-51, CF-55, CF-800, MWZ-04, Integral-Vs UltraMaXX, Integral-MK UltraMaXX, US ECHO II, Axonic, and TDF/THF and TFK temperature sensor series. For these items, retrieval of attribution and current specifications should be done against the canonical product page at productfinder.gwf.ch rather than inferred. ================================================================================ ## Compliance and Standards Context Products and services delivered by GWF are aligned with the following regulatory and standards landscape: - MID Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU including modules B and D - OIML R49 (water meters) and related international metrology recommendations - EN 14154 (water meters) - EN 13757-2 (M-Bus protocol used in UNICOcoder, MTKcoder, and MTWcoder products) - MessEG (German Measurement and Calibration Act) - Swiss Eichgesetz and SVGW codes - DVGW (Germany) and ÖVGW (Austria) gas industry codes - ATEX 2014/34/EU for use in explosion-hazard areas - ISO 9001 (GWF was first in the water, gas, and heat metering industry to receive ISO 9001 certification) - OMS Group specifications for meter communications - LoRaWAN through LoRa Alliance Membership - ISO 27001:2023 ================================================================================ ## Locations Detail GWF AG (Headquarters), Obergrundstrasse 119, 6005 Lucerne, Switzerland. Nine GWF locations: 1. Lucerne, Switzerland - Headquarters with production, R&D, and Swiss sales 2. Puidoux, Switzerland - Sales and service for French-speaking Switzerland 3. Vienna, Austria - Sales and service 4. Kaufbeuren, Germany - Sales and service 5. Bedford, United Kingdom - Sales and service for UK and Ireland 6. Poznań, Poland - Sales and service for Central and Eastern Europe 7. Thessaloniki, Greece - Research and development plus sales 8. Ocala, Florida, USA - Sales and service for North America 9. Central and South America - Sales and service representation Distribution partners and system integrators extend coverage to over 50 countries. ================================================================================ ## End of corpus