The award ceremony was held in Povoletto on 30 September. Established to mark the Company’s centenary, the Scholarship supports the university education of employees’ children and renews Maddalena S.p.A.’s commitment to education and future generations.

Alan Scalisi, a student at the “Giovanni Marinelli” Scientific High School in Udine, is the winner of the 4th G.B. Maddalena Scholarship, a €10,000 award granted to children of Maddalena S.p.A. employees to support their university education.

Alan, who has just started his fourth year of high school, is already looking ahead to his future with a clear goal: to continue his studies by enrolling in the Degree Programme in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Udine.

The official award ceremony was held on Wednesday, 30 September at 3:30 p.m. at Maddalena S.p.A.’s production facility in Povoletto. Alongside the recipient and his family, the event was attended by the Company’s Board of Directors, the members of the Selection Committee, the Mayor of Povoletto, Giuliano Castenetto, and the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture, Paolo Marchina.

In Memory of G.B. Maddalena

Established in 2019 to mark Maddalena’s centenary, the Scholarship is named after Giovanni Battista Maddalena, a key figure in the Company’s history who placed great value on education and professional development. During his years at the helm of the Company, he encouraged young workers to continue their education by attending evening classes, even after completing their work shifts.

A principle that, decades later, continues to find concrete expression in the Scholarship that bears his name: investing in people and knowledge as the foundation for building the future.

It is a value that spans generations and remains an integral part of Maddalena S.p.A.’s culture. A family-owned company recognised as a Historic Trademark of National Interest and now led by the fourth generation, Maddalena continues to preserve its roots while looking ahead by investing in young people and skills.

The 2026 edition received seven applications.

The Selection Committee, comprising Eng. Franzil, a long-standing Maddalena employee and Chair of the Committee since its establishment, Eng. Matteo Lorigiola, Plant Manager, and Dr Silvia Favaro, Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, assessed the candidates based not only on their academic performance, but also on their critical thinking, motivation and ability to articulate their plans for the future.

The Scholarship was awarded to Alan Scalisi, son of Armanda Bejko, who recently joined the Company’s international sales team. This further reinforces the significance of the initiative, which also reaches the families of employees who have joined the Maddalena community more recently.

The G.B. Maddalena Scholarship is part of the Company’s broader commitment to future generations, education and supporting young people in the local community, in line with Maddalena S.p.A.’s social sustainability journey and Goal 4 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which focuses on quality education and learning opportunities.

This commitment is also reported in the recently published 2024/25 Sustainability Report, which presents the Company’s results, projects and objectives across environmental, social and governance areas, and identifies people and the creation of shared value as key pillars of its strategic sustainability journey.

An investment that goes beyond an individual course of study: supporting a young person’s education means contributing to the development of skills, families and, more broadly, the community in which the Company operates.

The post Maddalena spa investe sul futuro dei giovani: ad Alan Scalisi la 4ª borsa di studio G.B. Maddalena appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

This is a question that often comes up in smart metering projects, but perhaps it is not the right question to ask, because battery life is not an intrinsic characteristic of the meter.

It is the result of the interaction between technology, service configuration and actual operating conditions.

Yet, tender specifications and procurement requirements often include statements such as: “Battery life: at least 13 years”, without clearly defining the conditions required to achieve this target.

The reality is that two identical meters, equipped with the same battery and the same firmware, can have very different service lives.

Why? Because battery life depends on many factors

✅ Battery capacity
✅ Hardware efficiency
✅ Firmware optimisation
✅ Application protocol used
✅ Reading and transmission frequency
✅ Number of alarms and additional communications
✅ Radio coverage quality
✅ Installation conditions
✅ Evolution of the cellular network over time

One aspect that is often underestimated is the application protocol.

Not all protocols have the same impact on energy consumption: some are more verbose and energy-intensive than others. The more messages are exchanged, the more data are transmitted, and the longer the modem remains active, the higher the energy consumption. The choice of application protocol therefore has a direct impact on battery life.

The most important point, however, concerns NB-IoT connectivity

Unlike local radio technologies such as wireless M-Bus, an NB-IoT smart meter is part of an end-to-end solution involving at least three key players: the meter, the platform collecting the data, and the mobile network operator carrying the communications.

The overall performance of the system depends on all three.

The cellular network, in particular, is a dynamic infrastructure: it evolves over time and is continuously optimised, reconfigured and upgraded. Coverage, radio parameters and frequency usage can all change.

Many tender specifications and SLAs are written as if the radio conditions on day one will remain identical fifteen years later. Yet anyone—even someone new to smart metering—knows this is not the case: we have all experienced how mobile network performance can vary over time simply by using our smartphones.

The NB-IoT network is not a constant. It is a variable.

All these factors can influence the device’s energy consumption throughout its lifecycle.

This does not mean that the battery life of a smart meter is unpredictable or that the manufacturer is simply a passive observer. On the contrary, a significant part of the device’s service life is determined by the design choices made before the meter is ever installed in the field.

At Maddalena, we have worked on several strategies with one straightforward objective: to make the meter as resilient as possible to real-world operating conditions, optimising its efficiency across the different conditions it may encounter in the field.

Perhaps, then, the right question is not: “Will the meter last 13 years?” but rather: “Which operating conditions have been considered, and which measures have been adopted to maximise the likelihood of achieving those 13 years?”

For this reason, when evaluating an NB-IoT smart meter, battery life should always be associated with a clearly defined operating scenario: transmission frequency, application protocol, radio coverage, alarm management and installation conditions.

Only then does the figure become comparable across suppliers and genuinely useful in a technical specification or purchasing decision.

Because a declared battery life without reference conditions is just a number.

A declared battery life together with its operating conditions is a technical requirement that can be measured and verified.

And ultimately, battery life is not guaranteed simply by using a larger battery.

It is engineered by designing a system capable of making better use of every available joule.

The post Does the battery of an NB-IoT smart meter really last 13 years? appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important component of corporate strategy. This is also reflected in the research conducted by Erika Bric, who chose Maddalena S.p.A. as the case study for her Master’s thesis at the Faculty of Management of the University of Primorska, completing her academic journey with the highest honours.

“Sustainability Strategy Development and Implementation in a Selected Organization”: from its very title, Erika’s thesis addresses a particularly relevant question for businesses today: how can sustainability evolve from a set of good practices into a fully integrated business strategy?

The research aims to connect two increasingly interconnected dimensions: sustainability and strategic management. It is based on the recognition that environmental and social challenges, growing stakeholder expectations, and an evolving regulatory landscape are transforming sustainability from a primarily ethical choice into a genuine strategic imperative for organizations.

And it is precisely in this context that Maddalena’s sustainability journey became the subject of the study. For the empirical part of her research, Erika analysed the Maddalena Sustainability Report 2022/23, complementing it with a semi-structured interview with Arianna Arizzi, the company’s Marketing & Sustainability Manager. This methodological approach allowed her to complement the published data and results with insights into decision-making processes, organizational dynamics, the challenges encountered, and the factors that have shaped the evolution of the company’s sustainability strategy.

The research thus reconstructs a journey that began in 2020 with an initial mapping exercise, which revealed a particularly significant finding: Maddalena was already sustainable in many of its practices and values but, as described in the thesis, still in an “unconscious” way, not yet fully structured within an ESG strategy. In October of the same year, the Board of Directors formally approved the launch of a structured sustainability journey, marking the beginning of the progressive integration of sustainability into the company’s governance and business processes.

A Journey in Ten Steps

One of the most interesting aspects of the research is the reconstruction of Maddalena’s sustainability journey in ten steps, from the initial mapping and strategic approval to the definition of objectives, the development of a shared culture, project implementation, reporting, and continuous improvement.

It is therefore not a model designed “on paper”, but rather a progressive process, capable of adapting over time to the organization’s needs and stakeholder expectations. The thesis highlights how Maddalena’s experience demonstrates that, particularly for SMEs, an effective sustainability strategy can develop through learning, adaptation, and progressive formalization, without necessarily following a rigid, predefined model from the outset.

Sustainability, however, becomes truly strategic when it translates into measurable choices and projects. Alongside the environmental dimension, the social and governance dimensions also play a key role, contributing to value creation for a wide range of stakeholders. The thesis also highlights how Maddalena’s value creation model considers different forms of capital and connects the economic, environmental, and social dimensions.

Sustainability is a Collective Effort

Among the conclusions of the research, one particularly resonates with the way we work: sustainability cannot be the responsibility of a single business function. Cross-functional involvement across different areas, shared responsibility, and the ability to collect and systematically manage ESG data are essential to turning objectives into action.

In Erika’s analysis, the challenges encountered in building a stable structure and making data collection increasingly systematic become an important lesson: sustainability requires participation and shared responsibility. This conclusion is also reinforced in the final thesis presentation, where strategic integration, cross-functional collaboration, and shared responsibility emerge as key factors in making the sustainability journey effective.

A Journey that Continues

The value of research also lies in the questions it leaves open. Erika identifies several possible developments to further strengthen and structure the sustainability journey: enhancing strategic analysis tools, considering the introduction of a Sustainability Balanced Scorecard, and further defining the sustainable business model, linking sustainability, value creation, and competitive advantage.

These are valuable insights, as they reinforce a fundamental principle: sustainability is not a destination, but a process of continuous improvement. For Maddalena, becoming the subject of academic research therefore represents much more than recognition. It is an opportunity to look at its sustainability journey from an external perspective, build on what has already been achieved and, at the same time, identify new opportunities for further development.

It is also a concrete example of the value that can emerge from collaboration between business and academia, when research meets corporate experience and theory becomes an opportunity to engage with real-world practice.

A journey that, in the meantime, continues. Just a few weeks ago, Maddalena published its new Sustainability Report 2024/25, the third edition of the voluntary sustainability reporting process launched in 2020. The report presents the results achieved while already looking ahead to future goals, structuring the company’s ESG strategy around five pillars: People, Governance and Integrity, Supply Chain, Resources and Circularity, and Innovation and Water Resources.

Ultimately, this may be the clearest confirmation of what also emerges from Erika’s research: sustainability is not a project to be completed, but a journey that grows alongside the company, is measured, continuously challenged, and keeps evolving.

Erika, who has explored and analysed an important part of this journey with curiosity, depth, and a critical perspective, and who completed her studies with the highest honours, has the warmest congratulations of everyone at Maddalena S.p.A.

Ad maiora, Erika!

The post Maddalena’s Sustainability Journey Becomes an International University Case Study appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

Field experience drives innovation

This is the approach behind ElecTo SONIC, Maddalena’s ultrasonic smart meter, which has surpassed 500,000 installed units.

A milestone that goes beyond commercial figures: it reflects the field experience gained by a technology used every day by a growing number of utilities. This experience is what drives its continuous evolution, turning operational needs identified in the field into new features and increasingly advanced performance.

ONE PLATFORM, MULTIPLE TECHNOLOGIES
Different metering technologies.
One digital experience.

The experience gained with ElecTo SONIC continues to drive the development of the ElecTo (Electronic Totalizer) platform, now also adopted by Maddalena across other metering technologies, such as ElecTo MVM and ElecTo SJ. This approach allows utilities to choose different metering principles while maintaining continuity across the digital platform and its functionalities.

In ElecTo SONIC, these principles have been translated into specific design choices aimed at ensuring metering stability, mechanical robustness, operational continuity and data availability throughout the meter’s entire lifecycle.

The ultrasonic measuring principle enables consumption to be measured without any moving mechanical components and helps maintain stable metering performance over time, with no deterioration due to product ageing. The brass body also ensures high mechanical robustness under varying installation conditions, while the high and constant sampling rate, both day and night, combined with IP68 certification for up to 1,440 hours, enhances the meter’s ability to withstand demanding field conditions, including environments subject to flooding.

The communication system has been designed according to the same reliability-driven approach: the separate multiband antenna maximises signal radiation and improves transmission performance, while the NFC interface provides quick access to configuration and local diagnostics. The integrated data logger, capable of collecting data for over twenty years, also provides utilities with a valuable source of information for statistical analysis, consumption monitoring and a better understanding of how the network evolves over time.

To maximise battery life in LoRaWAN and NB-IoT configurations, Maddalena has implemented the latest versions of communication standards and state-of-the-art hardware components, optimised for both transmission performance and power consumption. Battery life thus becomes the result of an integrated design approach, consistent with the goal of ensuring operational continuity and reliability throughout the smart meter’s entire lifecycle.

Truly scalable multi-protocol communication

The sector is progressively shifting from an AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) model, based on short-range radio readings primarily used for billing purposes, to an AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) model, where data is collected daily via long-range technologies and becomes a valuable tool for monitoring and managing water resources.

In this scenario, each utility can choose the infrastructure best suited to its specific context, primarily LoRaWAN or NB-IoT. However, relying on a single communication channel can create dependency on a fixed network, often managed by third parties, which may be affected by outages, technological changes, decommissioning or contractual changes over the meter’s lifetime.

For this reason, ElecTo SONIC integrates a secondary Wireless M-Bus link even in long-range architectures, providing a true fallback strategy. While the LoRaWAN + Wireless M-Bus combination is now widely available on the market, the NB-IoT + Wireless M-Bus fallback configuration is a distinctive feature of Maddalena’s solution, designed to protect the investment and ensure continuous access to data even in the event of issues with the primary network.

A significant example is the recent project carried out with Acque Bresciane, which led to the installation of over 36,000 ElecTo SONIC meters as part of its water network digitalisation programme. This successful project confirms the platform’s reliability even in large-scale deployments.

DESIGNED TO EVOLVE
The true value of a smart meter lies in its ability to evolve over time

The experience gained from over half a million installations continues to drive the evolution of ElecTo SONIC, with new features developed to meet the evolving operational needs of utilities.

Key enhancements currently available include:

• metrological certification up to R1000, further improving accuracy at low flow rates;
• MID-certified reverse flow measurement, enabling the detection and measurement of any reverse flows;
• availability in MID Accuracy Class 1 for applications requiring higher metrological performance;
• T70 temperature class, available on request;
• bacterial growth alarm, based on water temperature monitoring to detect and signal conditions that may favour bacterial growth;
• NB-IoT interface with Wireless M-Bus over NB-IoT communication protocol (EN 13757-8:2023) and Wireless M-Bus fallback, a distinctive feature compared with NB-IoT-only solutions available on the market, designed to ensure continuous access to data even if the primary network is unavailable.

For utilities, this means access to even more reliable data, improved billing accuracy, timely detection of anomalies, and increasingly advanced tools for network management.

READY FOR THE FUTURE
New regulatory requirements, new features, the same reliability

Innovation also extends to materials intended to come into contact with drinking water. The evolving European regulatory framework introduced by the Drinking Water Directive (EU Directive 2020/2184) is setting increasingly stringent requirements for the safety and compliance of materials used in water supply networks.

To address these evolving requirements, ElecTo SONIC is also available in a lead-free brass version, with a lead content below 0.1%, providing utilities with a solution already designed to meet future regulatory requirements while helping protect the value of their investment over the long term.

A roadmap for continuous innovation

Surpassing 500,000 installations is not an endpoint, but a solid foundation for continued innovation. The ElecTo SONIC roadmap includes further developments aimed at expanding interoperability and communication protocols, diagnostic capabilities, remote management and integration with utilities’ digital ecosystems, reinforcing Maddalena’s commitment to the continuous evolution of the platform.

At the same time, Maddalena is completing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study in preparation for the publication of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which will be available soon and will provide utilities with transparent, verified environmental information covering the product’s entire life cycle.

Innovation means ensuring continuity

In the water sector, a meter remains part of the network for many years. This is why the true value of a smart meter lies not only in the performance it delivers today, but also in its ability to evolve over time.

With over 500,000 ElecTo SONIC meters installed, Maddalena confirms the strength and reliability of its offering in the ultrasonic smart meter segment. The experience gained in the field continues to drive the evolution of the ElecTo platform, now also available across the MVM and SJ product families, giving utilities the freedom to choose the metering technology best suited to their needs while benefiting from a common, stable and continuously evolving digital platform.

Metering technologies may differ. Utilities’ needs evolve over time. The digital platform supporting them must ensure continuity, reliability and the ability to evolve alongside their networks. This is the vision driving the development of ElecTo SONIC and, more broadly, the entire ElecTo platform.

The post ElecTo SONIC: Over 500,000 Smart Meters Installed, a Technology That Keeps Evolving appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

Maddalena publishes its 2024/25 Sustainability Report, the third edition of its voluntary reporting journey launched in 2020, providing transparency on the Company’s ESG commitments, results and objectives.

In 2020, we voluntarily embarked on a sustainability reporting journey. Five years later, the 2024/25 Sustainability Report shows how this commitment has grown alongside Maddalena, becoming increasingly integrated into the Company’s management.

The new report presents the results achieved over the two-year period and, above all, connects them with future objectives, providing a comprehensive overview of the Company’s environmental, social and governance performance.

A Voluntary Commitment That Continues

The first edition of the Report was driven by the desire to make existing sustainability initiatives within the Company visible and measurable, while giving them a shared direction. Over time, data collection has become more structured, the scope of analysis has expanded, and the tools used to integrate ESG topics into decision-making have been strengthened.

The 2024/25 edition reaffirms this choice, even against a rapidly evolving European regulatory landscape: sustainability reporting is not simply a compliance exercise, but a tool to better understand performance and define priorities for improvement.

A Report Aligned with the New European Standards

The Report continues to reference the GRI Standards and progressively integrates the principles of the ESRS – European Sustainability Reporting Standards. Since the 2022/23 edition, it has also incorporated a Double Materiality Assessment to evaluate both the impacts generated by the Company and the ESG risks and opportunities that may affect its activities and performance.

This work is complemented by stakeholder engagement, which contributes to identifying the most relevant sustainability topics and defining future priorities.

Five Pillars for the Future

The analysis identified five pillars that structure Maddalena SpA’s commitments and objectives:

• People, with a focus on skills, well-being, safety and participation;

• Governance and Integrity, to strengthen transparency, accountability and risk management;

• Supply Chain, to progressively integrate ESG considerations throughout the supply chain;

• Resources and Circularity, with a focus on environmental impacts, efficiency and product life cycles;

• Innovation and Water Resources, where technology, digitalisation and a culture of measurement contribute to more efficient water management.

These pillars provide the framework for understanding what has been achieved over the two-year period and, above all, the commitments made for the years ahead.

The post Measure What Matters. Maddalena Publishes Its Third Sustainability Report appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

An internship, a thesis developed in the field and, today, a new role within the company: Agnese Vergolini’s journey shows how collaboration between universities and businesses can turn into a tangible opportunity for professional growth.

On 15 July, Agnese Vergolini earned her Master’s Degree in Management Engineering from the University of Udine, completing a journey that, over the past few months, has seen her work closely with our manufacturing operations.

We first met Agnese at the third edition of UEB4WORK, an initiative designed to foster dialogue between students, recent graduates and companies. This led to a five-month internship at Maddalena, during which Agnese, supported by her company tutor Matteo Lorigiola, had the opportunity to develop her thesis project directly within our manufacturing environment.

The project focused on optimising logistics and warehouse processes, with particular attention to designing the information and operational flows for picking, packing and labelling activities.

The project also explored potential solutions for warehouse infrastructure and material handling systems, with the aim of improving process efficiency and organisation.

An experience that brought together academic knowledge and real-world operational needs, creating value for both Agnese’s professional development and the company.

For Maddalena, collaborating with universities, schools and young talents means investing in skills and creating tangible opportunities to connect education with the world of work.

The post From university to industry: Agnese’s journey at Maddalena appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

On 25 June, Maddalena took part in the 11th edition of Servizi a Rete TOUR, held at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence and organised by Servizi a Rete in collaboration with Publiacqua.

A key event for the Italian water sector and an important opportunity for utilities, water operators, companies and professionals to discuss the transformations currently shaping the industry: digitalisation, smart metering, remote reading, data quality, infrastructure resilience and sustainability.

These topics are becoming increasingly interconnected, changing not only the technologies deployed in the field, but also the way water networks are understood, monitored and managed.

Smart metering and remote reading: the experience of AMAP Palermo

During the session dedicated to smart metering and intelligent consumption management, Alessandro Senatore, Maddalena’s Sales Manager for Central and Southern Italy, joined Sandro Ferrito, Head of the Warehouse, Standardisation and Testing Unit at AMAP Palermo, to present the water utility’s experience in digitalising its meter fleet.

AMAP, the integrated water service operator for the Metropolitan City of Palermo, has launched a major digitalisation programme, progressively extending the use of smart meters to a large number of the municipalities it serves.

The project, divided into three geographical lots – Palermo, Western Area and Eastern Area – is part of a broader programme that also includes maintenance and upgrading works on the water network and service connections. A concrete example of how the digital transformation of water services increasingly relies on the availability and intelligent management of data.

Read the article in the July/August 2026 issue of Servizi a Rete.

From meter to data: a new model for network management

Smart metering is changing the role of the meter itself. Periodic, manual consumption readings are being complemented by more frequent and accurate information, enabling remote reading, consumption monitoring, early detection of anomalies and greater measurement accuracy.

The meter thus becomes a true network sensor: a tool capable of generating valuable data to support operational efficiency, improve service quality and contribute to more responsible management of water resources. In this context, measurement quality and data quality are becoming increasingly interconnected.

ElecTo SONIC: technology and interoperability for smart metering

This is where ElecTo SONIC comes into play: Maddalena’s ultrasonic water meter with integrated electronic clock and multi-protocol radio.

The solution enables remote reading through both mobile and fixed systems, with the aim of ensuring interoperability and continuous data availability. Its sampling frequency remains constant under different operating conditions, enabling highly accurate reconstruction of consumption profiles and the detection of rapid changes in flow rate, contributing to measurement accuracy and the quality of the information available for network management.

The evolution of smart metering also involves the ability of technologies to meet utilities’ changing needs over time, including those related to materials, sustainability and the regulatory framework. ElecTo SONIC is also available with a lead-free brass body, in preparation for the evolving requirements introduced by the European Drinking Water Directive (DWD), which will become fully applicable from January 2027.

Digitalisation and sustainability: increasingly interconnected paths

The experience shared in Florence highlights another important aspect: innovating water metering means looking beyond individual technologies.

Alongside the performance of metering systems, reliability, information security, environmental impact management, protection of people and governance throughout the value chain are becoming increasingly important.

This is an approach that Maddalena pursues through its Integrated Management System and the voluntary sustainability programme launched in 2020, which also includes Sustainability Reporting and the EcoVadis assessment (Silver Rating in 2025).

The post Servizi a Rete Tour 2026: Maddalena at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

In the digital transformation journey of water utilities, smart metering has become a strategic and indispensable lever. It is no longer just about technological innovation, but a key driver to improve operational efficiency, reduce water losses, enhance service quality, and address increasing regulatory and environmental pressures.

However, the adoption of AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) often faces economic, operational, and organizational barriers: high upfront investments, significant project complexity, the need for specialized skills, and challenges in managing integrated value chains.

In this context, the MaaS (Metering-as-a-Service) model is emerging as an innovative and integrated approach, enabling utilities to access the benefits of smart metering through a fully managed solution with predictable costs over time, overcoming traditional infrastructure investment models.

A model that simplifies, accelerates, and creates value

MaaS fundamentally redefines how utilities approach smart metering projects. Instead of designing, financing, and managing infrastructure internally, utilities can rely on a complete, scalable, and immediately deployable service covering the entire metering value chain:

• Smart meter supply
• Data connectivity and transmission
• Installation, operations, and maintenance

The benefits are immediately tangible:

• No upfront investment
• Positive cash flow from day one
• Subscription-based pricing linked to connected meters
• Performance guaranteed through SLAs

In this model, technological and operational risks are transferred to the provider, freeing utilities from management complexity and allowing them to focus on their core business. Technology thus shifts from being an asset to manage into a scalable, accessible, and rapidly deployable service.

An integrated and winning ecosystem for water metering

The distinctive element of the model lies in the full integration of three complementary and well-established players, operating synergistically as a single system and ensuring operational continuity across the entire value chain.

• Maddalena, an international benchmark in metrology, provides reliable smart meters and advanced data management

• Netmore, a global telecom operator, ensures carrier-grade LoRaWAN connectivity and data transmission continuity

• Sologas, a field operations specialist, manages installation and operational activities through structured and traceable processes

The strength of the solution lies in the seamless integration of competencies, technologies, and responsibilities, eliminating the fragmentation typical of traditional AMI projects, significantly reducing coordination issues, and improving integration and accountability.

For utilities, this translates into a single point of contact, a unified vision, and clear responsibility across the entire value chain.

Flexible technology, gradual migration, maximum interoperability

From a technological perspective, the solution combines advanced mechanical meters and electronic meters, covering a wide range of applications from utilities to residential submetering.

Devices support the main data communication technologies — wM-Bus OMS, LoRaWAN, and NB-IoT — ensuring interoperability, adaptability to different infrastructure contexts, design flexibility, and long-term investment protection.

The coexistence of multiple technologies enables a gradual transition to smart metering, reducing operational risks and facilitating long-term investment planning.

From installation to data: a complete value chain

Within the MaaS model, the process starts directly in the field, following a structured and utility-oriented operational sequence.

It begins with meter installation or replacement, managed through a structured process including appointment scheduling, end-user communication, smart meter deployment, configuration, and activation. This is supported by full lifecycle logistics management, including tracking, returns handling, and disposal.

Once installed and operational, meters start generating reliable and continuous data, enabling accurate remote reading and increased visibility on consumption.

The system is supported by the deployment and management of the LoRaWAN network, including gateway installation, 4G SIM-based backhauling, and continuous monitoring through a 24/7 NOC, ensuring coverage, reliability, and service continuity even across complex and extended territories

The process continues with operational management, including preventive and corrective maintenance, field interventions, and digital reporting, ensuring full traceability and performance control.

Value is ultimately realized through data transformation, via integration with HES and MDMS systems for billing, analytics, anomaly detection, and network optimization.

Tangible benefits for utilities

For water utilities, MaaS delivers measurable and concrete advantages:

• Reduced financial risk, with no major hardware and software investments

• Increased operational efficiency through outsourcing of complex activities

• Faster implementation, accelerating large-scale smart metering deployment

• Access to specialized expertise across the entire value chain

• Focus on core business, freeing internal resources from non-strategic tasks

• Cost predictability, a key factor in regulated environments and long-term planning

Additionally, the model contributes to sustainability goals, resource efficiency, and loss reduction—key priorities in modern utility strategies.

Towards a new metering paradigm

The future of metering lies in collaborative, integrated, and service-oriented models. MaaS, powered by the effective collaboration between Maddalena, Netmore, and Sologas, provides a concrete response to the growing complexity of the water sector: transforming infrastructure projects into services, lowering barriers to innovation, and enabling faster, more sustainable, and scalable digital transformation.

In a context where utilities are required to do more with fewer resources, MaaS introduces a new paradigm: no longer fragmented, internally managed projects, but integrated solutions ready to be deployed and governed—an ecosystem that transforms smart metering into a reliable, scalable, and ready-to-use service.

The post MaaS – Metering-as-a-Service: when the ecosystem makes the difference for water utilities appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

From May 4 to 7, IFAT Munich 2026 once again confirmed its role as a leading international event for the water, environmental and sustainable infrastructure sectors. This year, our Company took part in the exhibition with a stand that represented not only a technological showcase, but above all a place for meeting, exchanging ideas and building relationships with utilities, partners and industry professionals from all over the world.

The 2026 edition marked record-breaking results for the exhibition, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary as a global benchmark for environmental technologies. IFAT welcomed around 142,000 visitors from nearly 160 countries and more than 3,400 exhibitors from around 60 nations across 300,000 square meters of exhibition space. These figures confirm the growing strategic importance of topics related to water management, circular economy and infrastructure resilience.

In an international scenario characterized by geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains and increasing pressure on resources, IFAT highlighted how environmental technologies are now considered increasingly essential to ensure resilience, autonomy and sustainability for industrial systems and public services.

Smart metering and connectivity: the solutions showcased

Great attention was dedicated to smart water metering solutions and advanced communication architectures developed by Maddalena Spa to support the digital transition of water utilities.

Among the highlights of the exhibition, Electo SONIC attracted strong interest from numerous operators thanks to its multiprotocol approach and integrated dual connectivity:

• NB-IoT as the primary communication channel

• Wireless M-Bus as the local fallback channel

A design philosophy that reflects Maddalena’s vision: developing resilient, reliable technologies capable of adapting to different infrastructural and geographical contexts.

Alongside its smart solutions, the Company also showcased its range of meters for utility and submetering applications, confirming an industrial capacity that today exceeds 3 million meters produced every year.

An international discussion on the future of water

IFAT Munich also provided an opportunity to discuss the major trends transforming the sector: water loss reduction, smart data management, infrastructure interoperability, cybersecurity and communication reliability, sustainability and circular economy models.

During the four-day exhibition, the Maddalena team met with long-standing customers, new partners and international stakeholders, strengthening existing relationships and opening new opportunities for collaboration.

Above all, IFAT represented an important team moment. The presence of the entire international sales team highlighted the wealth of expertise, experience and market knowledge that has always distinguished Maddalena.

In a continuously evolving sector, we believe that innovation means not only developing new products, but also building strong relationships, listening to the needs of our stakeholders and supporting change with a concrete, long-term approach.

The post IFAT Munich 2026: Meetings, Technologies and an International Vision appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..

On the occasion of  World Water Day 2026, dedicated by the United Nations to the theme Water and Gender, Maddalena promoted a special initiative in the heart of the Tarvisio Forest, engaging its employees in an immersive nature experience guided by Giulia Terlicher, a professional guide specializing in nature-connection experiences. The initiative aimed to reflect on the value of water, people’s well-being, and the deep connection between ecosystems and communities.

The experience took place in Bosco naTUra, a forest area managed by Giulia and her community and certified by PEFC, where participants took part in a forest bathing activity. This approach offers a different way of connecting with nature — slower and more mindful — encouraging listening, presence and regeneration.

During the day, the group — joined by members of the naTUra community — explored several forest trails, including the Water Trail, created thanks to the company’s support. This path leads to an alpine stream and invites visitors to rediscover the value of simple gestures: pausing, listening and allowing themselves to be refreshed by the sound and coolness of the water.

Right beside the stream, one of the most meaningful moments of the day took place: a guided meditation immersed in the silence of the forest, accompanied by the natural rhythm of flowing water.

At the end of the experience, participants received a small wooden drop made from beech wood from the forest, certified by PEFC — a simple yet meaningful object.

The creation of this symbol followed a process that highlights the territory and the work of local businesses.
In November 2025, together with Dr. Vedovato, a forester and responsible for the sustainable management and certification of the naTUra forest, a beech tree was selected to become the symbolic drops of the initiative.

The wood was then transported to Falegnameria Deotto in Valbruna, where it was cut and dried to obtain the material needed for the production process. Afterwards, Rizzardi Srl in Pavia di Udine crafted the drops and engraved each of them with the PEFC, Maddalena and naTUra logos. Each drop is completed with a blue rubber cord, symbolically recalling the colour and value of water.

This drop is meant to be a tangible symbol: a daily reminder of the value of water — a precious and limited resource that Maddalena has been helping to measure and safeguard for more than 107 years — and of the deep connection between forests, ecosystems and communities. A small sign that embodies the strength of trees, the work of the company and a shared commitment to safeguarding the future of water.

The journey of a drop of water begins in the sky, continues as it nourishes precious forests, and then reaches deep into the soil where, filtered, it joins other drops in the springs from which we draw the water that flows through our communities. Protecting the future of water means protecting the life of forests — and life on Earth itself.

The post World Water Day 2026: celebrating in naTUra appeared first on Maddalena S.p.A..