Echelon's LonWorks Platform Shapes Korean Controls Landscape; SBT Korea Joins Electronics Giants Hyundai, Samsung and LG Electronics in Supporting LonWorks Platform
Business Wire - December 21, 2000 09:02
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 21, 2000--Echelon (Nasdaq:ELON) announced today that Siemens Building Technology Korea (SBT) is committing to developing products designed to the specifications set forth in the LonMark(R) Interoperability Guidelines. SBT develops automation systems for commercial buildings and has already developed a lighting control system and submitted it for LonMark certification. This new product and SBT's participation in the LonMark Association are the latest events that demonstrate the growing trend in Korea toward supporting the LonWorks(R) device networking platform, upon which LonMark certified products are built. This year a number of major Korean companies such as Hyundai Autonet, LG Electronics, and Samsung Heavy Industries also announced partnerships with Echelon, and some have already begun using the LonWorks platform to deliver solutions.
Mr. Suk Jin chul, president of SBT, stated, "Interoperability should be a tremendously important goal for anyone designing a network. Without it, a network is only as valuable as its components, leaving little room for upgrades and expansion. The LonWorks platform gives us the flexibility we need to take advantage of new products and technologies as they become available, and vastly increases the value of services we can offer to our customers. We are not surprised that LonWorks is becoming so widely embraced in Korea; it is simply the logical choice for Korea's adopted building standards platform."
"We're extremely pleased that SBT has made such a strong commitment to the LonWorks platform," said Lawrence Chan, Echelon's vice president of Asia/Pacific. "SBT and its parent company are very important partners in promoting and delivering LonWorks solutions worldwide." SBT Korea is an independent division of SBT/Staefa Control Systems, a leading worldwide provider of systems and services for building and energy management, including integrated solutions, and Sponsor of the LonMark Interoperability Association.
At Echelon's LONWORLD2000(TM) Conference and Exhibition in October, Hyundai Telecom and Hyundai Autonet announced that they are partnering with Echelon to offer smart products for the home. Hyundai is Korea's leading integrator in Korea's already large, and rapidly growing, intelligent housing market. The company plans to establish its first LonWorks installation of 10,000 intelligent apartments in 2001. This initial deployment will include LonWorks controlled appliances, boiler controls, smart door locks, sensors, sub-metering, elevators, lighting, and security components.
Samsung Heavy Industries, one of the world's leading suppliers of control systems, became a LonMark partner member and developed the first LonMark certified product in the Asia/Pacific region. In addition Samsung Electronics, one of the leading suppliers of computer, audio/video and white goods appliances, showcased a LonWorks enabled washing machine and microwave ovens at LONWORLD2000. The appliances were controlled via a web browser. The company is currently taking requests for additional units for testing.
In January 2000, LG Electronics (LGE), one of the world's largest white goods manufacturers, also joined the LonMark Interoperability Association as a Sponsor member.
"Asia/Pacific, particularly Korea, is undergoing a radical change," added Mr. Chan. "All of our efforts are beginning to really pay off in terms of products and partnerships. Companies in the Asia/Pacific region are very well positioned to become worldwide leaders in deploying intelligent solutions for homes and buildings based on the LonWorks platform."
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