Page 39 - 2019 Annual Report Hsinchu Science Park

Chapter 4 │ Talent Hub 37
Draw on AIoT technologies to build a better-rounded grid, take root in Taiwan and build a global presence
A smart meter pioneer/Arch Meter Corp. Chairman Chen Jan-ku
Established in 2005, Arch Meter Corp. has committed itself to integrating power measurement, control, and network communications technologies, developing smart meters, and helping businesses and individuals from all sectors the economy with power management, thereby enhancing the country’s overall energy efficiency and stability.
Smart meters to inspire more localization of related products
While the majority of Taiwan’s electronics companies deal in consumer products, Arch Meter mainly offers smart meters and related products as it targets the electric power industry as its market. Consumer electronics is generally characterized by rapid responsiveness to consumer needs. By contrast, electric power-related products tend to change slowly. “Slow and steady” defines this industry for which product reliability and compatibility matter most.
“The electric power industry was closed to competition for a long time. Domestic companies found entry all but impossible as meter-related technologies and markets were tightly in the grip of foreign businesses,” Chairman Chen says. “In recent years, however, government support allowed local companies to gradually secure a foothold by using the domestic market as their starting point.” At present, any given product of Arch Meter generally enjoys a span of more than five years. Even its next-generation model needs to come with compatibility so that it can effectively be integrated with existing systems.”
Enhance energy management efficiency to bolster grid stability
“The smart meter market is set to grow steadily in the coming years,” Chairman Chen says. “In addition to government agencies, every plant of private businesses—every electricity-using entity—will need smart meters.”
As AIoT technology gradually matures, installing more sensors at electricity-using entities to gather data and
using big data analytics to assess grid utilization and its efficiency can help businesses build better-rounded grids. For the government and Taiwan Power Co., building well-rounded grids goes a long way toward preventing unexpected power interruptions, saving resources and time needed for simplifying power allocation, and helping respond to emergencies early on, thereby avoiding any repeat of the nationwide power outage of July 29, 1999. “Nothing matters more than timeliness in power management,” Chairman Chen stresses.
Separately, smart meters can help strike a balance between peak and off-peak power consumption, flatten power demand curves, and reduce power generation costs and enhance efficiency thereof. The subsequent mitigation of environmental impact by power generation will also help businesses make inroads into international markets that impose more stringent environmental protection requirements.
Take root in Taiwan, expand worldwide
Arch Meter has already secured a solid foothold. Technologies and customers accumulated over the years start to pay off. And now it is proactive to expand overseas. With AIoT applications multiplying, smart meters are also bound to find their way into every end- user device over time. Standing by its core principles of innovation, integrity, and sharing, Arch Meter will offer power measurement and terminal control technologies and integrate network communications technologies to assist the electric power industry and others in conducting energy management, thereby further promoting Taiwan’s industrial development going forward.