A Polish company is conquering the world. It has a unique measurement technology

• Apator Powogaz offers water meters, heat meters, but also solutions supporting media management - software that in the era of progressive digitization and digitalization is becoming an increasingly important element of the company's business in the world.
• The company’s CEO, Grzegorz Starybrat, points out that with the digitalization of water supply network management, ensuring an appropriate level of cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important.
• Apator Powogaz offers a unique ultrasonic measurement method "W-Sonic Technology", which allows detecting even the smallest water leaks.

What is the main business of Apator Powogaz?

- As Apator Powogaz, we are part of the Apator Group. We are one of the largest manufacturers of water and heat meters on the European market. In the coming years, we will enter the top five of these manufacturers, and ultimately we are aiming for the top three.

We have a hundred years of experience in the production of measuring devices, and it must be admitted that there are not many companies with a hundred-year pedigree on the Polish market.

Water meters, heat meters and solutions supporting media management

Do you only offer appliances?

- No, we understand the changing market and the needs related to remote media management. We offer water meters, heat meters, but also solutions supporting media management - software, which in the era of progressive digitalization and digitization is becoming an increasingly important element of our business in the world.

When it comes to software, it is also important to remember about security. In the past, security was provided by security personnel and fences. Nowadays, the system is managed remotely, so cybersecurity has become an area that we give the highest priority to.

What does this mean for you?

- We meet the highest standards in cybersecurity - every year our systems are tested for possible external interference. Our activities meet the requirements of the Directive on the Security of Network and Information Systems, or the so-called NIS2.

Our organization manages information security in accordance with the ISO 27000 family of standards, we are also in the process of certification in ISO 27001 - we will soon undergo a certification audit. Cybersecurity issues are very important to us, because it concerns an extremely valuable medium, which is water.

And water supply is one of the most important municipal services on which the lives and health of citizens depend…

- Exactly. For example, it is enough for an unauthorized person to change the parameters related to water treatment and disaster is ready. Unfortunately, in Poland, representatives of the water industry are often not aware of how important cybersecurity issues are. It must also be admitted that for many years this issue was not given due importance.

What do you want to change?

- We intend to launch an information campaign on cybersecurity aimed at waterworks. The Ministry of Digital Affairs is working on launching a grant competition to support cybersecurity in water and sewage companies.

Enterprises from this sector will be able to obtain support in the form of grants from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The funds will facilitate the adaptation of their activities to the requirements contained in the NIS2 directive. It is not the case that waterworks have been left to their own devices in this respect. As for Apator Powogaz, we offer flexible forms of investment financing, including installment or subscription purchases.

Ultrasound technology allows for more precise measurements

Who do you address your offer to?

- We direct our offer to a wide range of recipients: housing cooperatives, waterworks, and individual customers. In addition to the highest quality residential and industrial water meters, we also produce heat meters and heating cost allocators.

We focus on modern solutions using ultrasonic technology, which allows for more precise measurements and higher data quality for rational management of water resources.

Generally speaking, in line with global trends , Apator Group responds to the needs of sustainable resource management, from electricity to water and gas. These solutions are particularly important in the context of the growing importance of energy efficiency and water management in the face of resource deficit.

You mentioned ultrasonic technology. What are the characteristics of ultrasonic water meters?

- We offer the Ultrimis ultrasonic water meter, which uses a number of patented design and technological solutions, including the unique ultrasonic measurement method "W-Sonic Technology". A droplet leak can be easily detected by this device. This technology allows for readings at a threshold of 0.75 liters per hour.

So even small water losses are quickly detected. Ultrimis, connected to our IT system, allows us to indicate the exact place in a given water supply where a leak occurs. This also prevents larger failures and allows us to optimize network management. It allows us to remove a small leak without - to use a common example - digging up the entire street, which can be inconvenient and expensive for residents.

Are ultrasonic water meters very popular on the Polish market?

- Our domestic market is just opening up to ultrasonic technology. The Ultrimis ultrasonic water meter is primarily our export hit. I mean mainly EU markets, including Germany, Italy, Greece and Spain.

But also the Persian Gulf region, as well as Far Eastern countries, such as South Korea, Thailand or the Philippines. However, if we want to sell devices in South Korea, for example, the local content there must be 50 percent. This shows that you can take care of your own market. To sum up, we double the sales and production of this type of devices year by year and this is the best proof of how well our ultrasonic product is received by the markets.

Poland has one of the smallest water resources in Europe

Why is it worth choosing ultrasound technology?

- Considering the scale of water leaks, it is worth investing in ultrasonic water meters. Poland has one of the smallest water resources in Europe, around 1,600 cubic meters per year per inhabitant, and in periods of drought less than 1,000 cubic meters. In this context, the effectiveness of resource management and reducing water losses are important.

The level of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses in Poland varies across regions, but is generally higher than in many Western European countries. In Poland, these losses often exceed 20 percent, and in some regions can be as high as 35-40 percent.

For example, in Denmark, the NRW level is around 6.5%, and sometimes in local water supply systems it drops below 1%. In Germany, it is 7%. In Italy, it is over 38%, and in France 19%. Italians are currently investing heavily in their water supply networks. That is why Apator Powogaz Italia started its operations in February 2025. This is a promising market for us.

Where else do you plan to expand abroad?

- In addition to the EU countries mentioned, definitely in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region. This market is quite large and promising, and due to the climate there, water management issues are particularly important.

There are several large waterworks in the Persian Gulf, and local tenders often involve significant sums, which makes almost every local waterworks an interesting entity from our perspective.

And what does this market look like in Poland?

- Our market is strongly divided. This is evidenced by, among other things, several thousand entities operating in the water supply industry and numerous housing cooperatives diversified in terms of size and structure. The Polish market is visibly lacking in standardization, with many different technologies in operation. Apator Powogaz cannot ignore them - we invest in many of them.

"Chinese producers do not bear the costs that EU producers have to bear"

In your opinion, is there anything worrying about critical infrastructure?

- The thoughtless introduction of Asian devices, for example from China, into our energy or water and sewage infrastructure is certainly a worrying phenomenon. Chinese producers do not bear the costs that EU producers have to bear.

What's more, they are subsidized by their government, they benefit from export subsidies, which is why we are dealing with a distortion of the conditions of competition on the market. The European Union imposes strict requirements on domestic producers regarding, among others, quality, product safety, cybersecurity of technology.

However, it is afraid to set tough conditions for Asian producers, so we are dealing with a flood of the European market with products that we are not sure meet the high standards we expect from European producers.

We operate in accordance with the NIS2 directive, we adapt our company to the requirements of the ISO 27001 standard, to better manage information security and obtain a certificate. On the other hand, an entity can purchase devices from China and install them in Poland, although they are not tested for cybersecurity. This aspect should be taken into account, because any negligence in this area can have serious consequences.

The role of remote infrastructure management is growing

How has the market in which Apator Powogaz operates changed over recent years?

- One of the trends that we see on the market is remote infrastructure management. We are moving away from situations where people are sent to a location to perform specific tasks. Currently, waterworks are more like power plants: the traffic dispatcher there tracks the water network's activities and signals the need for urgent action.

At the same time, you can significantly reduce operating costs and take care of the environment by choosing ultrasonic water meters, for which the legalization process is much simpler.

In the case of ultrasonic water meters, for example, a batch of devices is selected from a thousand water meters and tested for failure-free operation. If they continue to meet the conditions, the operation of the entire thousand devices can be extended. In the case of mechanical water meters, a thousand water meters must be replaced and a thousand new ones installed.

Is outdated water and sewage infrastructure a problem in Poland?

- Indeed, 70-80 percent of our water infrastructure dates back to the 1970s or 1980s. Many of these installations require modernization. There is also the problem of contamination of the network with iron-based products, which may affect the functioning of devices.

New technologies, such as ultrasonic water meters, have the advantage for waterworks that they can easily detect the location of a leak, thus minimizing the level of losses and better managing the valuable resource that is water.

The concept of the Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster uses the achievements of the Apator Group in various segments.

- That's right. The developed concept of the Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster assumes the production of electricity and heat through renewable sources of production: biogas plants, wind and photovoltaic power plants.

The combustion of biogas, produced from sludge from the sewage treatment plant, is possible thanks to the installed cogeneration units. In the entire process, most of the ecologically generated electricity is directed to the electricity grid or sold. The heat, on the other hand, is used for local heating applications, including heating water in the local water park facilities.

In accordance with the cluster assumptions, local entities operating on this basis are engaged in the production, consumption, storage and sale of electricity, heat and fuels.

The key to the whole process is to obtain measurement data for all media in order to be able to consciously and rationally manage the processes related to energy production, storage, use and distribution in an appropriate manner. The system prepared by Grupa Apator, implemented in the Słupsk Cluster, provides full control over the optimization of the network operation and is associated with many benefits for the local community.

Meaning?

- It is about ongoing monitoring of the operating status of devices, the operation of the heat and electricity distribution network and connection points with the network. It also provides control in the scope of obtaining telemechanical data - tracking the current status of devices supervising the heat and electricity distribution network, presenting network status parameters together with graphical presentation of parameters.

Moreover, the Apator Group system ensures obtaining all measurement data necessary for balancing, reporting, alarming and settling or estimating the amount of heat or electricity production. This system will also be helpful from the perspective of operation, including failure management or planning of work teams on the heating and energy distribution network. And in addition, reporting of emergency and planned events, as well as preparation of the workplace, monitoring the time of work and its scope.

Reporting can be done in real time and on demand, which gives a comprehensive view of the functioning of business processes of production and distribution of electricity and heat. The solution created in cooperation with Wodociągi Słupskie and Grupa Apator is the first software of this type for the local market.

Does it fit into the current trend visible in the energy sector?

- It truly reflects the trend of energy transformation, i.e. moving away from traditional, large-scale energy towards creating a product that will be helpful in local activities, enabling the use of one's own ecological resources for energy production and consumption.

The Słupsk Cluster is a project that is to ensure lower energy costs for the end user, improve energy security, improve the situation of local heating, and create better conditions for economic development, also at the local level. It is also an example of how to build the resilience of critical infrastructure.

In the case of the Słupsk Cluster, we use biogas, photovoltaics and wind farms. So the energy mix has changed: from 100% coal to about 60% from renewable energy sources and 40% gas. The war in Ukraine shows us that infrastructure facilities, including energy facilities, are often the target of attacks. I think that our seaports, such as Gdańsk, Gdynia and Świnoujście, could also consider building such energy systems that would allow ports to be more self-sufficient.

Not only management, but also customer settlement

Will you offer your services to housing cooperatives?

- Definitely yes - this is one of the segments of the market for which we can offer comprehensive services for managing media such as water, electricity, gas. Our solutions allow not only for management, but also for settling accounts with recipients. This is a beneficial solution for cooperatives, because it does not require a whole range of competences from them: starting from GDPR and ending with issues related to cybersecurity.

Generally speaking, water management is very important - after all, in some municipalities, tankers still operate in the summer to bring water to residents. It is important to minimize water losses. This is important from the perspective of the entire country.

Significant investments are planned in the modernisation and expansion of water and sewage networks, sewage treatment plants and retention systems to meet the requirements of EU directives and improve the efficiency of water management.

And we, with our competences, can be a partner here. For over 100 years, we have been developing our product range and technologies in order to reduce media costs, optimize resource management, including personnel and time allocated for installation service, customer service and billing.

More information about Apator’s offer can be found here.