Review: Zenner at E-world 2026
Published: 17. Feb 2026
From 10 to 12 February 2026, Zenner International GmbH & Co. KG exhibited at E-world energy & water 2026 in Essen with a clear focus on the smart water rollout. Smart technologies and networked infrastructures were also at the centre of the trade fair presentation, with a special focus on challenges such as water losses and network stability.
Cities, municipalities, and utility companies are facing complex challenges today: extreme weather events, resource scarcity, and increasing urbanization are making efficient water management increasingly urgent. Digitalization is considered a key factor in making supply systems resilient. Once again, E-world 2026 provided a platform to present and discuss our solutions to these challenges.
Focus on smart water rollout
The smart water rollout has become a major focus of attention. We see it as a process that goes far beyond consumption metering. At E-world, Zenner demonstrated that digital meters and LoRaWAN not only provide data, but also form the basis for sustainable water management. In the long term, this could also enable the entire digital infrastructure in the city to be set up.
A key issue in this context for water infrastructure is the early identification of leaks. The precise detection of leaks is currently a central issue for the development of resilient infrastructures. The partner solution from Zenner and FAST GmbH was also presented at E-world. The integration of mobile acoustic loggers from FAST into Zenner’s B.One element iot IoT platform creates a modular overall system for condition monitoring and another building block for the concrete localization of leaks in the pipe network.
LoRaWAN as the basis for resilient cities
Another key component is the role of LoRaWAN as a reliable wireless technology: “The digitalization of utilities is no longer a ‘nice-to-have,’ but rather the foundation for true resilience in smart cities. IoT with LoRaWAN is increasingly becoming an indispensable foundation for smart cities,” emphasizes Jan-Philipp Exner, smart city expert at Zenner International.
A special highlight at our booth was the visit by experts from the LoRa Alliance and members of the “Simplified Smart Metering” interest group. The discussions focused on the enormous potential of LoRaWAN for the various metering sectors. Together, we discussed how the technology not only simplifies processes, but can also make digitization resilient and, above all, financially sustainable across all sectors.
Zenner now operates one of the largest LoRaWAN networks worldwide, with over 10 million sensors. This infrastructure forms the basis for many IoT applications – not only in water management, but also for numerous smart city applications beyond.
Exner adds: “Resilient smart cities are not created by technology alone. Well-thought-out operating concepts that ensure critical infrastructures continue to function stably even in times of crisis are crucial.”
E-world 2026 made it clear that the smart water rollout is a key issue for the water industry and a driver for the digitalization of municipal infrastructure. Digital solutions, the use of LoRaWAN as a technological basis, and concrete operating concepts are at the center of the discussion.
