Essen, Germany and Jiangxi, China --- (METERING.COM) --- December 22, 2010 - Elster and the Jiangxi Sanchuan Water Meter Company Limited have entered into a joint venture agreement to produce and supply C&I water meters to the Chinese water industry.

Elster will have a 55 percent stake in the joint venture and will be enabled to introduce its advanced C&I water metering technology into China, the world's largest water meter market by units.

Jiangxi Sanchuan Water Meter Company Limited, with a range of mechanical and electronic water metering products and accessories, has developed into one of China's leading water meter companies. In March 2010, the company gained recognition for being the first in the water meter industry to be registered on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
 
In 2009, Sanchuan produced 4.7 million residential water meters from its two major production facilities in China, one in Jiangxi, the other in Shandong.

“Sanchuan are pleased to have signed a joint venture agreement with Elster,” said general manager Qiangzu Li. “With their extensive knowledge of bulk metering technology, our aim is to become a leading company in the C&I water meter sector in China.”