Galtronics to launch pilot program

After months of delays in product design and construction, Galtronics Telemetry Inc. will launch its pilot program in November.

by Andrew O’Brien | Staff Writer

Galtronics Telemetry Inc. has begun production on its smart-grid energy device, symHome Energy Management System. In early November, the company will start a 100-home pilot program to test its new device, but it hasn’t been an easy road to reach this point.

Last April, the pilot program was estimated to include about 500 homes. Graydon Parsons, president of Galtronics Telemetry Inc., said that because of the economy, the program was scaled back.

“We’ve been optimizing the system to make sure we can have the  costs as low as possible and comply with all the requirements,” Parsons said.

The product will likely go live to the public beginning in January 2011 and will cost $399.

Are jobs on the horizon?

Galtronics Telemetry was lured to Palm Coast through business and ‘green’ incentives after the company predicted it would create 40 jobs in three years.

“The city of Palm Coast laid out an attractive incentive plan and their initiatives in being a ‘green’ city lines up well with what we are doing, “ Galtronics Telemetry Vice President Sean Lafferty said.

Though the company currently employs seven people, Lafferty expects that by the end of 2011, it will employ at least 25.

“We’ve been in the research-and-development phase,” Lafferty said. “When the product goes to the market, that’s when the employment ramp begins.”

Still, Galtronics Telemetry has done as much local business as possible, he said, including buy custom-designed rubber pieces from a company in Bunnell.

Small device could yield large savings

Photo credit: Andrew O'Brien

The delays have been caused in part by multiple design changes, which then caused more delays as the company waited for approval from Underwriters Laboratories Inc., the public safety company that oversees product certifications and solutions.

Lafferty and Parsons hope to sell around 30,000 devices in 2011. Beyond that, Lafferty said, they hope to sell around 10,000 per month in 2012.