Badger Meter Acquires 37South, Lands in Australia With IoT Deal

Badger Meter has bought 37South, a Melbourne-based industrial Internet of Things company, in a deal announced November 3, 2026 that gives the U.S. water-technology firm its first operating presence in Australia. The acquisition hands Badger Meter an established local business with utility customers, technical staff, and a platform to push its BlueEdge water management suite across the region.

37South builds ultra-low-power remote terminal units and data logging products used in infrastructure applications. Australian utilities have run on its technology since 2008. That 18-year track record, plus existing deployments and customer relationships, is what Badger Meter is paying for — the deal's terms were not disclosed.

What does 37South actually make?

The company's products sit in remote or hard-to-reach environments where monitoring equipment must run reliably on limited power. Its systems collect information on infrastructure performance and environmental conditions across:

• water supply networks
• wastewater facilities
• irrigation infrastructure
• sewer level monitoring
• mining operations and other environmental uses

Customers include utility providers, municipal councils, and commercial enterprises. The low-power design matters most where conventional connectivity and electricity are scarce — exactly the sites where utilities now want data without sending crews.

Why did Badger Meter want a foothold in Australia?

Badger Meter has more than a century of experience in water measurement and management technology. Its BlueEdge suite bundles measurement hardware, communications technology, data visualization, and analytics software, helping customers monitor water infrastructure, spot operational conditions, and manage resources more effectively.

37South gives the company complementary products and a local base to sell them from. Chairman, President and CEO Kenneth C. Bockhorst framed the deal in operational terms: "The acquisition gives Badger Meter a strong base in Australia and a launch pad to extend the BlueEdge portfolio into the local market. 37South brings proven Australian deployments, established utility relationships and hands-on technical capability."

The combination also opens product possibilities beyond geography. Badger Meter plans to pair 37South's remote monitoring devices with its own broader software and data capabilities — an integration play that could deepen the analytics layer of its utility offering. Local technical expertise from 37South is expected to support the introduction of BlueEdge offerings to Australian customers.

How does this fit the market shift?

Utility operators increasingly depend on digital monitoring systems to understand infrastructure conditions and manage operational risk. These systems track water distribution, network performance, and environmental conditions without continuous manual inspection. Badger Meter's bet is that demand for connected monitoring and analytics keeps accelerating, and that a local operating base — with in-market relationships and support services — beats exporting from afar.

37South's founder and CEO Glen Downie cast the sale as validation for his team: "This milestone represents a strong validation of the dedication, expertise, and innovation that 37South has demonstrated throughout our journey in the industry. As a respected leader, Badger Meter shares our commitment to delivering high-quality solutions, advancing technology, and creating value for customers. We are incredibly proud to be joining Badger Meter as part of this exciting acquisition." He added that 37South looks forward to "contributing to Badger Meter's continued growth and success in Australia while building on the strong foundation that has brought us to this important moment."

Badger Meter plans to build on 37South's reputation and technical capabilities while expanding its Australian presence. The company says combining those capabilities with its existing water technology portfolio will support future growth.

What's next?

The transaction marks another step in Badger Meter's international growth strategy — and the first test of whether BlueEdge can convert an 18-year-old Australian install base into a regional software-and-sensors business.