Flow, Level and Control Product of the Year
Company Name: VEGA Controls
Product Name: VEGAMET 862
Supporting Statement:
The VEGAMET 862 controller simplifies flow summation for the UK water industry, providing an efficient and cost-effective solution for achieving accurate, MCERTS-compliant flow measurement under the Environment Agency’s U_MON4 requirements.
Accurately measuring flow at wastewater treatment works can be a tricky and expensive process – particularly when multiple streams need to be combined or subtracted to report true flow volumes.
Under the Environment Agency’s MCERTS scheme (specifically U_MON4), water companies are required to report precise flow data. This has traditionally meant large PLC setups, complex infrastructure, and costs of up to £35,000 per site – plus ongoing maintenance, technician training, and hardware upgrades. The VEGAMET 862 controller offers a practical, efficient alternative that delivers accurate flow summation without the burden of full-scale PLC systems.
The VEGAMET 862 accepts two flow signals and performs differential or totalised calculations internally. This removes the need for complex control systems, allowing existing infrastructure to remain in place – no new panels, cabling, or programming required.
An installation at Severn Trent Water demonstrated these benefits by combining Siemens and ABB electromagnetic flow meters to calculate true influent flow.
At the Severn Trent Water treatment site installation, the controller was used to:
-Accept inlet and return flow measurements from two different flowmeters
-Calculate net flow (inlet minus return)
-Log data from both flowmeters for audit and reporting
-Output real-time values for visibility and control
It worked seamlessly with existing equipment, avoiding the need to replace or reconfigure existing flowmeters.
The solution achieved independently verified MCERTS compliance while delivering an estimated £27,000 cost saving compared with a conventional PLC-based approach.
By reducing engineering complexity, lowering installation costs and simplifying regulatory compliance, the VEGAMET 862 delivers measurable operational benefits for water utilities. Its innovative approach to flow summation and proven performance in demanding wastewater applications make it a strong contender for the Flow, Level & Control Product of the Year award at the 2026 Instrumentation & Electronics Awards.
Entry ID: 7788
