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German Integrator Tectrol Joins Echelon's Open Systems Alliance

Adds Industrial Automation Expertise to Growing Alliance

(Sunnyvale, CA - May 7, 2001) - Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) today announced that Tectrol GmbH has joined Echelon's Open Systems Alliance (OSA) as an Authorized Network Integrator (ANI), becoming the first European member of the Alliance focused on industrial control. Tectrol's industrial integration efforts extend beyond the manufacturing floor to integrate what were previously thought of as separate and independent systems, such as the control and energy management systems of the physical plant itself, into a unified LonWorks® based system. Headquartered in Krefeld, Germany, Tectrol has focused on the development and production of LonWorks based devices for industrial, building and other markets for more than six years.

"In today's competitive environment, the ability to cost-effectively modify and expand the systems controlling their processes and plants is viewed by most end-users as a business necessity," said Mr. Horst Kremer-Merseburg, Tectrol's managing director and CEO. "From our many years in working with end users - both previously, with proprietary systems, and over the past six years, with LonWorks systems < we have concluded that open, LonWorks based systems are the only ones that can deliver everything our customers need. By becoming a member of the OSA, we enhance our ability to provide our customers with market-leading solutions."

A recent example of a single, integrated LonWorks network installed by Tectrol can be found at the Cologne Exhibition Center (Köln Messe fairgrounds), whose facilities encompass over 3.4 million square meters of exhibition space over 14 exhibition halls. The new LonWorks system, installed using Echelon's LonMaker™ Integration Tool, monitors 400 energy meters and displays both individual and aggregated data on an LNS™ based operator's console. Forty-five of Echelon's i.LON™ 1000 Internet Servers integrate the LonWorks system into the center's existing broadband infrastructure. Plans are already under way to expand the LonWorks system to add lighting and sound system control. Köln Messe and Tectrol are also considering integrating other functions into the system such as video switching and admissions control.

"The addition of Tectrol as an Echelon ANI enhances our position in the industrial automation market," said Jürgen Hertel, Echelon's director of sales and marketing for industrial networking solutions in Europe. "With their many years of practical experience integrating and designing open LonWorks systems, Tectrol brings exactly the sort of LonWorks integration skills that the market is demanding."

Echelon created the OSA program to bring together manufacturers, integrators, resellers, and other companies that are working to promote open interoperable systems based on the LonWorks platform.

About Echelon Corporation
Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) is the world leader in networking everyday devices. The company offers a comprehensive line of hardware and software products for automating building, home, industrial, transportation, and utility applications using LonWorks® networks, an international, cross-industry, open standard for interoperable device networks. Echelon is Bringing the Internet to Life™ by linking the millions of everyday devices connected with LonWorks networks to the Internet.

Echelon is based in Sunnyvale, California with international offices in China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Further information can be found at http://www.echelon.com.

From October 23-24, Echelon and Messe Frankfurt GmbH are holding LonWorld 2001, the world's premier event devoted solely to LonWorks industry, in Frankfurt, Germany. LonWorld 2001 promises to be the largest-ever gathering of LonWorks developers, integrators, end-users, and other participants in the LonWorks industry. Interested parties should visit http://www.LonWorldexpo.com for further details.

About Tectrol GmbH
Headquartered in Krefeld, Germany, Tectrol has focused on the development and production of LonWorks based devices for industrial, building and other markets. Further information can be found at http://www.tectrol.de.

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Echelon, LonWorks, LonMark, the LonMark logo, and the Echelon logo are trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the United States and other countries. Bringing the Internet to Life, LonWorld, LNS, LonMaker and i.LON are trademarks of Echelon Corporation. Other marks belong to their respective holders.

Contact Information

Press Contacts:

 

Lyn Balistreri
Echelon Corporation
408-938-5202
lbalistreri@echelon.com

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