Flamco is a brand of Aalberts hydronic flow control, part of the listed Aalberts NV. The company focuses on the development, production and sale of high-quality components for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. For many, the distinctive red expansion vessels are probably the most recognizable product.
Flexcon PA
One of the innovative products of Aalberts hfc is the Flexcon PA: a smart sensor with an corresponding app that supports installers and end users in monitoring pressure maintenance in central heating systems. Communication between smartphone and sensor is via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
Challenge
ICT Applied Solutions was commissioned to modernize the existing Flexcon PA app. The original app no longer met the requirements and expectations of today's users and was technically outdated. A thorough evaluation showed that updating the old codebase would be inefficient and would require unnecessary time and resources. Therefore, it was decided to completely redevelop.
This approach made it possible to make use of modern cross-platform technology. By choosing Flutter, both Android and iOS support could be achieved with one shared codebase. An additional challenge here was the limited available documentation. In order to correctly reconstruct the operation of certain components — especially the BLE functionality — part of the operation of the old app has been reverse-engineered from the original source code.
Result
The renewed Flexcon PA app is now successfully in use (both Android and iOS). Installers and end users now have a stable, user-friendly and future-proof app again. Thanks to the use of modern technology and a smart development strategy, Flamco is assured of a sustainable solution that can last for years to come.
