Motorola recently announced that it had made a $23.5 million investment in Apprion, Inc., a California-based company that has emerged as a leader in "open industrial wireless networks and applications." The investment was made via Motorola Ventures, Moto's strategic venture capital arm, and it's part of the second round of Aprpion funding, completed together with Chevron Technology Ventures, Anvil Investment Associates LP, Allegis Capital and Advanced Technology Ventures.

Offering highly reliable wireless networks as well as various services and application to industrial facilities, Apprion is a company that has the stated mission of keeping any industrial network always on.

The ION System developed by Apprion, consisting of Apprion's IONosphere and IONizers, allows industrial sites to deploy and manage, in a low-cost manner, different wireless applications, all under a single system. Being an on-site controller, the IONosphere can efficiently manage the data services, security and work-flow of industrial wireless networks. The IONizers have the role of integrating and securing, with reduced costs, wireless-enabled applications that are no longer standalone (like VoIP and condition observation).

John O'Donohue, managing director of Motorola Ventures, declared about the new investment: "Over the last decade wireless technologies have radically changed how we live. Over the next decade, we expect to see wireless technologies transform manufacturing by the same magnitude. Apprion delivers the right combination of technology, products, and industrial experience to uniquely address the wireless challenges of industrial customers. Both their growth trajectory and excellent track record demonstrate that the company is a driving force in industrial wireless solutions."

Mike Bradley, Sr., Chief Executive Officer and president of Apprion, also said: "We are delighted to be entering into a strategic relationship with Motorola. Motorola is the industry standard in providing wireless solutions to manufacturing. Together, Motorola and Apprion will be able to forge a path for the next generation of integrated wireless networks and applications that will unlock plant performance while delivering enhanced safety and security."