Siemens Acquires Real-Time Locating System Provider Agilion

Siemens AG, Berlin, Germany, has taken over ownership of Agilion GmbH, a company based in Chemnitz, Germany, that develops and provides industrial real-time locating systems (RTLS).

Agilion focuses on RTLS applications in production, logistics and maintenance operations. It was an early developer of RTLS in the ultra-wide band (UWB) frequency spectrum, which is capable of highly precise localization within a range of just a few centimeters, tracking of a large number of different assets, and exceptionally easy commissioning. The precise real-time localization of assets such as tools or vehicles will enable manufacturers to optimize their production and logistics processes and so improve their quality, productivity and flexibility.

The acquisition enables Siemens to begin offering real-time locating solutions, a significant addition to the company’s offerings in industrial identification and adds to its Digital Enterprise portfolio, said Herbert Wegmann, head of Siemens’ Industrial Communication and Identification business segment.

“RTLS is an essential key technology and a new step on the road towards flexible automation in production, for instance by providing dynamic self-organizing production concepts in the assembly of large-scale products. Real-time locating also enables the safe, efficient use of collaborative mobile robots,” Wegmann said in a release.

In business 10 years and with a workforce of around 60, Agilion has done about 150 installations in more than 20 countries. It will be integrated into Siemens’ Process Industries and Drives Division's industrial communication and identification business.