Ubisense and Atlas Copco expand Tool Location System deployment across automotive manufacturing industry

Ubisense Group Plc (“Ubisense” or the “Company”) (LSE:UBI), a market leader in location solutions technology, announces that its Tool Location System (“TLS”) collaboration with Atlas Copco has been adopted by some of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers.

In the past six months, the TLS solution has been deployed by six new Atlas Copco customers including BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Audi, GM, Hyundai and Paccar. The sizes of the installations vary from single production work stations through to multi global site installations.

The Atlas Copco branded TLS software was jointly developed by Ubisense and Atlas Copco under a collaboration agreement signed in 2009 for the research and development of Real-Time Location Systems applications for industrial tooling.

Richard Green, CEO of Ubisense, said: “We are delighted to see increasing uptake of the Atlas Copco TLS system. The fact that one in every three cars in the world is assembled with Atlas Copco tools highlights the enormous growth opportunity for the TLS, particularly as the solution is now being sold through the Atlas Copco catalogue providing increased exposure to a greater number of automotive manufacturers across multiple geographies.”

As the TLS is adopted more broadly, we are finding that manufacturers require additional applications relevant to the assembly line, further endorsing our RTLS solution in the automotive industry. It also highlights the important benefits that can be driven by collaborating with the world’s leading industrial tool manufacturer.”

The TLS is comparable to small scale GPS but instead of using satellites, customers use sensors inside their manufacturing plants to monitor the position of tools and assets in real-time and with precision accuracy to 15cm. This allows error-proofing to be taken to the next level and allows customers to ensure that tightening is performed reliably at the correct tool setting and at the correct work station.

The solution is compelling for automotive manufacturers as it provides a range of benefits for the assembly line floor including increased productivity, improved quality and, importantly, helps to reduce costs.

The TLS is now available from Atlas Copco’s worldwide application and customer centres and installations in North America and Europe have been achieved so far.