Ubisense upsurge in automotive
Ubisense, the Cambridge UK market leader in location solutions technology, has scored a stunning success in the automotive sector through its collaboration with Atlas Copco.
And with one in every three cars in the world now assembled using Atlas Copco tools, Ubisense CEO Richard Green said the ongoing opportunity was “enormous.”In the past six months, Ubisense’s Tool Location System (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 with Ubisense under a collaboration agreement signed in 2009 for the research and development of Real-Time Location Systems applications for industrial tooling.
Richard Green said: “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.
