Munich/Mountain View, California. In a strategic move highlighting its commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology, the BMW Group has announced a significant investment in Kinexon, a Munich-based software company renowned for its expertise in real-time location systems. This development, revealed on Tuesday by the premium car manufacturer, sees BMW i Ventures, the venture capital arm of the BMW Group, acquiring a minority stake in Kinexon, signaling a deepened partnership aimed at advancing the digitalization of BMW’s extensive production network.
The collaboration between BMW and Kinexon has been ongoing for several years, focused on developing and implementing advanced digital solutions within BMW’s manufacturing processes. A key outcome of this partnership is the Integrated Positioning System IPS-i software platform. This innovative system is engineered to capture a wide spectrum of positioning data – utilizing technologies such as RFID, UWB, RTLS, and GPS – and seamlessly integrate this information into a dynamic digital twin of BMW’s production environment. By operating on this virtual replica, the IPS-i platform empowers BMW to meticulously monitor, analyze, and automate a diverse array of manufacturing and logistical operations with unparalleled accuracy.
The deployment of the IPS-i platform addresses the escalating complexities of modern automotive manufacturing. In the intricate dance of car production, thousands of individual components must converge at precise locations along the production line, arriving exactly when and where they are needed by the assembly tools. The IPS-i system acts as a state-of-the-art operating system, orchestrating these intricate processes with second-by-second precision, ensuring a streamlined and efficient workflow. This sophisticated platform provides a crucial digital overview, simplifying the management of highly complex manufacturing ecosystems.
Interestingly, Kinexon’s real-time locating technology extends beyond automotive manufacturing. Their systems are also utilized in competitive sports, with numerous FIFA and NBA teams leveraging Kinexon’s wearables to track athlete and equipment movement data. This application allows for detailed analysis of player positioning, tactical deployments, movement patterns, and overall performance, enabling data-driven strategies for improvement. This cross-industry application underscores the versatility and robustness of Kinexon’s technology, now being further integrated into BMW’s advanced manufacturing processes.
Milan Nedeljković, Board Member for Production at BMW AG, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment: “Automotive production at the BMW Group shares the high-performance demands of top-tier sports. The IPS-i real-time locating platform is the cornerstone for fully digitalizing our production processes. It functions as an innovative operating system, enhancing the transparency of our complex manufacturing operations and significantly boosting production efficiency. By acquiring a stake in Kinexon, we are solidifying our long-standing and successful partnership. Together, our aim is to establish new benchmarks in digital production steering, ensuring BMW remains at the forefront of manufacturing innovation. This is indeed exciting Bmw News for the future of automotive production.”
Since 2017, the IPS-i platform has been a vital component of BMW’s operations, currently deployed across ten plants globally. It serves as the foundation for numerous digitalization initiatives, reinforcing BMW’s position as a pioneer in digital process optimization and automation. The company continues to develop innovative production methodologies where efficiency and uncompromising quality are paramount.
Looking ahead, BMW plans to expand the capabilities of the IPS-i platform to control logistics processes across its network, with further plant rollouts anticipated. In 2021, the platform’s comprehensive location-based service architecture received recognition with a nomination for the prestigious German Innovation Award, highlighting its industry-leading capabilities.
Both the BMW Group and Kinexon GmbH have mutually agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding the financial details of this acquisition, keeping the focus firmly on the technological advancements and strategic benefits of their strengthened partnership. This investment in Kinexon represents a significant stride in BMW’s ongoing journey towards establishing next-generation digital manufacturing standards, promising enhanced efficiency, precision, and innovation across its global production landscape and making headlines in BMW news.
