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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Siemens announced on April 5, 2018, that it had taken ownership of Agilion GmbH, effective March 29. The Chemnitz-based company made industrial real-time locating systems (RTLS) using ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology. Siemens said the acquisition added high-precision asset location tracking to its industrial identification and Digital Enterprise portfolio.
Why did Siemens buy Agilion?
Add real-time location to Siemens’ industrial portfolio
Before the acquisition, Siemens described its offering in industrial identification but said it did not yet offer RTLS. Buying Agilion let it add locating solutions immediately, rather than build that capability from scratch. Herbert Wegmann, who led Siemens’ Industrial Communication and Identification business segment, called RTLS a significant addition to the company’s industrial identification and Digital Enterprise portfolio.
Support more flexible production
Siemens presented RTLS as a way to make production and logistics more responsive. Knowing where equipment and materials are can help operators make material flows visible, coordinate work, and support production processes that reorganize dynamically. The company also highlighted potential use with collaborative mobile robots, where reliable location information can support safer, more efficient operation.
What is Agilion RTLS?
UWB-based tracking for industrial assets
Agilion supplied industrial real-time locating systems for production, logistics, and maintenance. Its UWB technology was described by Siemens as locating assets to within a few centimeters and tracking many items, including tools and vehicles. RTLS means that a system reports the location of tagged objects in real time or near real time; it is distinct from simply identifying an item when it passes a fixed reader.
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Agilion’s scale at the time of the deal
| Measure | At the 2018 announcement |
|---|---|
| Employees | Around 60, according to Siemens AG in 2018 |
| Installations | About 150 in more than 20 countries, according to Siemens AG in 2018 |
| Industrial customer experience | More than 10 years, according to Siemens AG in 2018 |
These figures describe Agilion when Siemens announced the acquisition; they are not current staffing or deployment totals.
How does UWB tracking improve factory logistics?
Make asset location useful to the production process
Location data can help production teams see where materials, tools, vehicles, and other assets are, rather than relying only on manual checks or fixed handoffs. Siemens said operators could compare an asset’s position with a 3D model of a product or production environment. That connection can make it easier to understand whether an item is where a workflow expects it to be and to spot delays or mismatches.
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Connect location data to digital-twin and logistics systems
Siemens’ proposed value was not tracking alone: it was combining location and status information with logistics processes and digital-twin data. The company said apps in MindSphere could use that information to dynamically optimize production and logistics, with the aim of reducing downtime and the risk of errors. Those are described benefits and intended use cases, not quantified results or guarantees for every installation.
Coordinate mobile equipment
Siemens also pointed to automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and mobile robots. Knowing the position of people, materials, and mobile equipment can help coordinate movement within a production environment. The 2018 announcement framed this as an enabler for safer and more efficient use of collaborative mobile robots; it did not provide a universal safety specification or performance figure.
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What did Siemens gain from the acquisition?
A product capability and an experienced team
Siemens gained Agilion’s RTLS technology, customer deployments, and expertise in industrial locating. It said Agilion would be integrated into the Process Industries and Drives Division’s industrial communication and identification business. That gave Siemens a route to offer location tracking alongside its broader industrial identification portfolio.
A building block for industrial digitalization
The acquisition fit Siemens’ stated aim of enabling flexible, self-organizing production. In 2022, Siemens announced Xcelerator, describing it as a curated portfolio of IoT-enabled hardware, software, and digital services from Siemens and certified third parties, supported by a partner ecosystem and marketplace. Siemens positioned Xcelerator as a way to scale industrial digital transformation and connected it with its Industrial Operations X strategy.
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Xcelerator provides later context for Siemens’ broader digitalization strategy; the 2018 acquisition announcement does not establish that Agilion is currently sold through Xcelerator, how its products are integrated today, or what commercial terms apply.
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