Konica Minolta and SICK enter a Strategic Alliance in further development of advanced LiDAR-Technology

| 28 March 2017

Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) and SICK AG (SICK) today announced that they have signed a strategic alliance agreement. As a first step, Konica Minolta will supply a modified version of its independently developed 3D LiDAR to SICK on an OEM basis. SICK has added to this its AppSpace platform which is focusing on Sensor Intelligence for Factory and Logistics automation markets. Furthermore, the two companies have started joint development of products and solutions, drawing on the broad and complementary technology portfolio of both companies, in order to offer novel value added sensor solutions for the fast growing automation market.


Konica Minolta has been developing service solutions in the condition monitoring market with combination of its 3D LiDAR and other hardware, which utilise its strengths in optical engineering and image processing technologies. In such as building automation, security, and autonomous driving, a realisation of safe and secure manufacturing by using highly accurate and reliable hardware as well as data analysis is urgently needed. SICK, a worldwide leader of sensor solutions for industrial applications provides innovative products and solutions which set standards in the field of sensor technology all over the globe. Through the alliance Konica Minolta and SICK aim to strengthen their solution businesses along with further developing the mass production of 3D LiDAR and other sensing technologies.

 

Prospects of Business Development

Konica Minolta and SICK have also started a sensor and sensor solution joint development of further products in the area of 3D LiDAR.

 

3D LiDAR

Konica Minolta’s 3-D LiDAR delivers wide-view and high-accuracy 24-line scan capability, as well as 3-D moving object recognition. The company looks ahead to develop industry system solutions such as high security field including condition monitoring and digital manufacturing and digital marketing fields by utilising these technologies.

 

SICK AppSpace

With SICK AppSpace, the company is presenting an open platform for programmable sensors from SICK. The SICK AppSpace eco-system offers system integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) the freedom and flexibility to develop their application software directly on the programmable SICK sensors to fit their specific tasks. This makes it possible to implement tailor-made solutions for individual customer needs.



About SICK

SICK is one of the world’s leading producers of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications. Founded in 1946 by Dr.-Ing. h. c. Erwin Sick, the company with headquarters in Waldkirch/Germany ranks among the technological market leaders. With more than 50 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as numerous agencies, SICK maintains a presence all around the globe. In the fiscal year 2015, SICK had more than 7,400 employees worldwide and achieved Group sales of just under EUR 1.3 billion.

In line with its brand claim “Sensor Intelligence.” the SICK Group focuses on creating added value for customers from a wide range of target industries with high-tech sensor solutions. SICK offers these solutions globally as serial products, systems including software, or individual services. The SICK Group supports factory automation, logistics automation and process automation. Factory automation represents automotive industry, consumer goods, electronics and solar industries as well as i.e. drive technology. Logistics automation designs and optimizes the entire logistics chain by automating material flows or making sorting, picking, and warehousing processes more efficient, faster, and more reliable. Process automation provides tailored system solutions and services for analysis and process measurement technology.

About Konica Minolta, Inc.

Konica Minolta, Inc. is a global technology company that provides innovative solutions to businesses and society. With its strengths in the combination of its core technologies in advanced imaging, optics, sensing, materials and nano-processing, Konica Minolta is committed to create new values that help customers address challenges in their operations and work processes. Advancing its expertise in digital technologies, the company has been going through business transformation into problem-solving digital company across the board as One Konica Minolta in the era of Internet of the Things (IoT). Konica Minolta is also active in open innovation through various collaborations and alliances with academic, industrial and entrepreneurial partners.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Konica Minolta has its Group companies in 50 countries with over 43,000 employees and offers products and services in 150 countries around the world.

About Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, based in Langenhagen, Germany, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan, forming part of its Business Technologies business area. As a leading global services provider in the field of IT- and document processes as well as digital production printing solutions the company excels in services-led business consulting, implementation and management and provides a range of world-leading printing systems and solutions. In this context, Konica Minolta’s Optimized Print Services concept (OPS) combines consultancy, hardware, software implementation, and operation in order to enhance business process efficiency and cost-effectiveness. To support customers optimally with powerful and sustainable solutions, technology leader Konica Minolta continuously invests in research and development work and regularly sets new standards.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe is represented by subsidiaries and distributors in more than 80 countries in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With over 35,000 employees around the world (as of March 2016), Konica Minolta’s Business Technologies business area earned net sales of over EUR 6.2 billion in financial year 2015/16.

For further information about the company, please visit: www.konicaminolta.eu and http://newsroom.konicaminolta.eu/.

Product images are available at: www.konicaminolta-images.eu.

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