Cambridge UK – 30th May 2008  Marshall Aerospace’s use of the Ubisense precise Real-time Location System (RTLS) has improved search times for tools and test equipment by a staggering factor of 5 over manual methods and more than 50% over traditional RFID-based methods. Independently verified by the IfM (Institute for Manufacturing) Auto-ID Centre, the search times for operational equipment and high value test devices have been dramatically reduced, thus proving the ROI for RTLS in the Aerospace Industry.

The Ubisense precise RTLS has been installed at Marshall’s principle site, which comprises 500,000 square feet of facilities, and asset tags have been attached to a whole series of different equipment, ranging from blowers, power supplies and pumps to multi-meters, leak detectors and individual tools. The system uses minimal infrastructure (just a single cable from reader to reader) and is much less dense than an equivalent WiFi network as the system range is considerably more than WiFi for the required accuracy. In fact the system is able to pinpoint the location of any piece of equipment to within 15cm in 3D.

Dr. T. Keleporis of the Auto-ID Labs says, “The quantification of savings from the Ubisense precise RTLS makes the investment decision simple and is very significant. A really demonstrable ROI exists for the tool tracking application and of course the same location infrastructure can be used for many more applications.”

“Additional applications such as real time fork-lift truck tracking can now be realised in a fraction of the time required compared to legacy technologies”, comments Daniel Monument, Solutions Manager for Marshalls Solutions. “The benefits to the Aerospace Industry of precise real-time location are clear and realisable”.

About Ubisense

Ubisense is the market leading vendor of precise RTLS (Real-time Location Systems) based on Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The company delivers complete solutions based on a highly scalable and reliable real-time location platform that is being deployed in mission critical applications around the world. www.ubisense.net

About Marshall Aerospace

Marshall Solutions provides engineering support to the aerospace industry.  It draws on the 70 years of Marshall Aerospace experience and expertise in the aerospace industry. Marshall Aerospace has undertaken a very wide range of aerospace projects involving: maintenance; design and manufacture; project management; engineering advisory services; technical studies and certification work.

Marshall Aerospace customers are both international and domestic, civil and military with such varied projects as: conversion of Lockheed TriStar aircraft into tankers and freighters; design and manufacture of long range fuel tanks for Boeing 747s & 777s; provision of maintenance & repair services for the Vulcan to the Sky project; and modification of a TriStar to carry the Pegasus satellite repair vehicle and NASA X-34 experimental re-entry vehicle. The company has a particularly strong relationship with the RAF and their Hercules fleet, which the company has supported for over 40 years.

Marshall Solutions – the consultancy arm of Marshall Aerospace has evolved through the specialist skills and techniques that have been developed out of the many and varied Marshallprojects. The division is perfectly placed to provide access to the vast knowledge and experience of the Marshall Group. www.marshallsolutions.com

About CambridgeUniversity IfM

Combining intellectual rigor with real-world relevance, the IfM has developed an integrated community of academics, students and industrialists with a shared passion for modern manufacturing.