Kinexon
KINEXON provides real-time location intelligence for industrial automation and asset tracking.
KINEXON provides a real-time location intelligence platform (KINEXON OS) that converts UWB, BLE, RFID, and GPS data into a digital twin of industrial operations. The platform enables precise centimeter-level asset tracking and automated control of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs/AGVs) across manufacturing and logistics environments. With over 10,000 daily users across BMW plants, Continental, and other Fortune 500 manufacturers, KINEXON delivers measurable ROI through operational automation and cost savings. The company is a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for Indoor Location Services.
Problem solved
Manufacturing and logistics companies lack real-time visibility and automated control of assets, robots, and materials in motion, resulting in manual tracking, inefficient operations, and inability to trigger production automation based on actual asset location.
Target customer
Large manufacturers and logistics operators with complex multi-site operations, autonomous mobile robot deployments, and high-value asset tracking requirements. Primarily Fortune 500 and mid-market industrial companies across automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors.
Founders
A
Alexander Hüttenbrink
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
PhD from Technical University of Munich in industrial engineering; prior experience at Lufthansa, L'Oréal, and BMW.
O
Oliver Trinchera
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
PhD from Technical University of Munich; studied business administration, electrical engineering, and technology management at TU Munich and CDTM.
Funding history
Series A
$130M
April 2022
Led by Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL)
· BMW i Ventures, Telekom Innovation Pool (Deutsche Telekom)
Debt Financing
€15M
November 2020
Led by European Investment Bank
Total raised:
$130M
Industries
Pricing
Not publicly available. Enterprise custom pricing model based on deployment scale and hardware requirements.
Notable customers
BMW, Continental, Zalando, Red Bull, MTU Aero Engines, Premium AEROTEC, NBA, NHL, NFL teams, Bundesliga, Sky, Red Bull Mediahouse
Integrations
SAP, vendor-independent AMR/AGV platform support, BLE, RFID, GPS, UWB hardware ecosystem
Website
Competitors
Zebra Technologies
Zebra leads in high-volume asset tracking through MotionWorks platform but is less specialized in precision manufacturing automation.
Ubisense
Ubisense leads in complex, high-precision manufacturing in European automotive but lacks KINEXON's integrated AMR/AGV automation capabilities.
Sewio
Sewio provides RTLS solutions but with lower precision accuracy compared to KINEXON's centimeter-level UWB performance.
Pozyx
Pozyx offers UWB-based positioning but focuses more on consumer and lighter industrial applications rather than production-critical manufacturing.
Why this matters: KINEXON is a rare category leader combining hardware expertise (UWB tags/anchors) with production-critical software (KINEXON OS), achieving Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader status in 2024. The company demonstrates significant market traction with Fortune 500 manufacturers reporting $10M+ annual savings, positioning it as a key infrastructure layer in the smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 transition.
Best for: Large manufacturers and logistics operators requiring production-critical real-time asset visibility, autonomous mobile robot fleet management, and automated material flow optimization with centimeter-level precision.
Use cases
Autonomous Mobile Robot Fleet Management
BMW uses KINEXON OS to manage and control AMRs and AGVs across 14 plants on 4 continents through a vendor-independent platform. The platform triggered over $10M in annual operational cost savings by automating robot dispatching and collision avoidance based on real-time location data.
High-Value Aerospace Asset Tracking
MTU Aero Engines and Premium AEROTEC use KINEXON's track-and-trace solution to gain real-time visibility of high-value components moving through production and logistics. This enables just-in-time supply chain automation and reduces loss/misplacement of critical parts.
Production-Critical Automation Triggering
Continental achieved 250% ROI in 5 years by using KINEXON to automatically trigger production workflows when autonomous mobile robots reach specific manufacturing zones. Location-based event triggers eliminated manual handoffs and increased throughput.
Sports Analytics & Performance Tracking
NBA, NHL, and NFL teams use KINEXON's UWB technology to capture real-time player location and movement data, automating statistical collection and enabling live performance analytics previously recorded manually.
Alternatives
Zebra MotionWorks
Choose Zebra for high-volume asset tracking in logistics with broader ecosystem support; choose KINEXON for precision manufacturing automation requiring centimeter accuracy.
Ubisense SmartSpace
Choose Ubisense for complex European automotive manufacturing; choose KINEXON for vendor-independent AMR control and faster global deployment.
Sewio RTLS
Choose Sewio for cost-sensitive asset tracking; choose KINEXON for production-critical applications requiring sub-10cm accuracy and automated control.
FAQ
What does KINEXON do? +
KINEXON provides a real-time location intelligence platform that converts UWB, BLE, RFID, and GPS data into a digital twin of industrial operations. The KINEXON OS software platform enables centimeter-level asset tracking, autonomous mobile robot fleet management, and automated production control across manufacturing and logistics environments.
How much does KINEXON cost? +
KINEXON pricing is not publicly available. Pricing is based on enterprise custom models that account for deployment scale, number of assets tracked, hardware requirements, and integration complexity. Contact sales for a quote.
What are alternatives to KINEXON? +
Zebra MotionWorks (broader high-volume asset tracking), Ubisense SmartSpace (complex automotive manufacturing), Sewio RTLS (cost-sensitive tracking), and Pozyx (lighter industrial applications).
Who uses KINEXON? +
Fortune 500 manufacturers including BMW, Continental, and Zalando; aerospace companies like MTU Aero Engines and Premium AEROTEC; and professional sports teams across NBA, NHL, NFL, and Bundesliga.
How does KINEXON compare to Ubisense? +
Both are precision manufacturing leaders. Ubisense dominates European automotive with the SmartSpace platform; KINEXON offers vendor-independent AMR/AGV control and faster global scaling. KINEXON's UWB technology achieves sub-10cm accuracy with integrated automation triggers, while Ubisense focuses on complex manufacturing environments.
What accuracy does KINEXON achieve? +
KINEXON's UWB technology provides centimeter-level accuracy (sub-10cm in optimal conditions), far superior to BLE or WiFi solutions that offer only 3-5 meter accuracy. KINEXON RTLS Mesh offers up to 30cm precision with cost-efficient wireless anchor deployment.
Is KINEXON a public company? +
No, KINEXON is a private Series A company founded in 2012 and headquartered in Munich, Germany. The company raised $130M in April 2022 led by Thomas H. Lee Partners.
Tags
RTLS
real-time location
UWB
asset tracking
autonomous robots
AMR
AGV
manufacturing automation
Industry 4.0
IoT
industrial software
digital twin