How precisely do you need to know where something is?

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a brilliant technology when very high positioning accuracy is required. It absolutely has its place, and it remains one of the RTLS technologies we can deploy at EK.

But there’s another question that’s just as important:

Does your application actually need that level of precision?

Because when it comes to RTLS, the best technology isn’t necessarily the one that delivers the highest possible accuracy. It’s the one that delivers the right level of accuracy for the application, at a cost that makes the project viable.

And that’s where Bluetooth Low Energy Angle of Arrival (BLE AoA) gets interesting.

What is BLE AoA?

Bluetooth Low Energy Angle of Arrival uses BLE signals to help determine the location of a tagged object, asset or person.

For manufacturers looking to introduce real-time visibility across their facility, it can provide an attractive alternative for applications where very high positioning accuracy isn’t essential.

Depending on the application, BLE AoA can offer several advantages:

• More cost-effective to deploy
• Simpler installation
• Easier scalability across larger numbers of tracked assets
• Built around the established Bluetooth ecosystem
• Integration with wider location intelligence and automation platforms

That combination can make RTLS commercially viable for applications where the cost or infrastructure associated with another technology may be difficult to justify.

UWB or BLE AoA: Which One is Better?

The answer is: it depends on what you’re trying to achieve.

If an application requires extremely high positioning precision, UWB may be the right choice.

But if the goal is to know which area of production an asset is in, follow equipment around a facility, track components through different process stages or gain greater visibility of people and assets, BLE AoA could provide the level of positioning you actually need.

This is why we believe the conversation should start with the application — not the technology.

Rather than asking:

“Which RTLS technology should we install?”

Start with:

“What problem are we trying to solve?”

From there, we can look at the required accuracy, number of assets, physical environment, existing infrastructure, scalability and budget before deciding which technology makes the most sense.

What Could You Track?

The opportunities for real-time location intelligence within manufacturing are wide-ranging.

A business could use RTLS to gain greater visibility of:

Components and Work in Progress
Follow components as they move through different production areas and gain a clearer picture of where work is within the manufacturing process.

Tools and Equipment
Reduce the time employees spend searching for shared or valuable equipment.

Mobile Assets
Track assets as they move around a production or warehouse environment.

People
Understand the real-time location of personnel where appropriate for operational or safety applications.

And importantly, location information can become part of a much bigger automation picture.

Rather than simply showing a dot on a map, RTLS data can potentially be connected with wider systems to help businesses understand where something is, where it has been and what is happening around it.

Putting BLE AoA into Practice at EK

At EK Automation, we’ve been putting this into practice with our latest BLE AoA RTLS demonstration.

The idea is simple: demonstrate how manufacturers could gain real-time visibility of assets, equipment or people without automatically assuming that the application requires the highest possible positioning accuracy — or the infrastructure and investment that comes with it.

It's another option we can bring to the table when we're discussing Location Intelligence with our customers.

Because sometimes the smartest technology decision isn't achieving the highest accuracy technically possible.

It's achieving the accuracy you actually need.

That distinction can be the difference between an interesting technology demonstration and a solution that delivers genuine value to a business.

Start With the Problem, Not the Technology

Every facility and every RTLS application is different.

That’s why at EK, we’d rather understand what you're trying to track, why you need to track it and what you want to achieve with the information before recommending the technology behind it.

UWB? BLE AoA? Something else?

Let the application decide.

If you have an RTLS application in mind but aren't sure which approach would be right for your facility, talk to the EK Automation team.

We’re happy to look at the application first and the technology second.

Putting Location Intelligence into Practice

Our team recently developed a demonstration combining Squawk Technologies Angle of Arrival (AoA) RTLS hardware with Siemens Location Intelligence.

The aim was to show how real-time location tracking could work in a practical manufacturing environment, not just tracking a dot moving around a screen, but turning location information into useful production data.

Using RTLS tags, objects can be tracked as they move between different defined areas, or Geo-Zones, within a facility.

As an object moves from one area to another, its location and status can be updated automatically, creating a digital record of its journey through the production process.

More Than Knowing Where Something Is

One of the key parts of our demonstration is a bespoke interface developed by EK Automation.

Using the open APIs available within Siemens Location Intelligence, our interface allows users to create new objects and assign RTLS tags to them. Once assigned, that object becomes visible within the tracking environment.

This means teams could potentially track components, assets or personnel in real time, while automatically adding relevant information as they move through different areas.

Imagine a component progressing through several stages of an assembly process.

Instead of relying on manual updates or someone knowing where that component was last seen, teams could have much clearer visibility of where it is, where it has been and what stage it has reached.

Turning Movement into Insight

The potential goes beyond live tracking.

Siemens Location Intelligence provides features including historical tag tracking, search functionality, heat maps and velocity views.

This means location data can also help businesses understand how things are moving around their facilities over time.

Where are the busiest areas? Where are assets spending the most time? Are there patterns in movement that could highlight a bottleneck?

That information can provide another layer of insight when looking at production flow, layouts and processes.

The platform can also support multiple sites, opening up the possibility of giving businesses greater visibility of tracked assets and operations across different facilities from a common system.

Where Could It Be Used?

There are some particularly interesting applications in industries such as aerospace and pharmaceutical manufacturing, where traceability and process visibility can be extremely important.

Being able to build a digital record of a component's journey could help reduce time spent searching for items, improve operational visibility and provide greater traceability throughout the production process.

Ultimately, it’s about making location data useful.

Not simply answering:

“Where is it?”

But also:

“Where has it been, what has happened along the way, and what can that tell us about our process?”

See Location Intelligence in Action

Our latest demonstration shows how EK Automation has brought RTLS hardware, Siemens Location Intelligence and our own bespoke interface together to explore what this could look like in a real manufacturing environment.

If you're looking at ways to improve traceability, asset visibility or production flow within your facility, we'd be happy to have a conversation about where Location Intelligence could fit.

Get in touch with the EK Automation Systems team to find out more.

A Day of Innovation and Industry Insight

Our directors, Ed and Kai, travelled to Nuremberg to explore the latest advancements shaping the future of industrial automation. SPS is well known for being a hub of innovation, where global leaders come together to showcase cutting-edge technologies, exchange ideas, and discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead.

From automation hardware and digitalisation tools to cybersecurity solutions and future-focused industrial concepts, the event offered a deep dive into what’s next for our industry. Ed and Kai gained valuable insight into emerging technologies that will influence how we design, integrate, and support systems for our clients in the years ahead.

Celebrating Siemens’ Achievement

A standout moment from the event was witnessing Siemens receive a prestigious award for their new S220 drive, recognised for achieving IEC/ISA 62443-4-2 SL-C Level 2 - a meaningful step forward in secure industrial automation.

Seeing Siemens receive this award first hand highlighted the ongoing commitment to innovation, safety, and reliability within the industry. It was a proud moment to be present for, especially as invited guests.

Strengthening Relationships and Shaping Our 2026 Vision

Attending SPS reinforced just how rapidly the automation landscape is evolving, and how essential strong partnerships are in navigating that evolution.

Ed and Kai returned energised, inspired, and full of fresh perspective. The conversations had at SPS, combined with the technologies on display, have sparked new ideas that will play a key role in our strategic planning for 2026 and beyond.

As we continue to grow, events like this keep EK at the forefront of industry change and ensure we are always bringing the most advanced, secure, and future-ready solutions to our clients.

A Big Thank You to Siemens

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Siemens for inviting and hosting us at such a significant event. Their hospitality, openness, and commitment to collaboration made this an experience that will stay with us for a long time.

We look forward to continuing to build on this relationship as we push forward into the next chapter of innovation, digitalisation, and secure automation.

Starting the Day Right: Our Annual Business Meeting

We began with our yearly business meeting, taking the time to reflect on our achievements, align on priorities, and set our goals for the year ahead. It’s always a valuable opportunity to come together, share ideas, and ensure we’re all moving in the same direction as a team.

But once the serious work was wrapped up… well, that’s when things got interesting.

🧟‍♂️ The Zombie VR Experience

Next stop: full Zombie VR immersion.

What followed was an hour of shouting, laughing, panicking, and questionable survival tactics from all involved. It turns out that when faced with a virtual apocalypse, some of us are natural heroes… and some of us run straight into danger.

A big shout-out to Steven and Ed, who emerged as the top performers for their teams. Whether it was tactical genius or pure adrenaline is still up for debate - but a win is a win, and they’ve claimed their bragging rights!

A Great Evening Together

After “surviving” the zombies, we headed out for a well-deserved meal at a Birmingham steakhouse, followed by a relaxed evening together as a team. Great food, great laughs, and great company made it the perfect end to the day.

Why Days Like This Matter

Team days aren’t just about fun — they help us reconnect, reset, and return to work energised. They remind us that strong teams are built on trust, collaboration, and a shared sense of humour… especially when zombies are involved.

Here’s to another fantastic year with an even more fantastic team.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers are the foundation of innovation, and as technology continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever to inspire and support young people entering the field.

One of the ways we’re helping shape that future is through hands-on experience and mentorship. Our Junior Automation Engineer, Charlie, is currently completing his Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship, gaining valuable real-world experience alongside our team of skilled engineers.

What makes Charlie’s journey especially meaningful to us is that many of our senior engineers started in exactly the same way, as apprentices eager to learn, problem-solve, and build something great. Their paths are a reminder that some of the most successful engineering careers start with curiosity, opportunity, and the right support network.

At EK, we’re proud to provide that environment. We know that developing future talent isn’t just about teaching technical skills, it’s about building confidence, creativity, and a lifelong passion for engineering.

By investing in people, we’re investing in the future of our industry. Every innovation starts with someone who was given the chance to learn, grow, and create something better.

Here’s to the next generation of engineers - and to a future powered by knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.

What was once about programming a machine to follow a set of fixed instructions has now evolved into building systems that can learn, adapt, and optimise themselves - creating smarter, safer, and more efficient industrial environments.

From Reactive to Predictive Automation

At EK, we’re seeing a major shift from traditional automation to intelligent, data-driven systems. AI and ML technologies enable machines to analyse performance data, recognise patterns, and make decisions, often before a human operator even needs to intervene.

This means maintenance that predicts failures before they happen, control systems that adapt to real-time conditions, and processes that continually refine themselves for maximum efficiency.

The EK Approach: Smarter Systems, Safer Operations

We’re integrating AI and ML into our automation and IIoT solutions to help clients unlock new levels of productivity and reliability. By combining real-time data with intelligent algorithms, our systems can:

• Predict and prevent downtime through proactive maintenance alerts

• Optimise energy usage and reduce waste across processes

• Enhance system safety with adaptive controls that respond to anomalies instantly

It’s automation that doesn’t just work harder - it thinks smarter.

Empowering People, Not Replacing Them

AI and automation aren’t about removing the human element; they’re about empowering teams to focus on higher-value tasks. By taking care of the repetitive, data-heavy operations, intelligent systems give people the space to innovate, make strategic decisions, and drive improvement.

The Future Is Intelligent

As AI and ML continue to evolve, the possibilities for industrial automation are expanding faster than ever. At EK, we’re committed to staying at the forefront of that journey, helping our clients build intelligent, connected systems that stand the test of time.

💡 Learn more about how we’re integrating intelligence into automation:
👉 https://www.ek-as.co.uk/solutions/software-solutions

In today’s connected world, where IT and OT are more intertwined than ever, cybersecurity has become the backbone of safe, reliable, and resilient industrial operations.

That’s why our IEC 62443 certification journey continues and this month, we’re proud to celebrate the next major milestone.

Congratulations to Kai Potter – Stage 2: OT Cyber Security Risk Assessment Specialist

Following the successful completion of his Stage 1 Fundamentals certification, our Director, Kai, has now achieved the IEC 62443 Risk Assessment Specialist certification.

This next stage of the journey dives deeper into the heart of operational technology security, focusing on how to identify, assess, and manage cyber risks within industrial environments. It’s a crucial step in ensuring that the systems we design are secure by design, from concept to commissioning.

Why This Matters

IEC 62443 is more than a global standard, it’s a framework that defines how industrial organisations can protect control systems from growing cyber threats. By investing in this training, EK is strengthening its capability to:

✅ Carry out detailed OT risk assessments
✅ Design and implement hardened, future-ready control architectures
✅ Bridge the IT/OT security gap across industries
✅ Support clients in meeting compliance requirements such as IEC 62443 and beyond

Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time effort, it’s a continuous process of learning, adapting, and improving.
For us, this certification isn’t just about recognition. It’s about ensuring every solution we deliver is secure, compliant, and resilient in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

As we progress through the IEC 62443 certification pathway, we’re building the internal expertise and frameworks that will allow us to better support asset owners, integrators, and manufacturers across the UK and beyond.

Looking Ahead

We’re incredibly proud of Kai for leading the way on this journey - and this is just the beginning. The next stages will take us even deeper into practical implementation and advisory-level certification, helping EK become a trusted partner for industrial cybersecurity excellence.

Because at EK, we believe the future of automation will only thrive when it’s built on security, collaboration, and continuous growth.

Charlie joins EK while completing his Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship, combining his formal training with hands-on experience in real-world automation projects.

At EK, we’re passionate about supporting the next generation of engineers, helping them develop their skills, gain confidence, and contribute to meaningful innovation within the industry. Charlie’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and commitment to learning make him a perfect fit for our growing engineering team.

As our project portfolio grows and new opportunities arise, talented individuals like Charlie are key to driving EK’s vision forward, creating automation solutions that are smart, secure, and sustainable.

Welcome to the team, Charlie - we’re excited to be part of your journey!

This month, we’re delighted to welcome Steven, who joins us as a Control Systems Engineer.

Steven brings with him a wealth of hands-on experience in engineering, maintenance, and control systems. Over his career, he’s worked across a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, field service, and R&D. His impressive background includes:

• Engineering Manager and Maintenance Engineer at Fibrestar Drums,

• Field Service Technician at NOV,

• and Production Maintenance Engineer at Kingsland Drinks.

Steven’s experience designing bespoke control systems and managing engineering operations makes him an invaluable addition to our growing team. His practical approach and technical expertise align perfectly with EK’s focus on delivering high-quality, future-ready automation solutions.

We’re thrilled to have Steven on board as we continue to strengthen our capabilities and expand our reach in the automation and control systems sector.

Welcome to the team, Steven, we’re looking forward to the exciting projects ahead!

Then: A Decade Ago

Ten years ago, automation systems were simpler but also more limited. The focus was on controlling processes, maintaining production speed, and reducing human error.

Typical features included:

• Standalone systems with little or no integration across sites.

• Manual monitoring, requiring constant operator oversight.

• Limited data visibility, with information trapped inside machines.

• A strong emphasis on efficiency over flexibility or intelligence.

These systems did their job well but lacked the connectivity and insight needed for modern, data-driven decision-making.

Now: Today’s Landscape

Modern automation has taken a giant leap forward. Instead of siloed machines, we now see fully integrated ecosystems where IT and OT work seamlessly together.

Today’s systems are defined by:

• IT/OT convergence that bridges enterprise systems with the factory floor.

• Real-time visibility through IIoT and advanced analytics.

• Cybersecurity by design, with standards like IEC 62443 guiding best practice.

• Smarter, more resilient systems that adapt to change and anticipate issues before they happen.

This evolution has transformed automation from a tool of efficiency into a driver of innovation, security, and sustainability.

Why the Shift Matters

The difference between then and now isn’t just about technology. It’s about what businesses can achieve:

• Faster, smarter decisions.

• Safer, more secure operations.

• Stronger resilience against downtime and cyber threats.

• A foundation for future innovation, from digital twins to AI.