AI and software-based localization solutions

Sick, an international provider of sensor-based automation solutions headquartered in Germany, today announced the acquisition of the Dutch technology company Accerion.

Accerion specializes in AI-based image processing with a focus on positioning technologies for mobile robots. Autonomous mobile robots are used primarily in logistics and production. There they enable greater efficiency through automation in warehousing, intralogistics, manufacturing and many other industrial sectors. With the acquisition of the tech startup Accerion, Sick customers will benefit from a comprehensive solution portfolio for positioning solutions.
Innovation forge for software-driven localization

Accerion was founded in the Netherlands in 2015 and is a tech startup specializing in AI-based image processing for the positioning of autonomous mobile robots. With the software-controlled positioning solution "Triton", Accerion launched the world's first industrialized, infrastructure-free camera-based localization solution for ground structures for mobile robots. Since 2021, Sick has been working in partnership with Accerion to support industrial customers worldwide in the accurate localization, positioning and navigation of mobile robots.

Accerion now part of the Sick Group

With the takeover, Accerion's entire product portfolio as well as its development and sales team were transferred to Sick on January 16, 2025. Product development of the new Sick subsidiary "Sick Accerion B.V." will continue at the previous location in Venlo, the Netherlands.

Sick expands software portfolio for industrial automation

"We are very pleased to welcome the Accerion team to Sick and to position our software portfolio for autonomous mobile robots even more strongly for the future," says Dr. Niels Syassen, Sick Board Member for "Technology & Digitalization". "The market for sensor solutions for autonomous mobile robots offers enormous growth potential, as the requirements for an efficient supply chain in terms of throughput, availability, flexibility and safety for industrial companies are constantly increasing. In order to best support customers worldwide in their automation projects, we are continuing to develop our own sensor solutions and are also investing in new technologies," adds Dr. Niels Syassen.

Vincent Burg, CEO of Accerion, says: "With a dedicated team, we have developed Triton, a state-of-the-art localization solution, completely from scratch. Today, Triton enables high-precision localization for thousands of robots worldwide. Our close collaboration with Sick has shown how perfectly our products and cultures complement each other. We are excited to officially be part of the Sick family, where we can use this synergy to scale localization solutions worldwide."

Autonomous mobile robots - a global growth market

The global market for autonomous mobile robots has a volume of around four billion euros. Growth rates of over 15 percent show that industrial companies, for example in efficiency-driven intralogistics, are increasingly relying on the support of autonomous mobile robots. Modern sensor technologies and software solutions for navigation, localization and positioning enable the precise and safe movement of mobile robots in dynamic environments. Especially in the vicinity of people, it is essential that autonomous robots reliably recognize their surroundings and people.

Sick is already one of the world's leading solution providers in this area. With the acquisition of Accerion, Sick is investing in future growth, further expanding its expertise in the field of software-based applications and supporting customers with a comprehensive solution portfolio for positioning solutions.