Septentrio has built its reputation on innovation and customer focus and, together with Hexagon, will continue to drive its business model to deliver state-of-the-art GNSS technology and products to its large base of industry-leading OEM customers.
Strong growth and good margins
Septentrio, headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, but the company also has a global presence with offices in Los Angeles, Shanghai, Seoul and Yokohama, as well as several partners around the world. It has approximately 150 employees and is expected to generate revenues of over EUR 50 million, equivalent to just over SEK 550 million, in 2024. This is with a strong growth rate and margins in line with Hexagon Group’s ambition levels. Septentrio will be reported within Hexagon’s Autonomous Solutions division.
The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Precision in navigation in everything from manufacturing machines to UAVs
Hexagon is a world leader in precision technology at all scales. The company’s approach to digital twins, robotics and AI solutions is of great importance in a number of industrial operations.
The now announced purchase also has connections to these capabilities. An interesting background aspect is the increasing reliance on GNSS signals for positioning, navigation and timing applications in various industries, ranging from manufacturing plants and their machinery to UAVs and satellites in aerospace & defense. This increasing reliance has raised questions about GNSS vulnerabilities and how to address them. Which has consequences for today’s GPS/GNSS systems: Always available and accurate positioning, navigation and timing or Assured PNT (a.k.a. A-PNT) is the key to successful security-related or tactical operations.
Things like AIM+ anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technology ensure superior resilience even in Navigational Warfare (NAVWAR) environments where GNSS signals are limited or denied.
Market-leading resilience – Saab validation
On its website, Septentrio writes that AIM+ anti-jam and anti-spoof technology has proven market-leading resilience in tests organized those of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and at other dedicated events such as JammerTest in Norway where receivers are subjected to powerful jamming and spoofing attacks over several days.
Swedish defense group Saab has also validated Septentrio receivers at JammerTest. AIM+ has also been confirmed to be effective in the industry as part of critical infrastructure as well as on the battlefield, where receivers are used under frequent jamming attacks near disputed borders and in conflict zones.
Notably, the company owns all key components of its receivers, from the silicon chipset to the firmware.
If the deal, which is likely, goes through, these capabilities will strengthen Hexagon’s industrial offering.
