Xplores Rugged Tablet PCs Selected by DaimlerChrysler in Bremen, Germany

Xplore Technologies Corp. (TSX:XPL) a leading international rugged Tablet PC provider, announced its iX104RD Tablet PCs have been selected by DaimlerChrysler in Bremen, Germany to increase spare parts processing efficiency at their manufacturing plant. Xplore has received initial orders for over 150 systems for DaimlerChrysler from Xplores distributor, ID.SYS GmbH and its authorized German systems integrator, ID Biz Input Solutions GmbH. Approximately 50 systems have been deployed to date.

Xplores rugged iX104RD Dual Mode Tablet PCs with integrated Cisco Aironet 350 wLAN card are wirelessly connected to DaimlerChryslers mobile spare part management system called MOBSY. The tablets, mounted on electric forklifts are used to locate and manage the logistics for the automobile parts used on the manufacturing lines.

ID Biz developed a communication tool called LogIn (Logistic Interface) to allow the manufacturing engineers to contact the warehouse staff via Xplores iX104 Tablet PC whenever a part is required at the production line. The manufacturing engineer simply selects the appropriate LogIn parts key on the line to request spare parts from the warehouse. The LogIn terminal sends the information through the wireless local area network to the Xplore tablet mounted on the forklift. The forklift driver using Xplores Tablet PC Dual Mode Touch and RF interface identifies the appropriate spare part location via a central database and collects the part. When the picker retrieves the part, the label is scanned by a barcode scanner connected to the Xplore Tablet PC and inventory counts are automatically adjusted in real-time.

The return on investment is immediate and evident: not only are the parts easier to locate in the warehouse when using the forklift-mounted Xplore Tablet PC, but accuracy and complete integrated inventory control delivers additional efficiencies. The iX104RD tablets together with the LogIn solution utilizing RF-assured communication from the manufacturing to the picking has significantly improved parts processing.

DaimlerChrysler has a product portfolio from small-size cars to sports cars and luxury sedans; and from versatile vans to heavy duty trucks or comfortable coaches. The second largest DaimlerChrysler plant in Germany is the Bremen plant, which employs 15,000 people and has a floor space of 850,000 square meters. Cars such as C-class sedan, C-class combi, CLK, SL, SLK are manufactured in Bremen.