LONDON and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Savi Technology, Inc. and Unipart Logistics Limited today announced plans to form a "preferred partnership" to market Savi's Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based supply chain solutions to commercial customers in Europe. Unipart is one of Europe's largest logistics service providers with expertise in end-to-end supply chain management and Savi Technology is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin that provides RFID-based total asset management solutions.
Under the agreement, Unipart Logistics will be able to sell and implement Savi's products, services and solutions to commercial customers in Europe, especially in the automotive sector. The agreement also allows Unipart to rebrand Savi's products into its own logistics offerings with recognition that they are being "Powered by Savi." In turn, Unipart Logistics will provide supply chain expertise to enhance the value of their RFID solutions to customers.
Savi also will provide technical training and strategic counsel and the two companies will jointly pursue projects that leverage their combined logistics and technology strengths.
"Savi recognizes the strengths of partners such as Unipart are essential to our strategy in international markets," said Bruce Jacquemard, Savi Technology's managing director of International Business. "Partnering with Unipart will enable Savi to pursue new commercial market opportunities in the UK and Europe, especially in the automotive sector where Unipart's customer base and industry expertise is especially strong."
"Savi's advanced products and solutions provide new levels of value in tracking and managing assets and shipments in local and global supply chains, and I'm confident our partnership will enable Unipart to continue to provide a competitive advantage for existing and prospective customers," said Carl Powell, director and general manager of UEP, the Supply Chain Consultancy Division of Unipart Logistics. "Unipart Logistics' supply chain expertise coupled with our own research into the application of RFID will ensure customers can quickly define the right business case and realize value."
Savi and Unipart have been collaborating since late last year, when they participated in the Jaguar Tradelane Evaluation Project. Unipart has deployed the SaviTrak(TM) information service for this project, which has proven to reduce costs and improve service in shipping Jaguar car parts in cargo containers from the United Kingdom to the United States. In this project, Unipart is working with Savi Networks, which is a joint venture between Savi Technology and Hutchison Port Holdings, the world's largest port operator.
Unipart Logistics is one of Europe's leading providers of outsourced Aftermarket logistics and distribution services. It specialises in managing complete supply chains from manufacturers through to retail distributors and seeks to add value at every level of the chain. Unipart Logistics' materials management services provide world class warehousing, transportation and inventory management to ensure that the clients' customers receive the right product in perfect condition at the right place, on time, every time. Unipart Logistics has a well established track record in a number of sectors working with prestigious clients such as Jaguar, London Taxis, Vodafone, 3, Hewlett Packard, Halfords, Homebase and Jessops. It also provides logistics services for other Unipart Group companies in the Rail, Automotive, and Leisure sectors. For additional information, visit our web site at http://www.unipart.co.uk/
With over 16 years of experience, Savi is a leading provider of active RFID solutions for the management and security of supply chain assets, shipments and consignments. Savi Technology is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, with headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., and offices in Washington D.C., London, Singapore, and Melbourne. For more information, visit http://www.savi.com/.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion. For additional information, visit http://www.lockheedmartin.com/.
Savi Technology - Lockheed Martin
CONTACT: Mark Howard of Unipart, +44-0-1865-383440, mark.x.howard@unipart.co.uk; or Mark Nelson of Savi, +1-650-316-4872, mnelson@savi.com
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