G+D Strengthens Position in IoT – Acquires MECOMO and Launches Smart Label

International security technology group Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has acquired MECOMO AG, a specialist in tracking and tracing solutions, with the contract signed in May.

MECOMO, based in Germany, is a software systems house providing end-to-end telematics* solutions for industrial and logistics enterprises. Founded in 2000, the company is the market leader in German-speaking Europe for the digitalisation of fleet-based logistics objects that don’t have their own power supply. These range from pallets and refrigerated containers to load carriers, freight cars and sea containers.

With the acquisition of MECOMO, G+D is now taking the next step in expanding its IoT product portfolio and offering solutions from a single source. In doing so, the technology group is making targeted investments into selected verticals, with one example being the logistics industry.

The investment is aligned with G+D’s prior acquisition, in 2021, of Pod Group, an enterprise network operator specialising in scalable, mobile-networked solutions for the Internet of Things.

In January 2023, Pod Group, in partnership with SODAQ and Lufthansa Industry Solutions, launched a paper-thin tracking device in the form of a smart label, which allows for the tracking of small and lightweight items – something not previously possible with traditional devices.

The 2mm thin smart label features a printed battery for minimal weight and uses the low-power cellular 5G connectivity standard (LTE CAT-M) to send data on device location and temperature back to a centralised dashboard. This enables logistics companies to track valuable goods, from something as small and light as a vital document to something as large as a full-sized oil painting.

The middleware platform provided by Lufthansa Industry Solutions enables geofences with notifications that alert the user when the package enters or leaves key points along the supply chain. Using LTE-M SIM coverage technology, the label ensures that the package is traceable across more than 40 countries.

The low-power connectivity of the solution ensures that battery life can last up to six months. The label can send up to 150 messages and be used multiple times, depending on the transmission frequency. Given that it is an alkaline battery, it is also more environmentally friendly than traditional lithium batteries, and the materials used are recyclable.

‘Over the last years, we have consistently pursued our strategic goals and invested heavily in our digital portfolio, which now contributes around a quarter of our total revenue. Following the acquisition of Pod two years ago, the purchase of MECOMO now further strengthens our activities in the field of IoT. This enables us to support companies in their digital transformation with a comprehensive offering,’ said Ralf Wintergerst, CEO of Giesecke+Devrient, underlining the strategic relevance of the acquisition of MECOMO.

* Telematics is an interdisciplinary field encompassing telecommunications, vehicular technologies, electrical engineering, and computer science.