WSI creates unexpected business applications

It is obvious that the Internet of Things can create new business applications for the manufacturing industry. But the IoT can also help the world’s climate. The Swedish company WSI has developed an environmental sensor that collects weather data from 30 cities around the world. The solution can be seen at Elmia Subcontractor.

The environmental sensor is attached to a publicly owned robot lawnmower from Husqvarna and gathers such climate data as air pollution and rainfall. The information is then transmitted both to Husqvarna’s cloud service and to the Quantified Planet environmental organisation. So far the concept is limited to a pilot project in 30 cities around the world – from Tokyo to New York – but it shows what possibilities exist with the Internet of Things.

“In the future we will see more built-in products that can share data,” says Jan-Åke Lindqvist, founder and CEO of WSI.

The environmental sensor was developed in cooperation with Telit and both companies are exhibiting at the same stand right by the Elmia Subcontractor IoT arena. Two other exciting solutions from WSI that show the breadth of possibilities with IoT are the Yale Doorman digital lock and the smart connected batteries from NorthStar.

“The clientele at Elmia Subcontractor are interesting,” Lindqvist says. “At other trade fairs we mostly meet companies just like us. Here the customers are from the manufacturing industry and we want to be involved in connecting Swedish industry.”

WSI was founded 15 years ago and since autumn 2016 has been part of the Allgon Group. Much focus is placed on helping customers find new business applications with the aid of IoT solutions – which is also one of the messages during Elmia Subcontractor.

“We understand both the technology and the business side of things, and I believe we’re quick at helping customers get a return on their investment. We make a difference there. Our know-how goes the whole way,” Lindqvist says.