NEWS

2020.11.24

[Press Release] AWL, a Leading Edge AI camera Solutions Provider Announces Conclusion of Capital and Business Alliance with KIKUCHI SEISAKUSHO

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Press Release

AWL, a Leading Edge AI camera Solutions Provider Announces Conclusion of Capital and Business Alliance with
KIKUCHI SEISAKUSHO
Aiming to accelerate the social implementation of AI
through the alliance between KIKUCHI SEISAKUSHO, which is committed to development and sales of service robots and IoT as the “Comprehensive Manufacturing Supporter” and AWL, an edge AI technology innovator

Tokyo, Japan – November 16, 2020 – AWL, Inc. (“The Company”, Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, President: Muneharu Kitade), a Hokkaido University-certified venture company and leading edge AI camera solutions provider, has announced that The Company has concluded a capital and business alliance agreement with KIKUCHI SEISAKUSHO Co., Ltd (“KIKUCHI”, Head Office: Hachioji City, Tokyo, Japan, President: Isao Kikuchi), the “Comprehensive Manufacturing Supporter” which possesses a wide range of processing technology and ”package solution system” as core strength. The Company also announced issuance of new shares through a third-party allotment to KIKUCHI.

Purpose and reasons for the business and capital alliance

With the aim of solving challenges that physical stores and facilities face and help enhance the added values, The Company develops and distributes AI solutions such as “AWL BOX”, which adds AI features to existing security cameras in store, and “AWL Lite”, the application which enables Smartphone, tablet and signage to utilize AI features such as COVID-19 measures and ad viewing analysis, etc. AI camera’s social implementation has been accelerated and the cameras are utilized in a wider range: digitalization of the real world, visualization, analysis, and automatic control by integrated not only with security cameras and signages but also robots, drones, and IoT devices. In the process of social implementation, needs for new hardware development to embed AI in cameras and signages in an innovative way is rapidly growing, and “prototyping” for PoC before launching mass production grows increasingly important.
Since its foundation in 1970, KIKUCHI has continuously been working on as “Comprehensive Manufacturing Supporter”. In recent years KIKUCHI is deeply committed to development and sales of service robots and drones, along with promoting new added value creation through investment and alliance with startups.

The Company decided to conclude capital and business alliance with KIKUCHI with a view to the further social implementation of AI through utilizing advantages of two companies: The Company’s AI (software) development capabilities and KIKUCHI’s manufacturing capabilities (hardware). The Company and KIKUCHI are determined to promote collaboration in the edge AI field which requires software/hardware integration by sharing know-how and resources such as human resources of each other.
Through the alliance, The Company and KIKUCHI intend to make various efforts to maximize the corporate value of two companies and expand sales and business further.

■ Nikkei Shimbun features AWL’s capital and business alliance with Kikuchi Seisakusho.
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO66314230X11C20A1FFT000/ (Japanese)