Blackline GPS
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| Public (TSX-V: BLN) | |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Patrick Rousseau, Brendon Cook |
| Headquarters | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
|
Key people
|
Cody Slater, Chairman & CEO
Clark Swanson, President |
| Products | Lone worker monitoring devices, GPS tracking devices |
| Services | Lone worker and employee safety monitoring, professional-grade vehicle & asset tracking |
| Subsidiaries | Blackline GPS Europe Ltd |
| Slogan | "Protect.Share.Connect" |
| Website | www.blacklinegps.com |
Blackline GPS is a Calgary-based wireless location technology company that develops, manufactures, and markets products and services for employee safety monitoring, lone worker monitoring, and vehicle & asset tracking. Its products are currently in use across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia and Australia. Blackline GPS states that its "solutions deliver safety, security, and location awareness through innovative wireless hardware and custom user interfaces, including web, mobile, messaging, and web services."
Contents
History
Early years (2004-2008)
Blackline GPS was founded by Patrick Rousseau & Brendon Cook in 2004. The company's initial product was the Fuel GPS, a high-accuracy GPS device for tracking and analyzing racing vehicle lap times. In 2006, Blackline GPS began developing and manufacturing portable GPS-enabled security devices for end consumers.[1]
In 2007, Blackline GPS met with members of Calgary-based ENMAX Corporation to discuss the potential application of the Snitch device as lone worker safety monitoring device instead of a tracker. Within two weeks, Blackline GPS had reprogrammed the device to detect lack-of-motion and provide safety management with an alert in the event of a button-push or a man-down situation. This device was re-branded as Loner GPS and became the first iteration of Blackline GPS' lone worker and safety monitoring devices.[2]
Blackline GPS was acquired by Picasso Inc in late 2008 in a reverse takeover.
Post-reverse takeover (2008-Present)
Following the reverse takeover, Clark Swanson assumed the role of President and CEO. Blackline GPS went on to partner with Escort, re-branding its GPS Snitch product line under the Entourage brand and announced a relationship with the American Red Cross to provide tracking and emergency service management for vehicles and personnel.
In January, 2011, with a focus on industrial safety, Cody Slater assumed the role of CEO. Cody Slater was formerly the Founder and CEO of BW Technologies, the world's largest industrial gas clip manufacturer, sold to Honeywell in 2006.
Blackline GPS has now shifted its focus primarily on the industrial & commercial safety and loss prevention industries and has acquired numerous globally prominent clients in sectors ranging from the Energy Industry, Manufacturing, and Logistics to Public Services and Retail.
Safety Monitoring Products
Blackline GPS designs and manufactures safety monitoring products - typically called lone worker monitoring or employee safety monitoring devices. With increasing lone worker legislation coming into effect across the western world, Blackline has begun positioning itself to meet this growing demand.
Loner SMD
A person-worn employee safety monitoring device with fall detection, man-down alerting, missed check-in alerting, an emergency latch, and a silent duress alert. Introduced in mid-2012.[3]
Loner IS
An intrinsically safe variant of the Loner SMD device. Class I, Division 1 Groups A, B, C, & D, and Class II, Division 1 Groups E, F, & G Intrinsic safety. Introduced in late 2012.[4]
Loner IS Arctic
A variant of the Loner IS device built with a larger battery, and capable of operating for up to 20 hours in -20 °C. Introduced in mid-2013.[5]
Loner Beacon
An accessory to Loner person-worn devices. Loner Beacons broadcast a signal using short-range ANT (network) transmission which is detected by nearby Loner devices and associated with precise indoor location information on the user interface. This technology allows safety responders to locate injured or distressed employees within facilities much faster than previous methods such as performing a facility sweep. Introduced in late 2013.[6]
Loner Bridge System
Unlike previous Loner devices, Loner 900 does not transmit using a cellular data connection. Instead, it broadcasts location and safety information using the 900 MHz spectrum. This data is received by a nearby Loner Bridge base station which then transmits this data to the Blackline infrastructure using either its cellular data connection or a satellite data uplink (if cellular connectivity is unavailable). Introduced in mid-2014.[7]
Loss Prevention Products
Javelin
Blackline GPS' flagship tracking product, Javelin can be magnetically mounted onto a vehicle, shipping container, or any other ferrous metal surface. The device has a run time of approximately three weeks under moderate usage and can be hardwired into a vehicle for continuous, uninterrupted use. Javelin has been utilized by many law enforcement groups across North America. Introduced in late 2011.[8]
Flat Track
An ultra-slim tracking device designed for tracking shipments, packages, and envelopes. Flat Track is thinner than an iPad 2 and could easily be concealed among other shipped goods. Introduced in mid 2012.[9]
Dart
Blackline GPS' smallest tracking device can be hardwired into a vehicle or be magnetically attached for investigative purposes. Introduced in late 2012.[10]
Corporate Governance
The current members of the Blackline GPS Board of Directors are Cody Slater, Clark Swanson, Michael Hayduk, Dr. John Finbow, and Robert J. Herdman.[11]
Subsidiaries
On May 1, 2014, UK-based Blackline GPS Europe Ltd. opened its doors providing local sales and service to the Europe, the Middle East and Africa region as a wholly owned subsidiary of Blackline GPS Corp. The subsidiary is managed by Managing Director Gavin Boorman.[12]
Awards
Blackline GPS has been awarded several awards:
- Rated #73 on the Profit 500 (2013)
- OH&S Magazine's New Product of the Year Award (2013)
- Govies Product Awards (2011, 2012)
- Government Security News Border Security Silver Award (2013)
Nominations
Blackline GPS has been nominated for several awards:
- Alberta Export Awards Finalist (2013)
- IFSEC & Firex Best Lone Worker Solution Finalist (2013)
References
- ↑ [1], Press Release - Future Shop
- ↑ [2], Press Release - BLACKLINE GPS JOIN FORCES WITH ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS TO ENSURE LONE WORKER SAFETY
- ↑ [3], Blackline Safety - Loner SMD
- ↑ [4], Blackline Safety - Loner IS
- ↑ [5], Blackline Safety - Loner IS Arctic
- ↑ [6], Blackline Safety - Loner Beacon
- ↑ [7], Blackline Safety - Loner Bridge System
- ↑ [8], Blackline Tracking - Javelin
- ↑ [9], Blackline Tracking - Flat Track
- ↑ [10], Blackline Tracking - Dart
- ↑ [11], Blackline GPS - Strength Through Leadership
- ↑ [12], Press Release - Blackline Announces International Office, Appoints Managing Director
