APS Group has become the first organisation in the production print and mail sector globally to implement a fully integrated, end-to-end RFID job tracking solution, setting a new benchmark for automation, visibility and control across complex, high-volume operations.
The project is the result of more than 12 months of collaborative design between APS Group and BOWE, ensuring the solution meets the unique demands of secure, high-volume production environments.
End-to-End Digital Tracking
Deployed at APS Group’s Preston Brook production facility, the new Bowe IQ Real-Time Location System (RTLS), enables every job to be digitally tracked and automatically monitored from the moment data is received, through production, and onto the mail vehicle and beyond. This world-first capability removes reliance on manual intervention, significantly reducing human error while providing real-time certainty for clients operating in highly regulated, time-critical environments.
Transparent, Automated Logistics
For APS clients, the benefits are immediate and tangible. Live job tracking ensures complete visibility of where every job is at any point in the production journey, improves despatch accuracy by guaranteeing the correct job leaves on the correct vehicle at the correct time, and strengthens overall logistics planning and forecasting. This level of transparency and automation represents a step change for the industry, delivering greater confidence, speed and resilience across customer communications supply chains.
Smarter Operations, Real-Time
The system also transforms operational decision-making within APS. Real-time data highlights bottlenecks, enables dynamic scheduling, improves capacity planning and enhances asset utilisation across the production floor. Passive RFID antennas now cover the main production area as part of Phase 1, with vertical RFID portals being installed at loading bays to protect outbound mail by automatically verifying despatch lanes and carriers. A second phase will extend the technology into APS’s smart factory environment, with further applications already being explored across logistics and other operational areas.
Some Words From Our Team
Steve Goodall, Group Operations Director at APS Group, said:
“This is a genuine game-changer, not just for APS and our clients, but for the production print and mail industry as a whole. For the first time, we have complete, automated visibility of every job from data receipt through to despatch. It fundamentally changes how risk is managed, how performance is measured and how confidence is delivered to clients. Preston Brook is now one of the most advanced print production facilities of its kind anywhere in the world, and this technology will continue to unlock new innovation across our operations. ”
Steve Basnett, Senior Account Manager at BOWE Systec UK, commented:
“ Working closely with APS Group, we have delivered an industry-first solution that redefines job tracking within production print and mail. This deployment demonstrates how intelligent automation and real-time data can fundamentally transform operational control at scale. ”
About APS Group
100% employee-owned, APS Group was founded in 1961 and helps brands deliver Creative and Content, Customer Communications and Retail & Brand Experiences that perform. Employing over 1,000 people globally, APS Group operates from its headquarters in Cheadle, England, with regional offices across the UK, Europe and North America.
About BOWE GROUP
The BOWE GROUP is a global provider of smart automation and IoT software solutions, helping organisations optimise production and logistics through intelligent, future-focused technology. Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Augsburg, Germany, BOWE operates worldwide with around 1,000 employees and is part of the Possehl Group.
For more information, visit www.bowe.com
