What BTG Positioning Systems does

BTG Positioning Systems, legally B.T.G. Special Products B.V., is a Dutch private SME headquartered in Oud-Beijerland, the Netherlands. Rebranded from "BTG Special Products" in 2024 to reflect exclusive focus on automated container ports, the company develops, manufactures, and installs position measurement systems for container terminal equipment including automated guided vehicles (AGVs), rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs), automated rail-mounted gantries (ARMGs/ASCs), ship-to-shore cranes, straddle carriers, and terminal trucks. The portfolio centers on three physics-based sensor modalities: 134 kHz RFID transponder-based absolute and continuous positioning (RFM family, 2 mm accuracy on gantries and trolleys, 10 mm on AGVs and RTGs), infrared Position Sensitive Device (PSD) measurement for spreader sway, skew, trim and list (IRM family, 0.01° sway accuracy), and the newly acquired ground-penetrating-radar Ground Sensing Localization (GSL) technology delivering 2 cm accuracy independent of GPS. Customers are global automated container terminal operators and OEM crane/vehicle builders (ZPMC, Terex Gottwald, Kalmar, Terberg, VDL Group); Meidong Terminal alone operates more than 100 BTG-equipped ARTGs.

The business is monetized through direct enterprise hardware sales of positioning sensors, transponders, and accessories, paired with professional services covering surveying, installation, commissioning, and microelectronics development. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated through direct inquiry and factsheet requests. BTG handles end-to-end project delivery ("A-Z") through dedicated field engineering teams and reports a global footprint spanning Europe (Netherlands), Asia (China via a Shanghai team), and the Middle East (UAE). Distribution is direct, targeting port operators and integrators, supported by a bilingual English/Chinese website and an in-house transponder installation robot introduced in 2023 that compresses four-engineer crews into a single operator.

Name

BTG Positioning Systems

Legal name

B.T.G. Special Products B.V.

Website

https://btg-positioning-systems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BTG Positioning Systems is a Dutch private SME that develops, manufactures, and installs RFID, infrared, and ground-penetrating-radar position measurement systems for automated container ports worldwide, serving terminal operators and crane/AGV OEMs across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oud-beijerland

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Position Measurement Hardware Sales: BTG generates revenue through the sale of positioning measurement sensors and systems for automated container ports. Products include RFM positioning sensors, IRM spreader measurement systems, transponders, readers, and related accessories. The company also offers installation and surveying services as part of complete project delivery.
2. Professional Services and Installation: BTG offers installation of complete positioning systems, surveying and installation of transponders, consultancy and testing of magnetic or electromagnetic fields, and microelectronics development services. These services complement hardware sales for enterprise customers requiring full project implementation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BTG Positioning Systems develops, manufactures, and installs position measurement and control systems for automated container ports. The product portfolio centers on RFID-based transponder positioning sensors, infrared spreader measurement systems, and radar-based Ground Sensing Localization (GSL) technology, deployed on automated guided vehicles (AGVs), rubber-tired and rail-mounted gantry cranes (RTGs/ARMGs), ship-to-shore cranes (STS), straddle carriers, and terminal trucks.

Product overview

BTG Positioning Systems is a Dutch SME specializing in developing, producing, and installing position measurement systems for automated container ports. The product portfolio centers on RFID-based transponder technology and infrared measurement systems. Core products include the Ground Sensing Localization (GSL) radar-based positioning system (acquired from GPR Inc.), the Spreader Measurement Sensor IRM series for spreader sway/skew/trim measurement, and a comprehensive range of RFM positioning sensors for various port equipment (AGV, Gantry, Trolley, RTG, Straddle Carriers, Terminal Trucks). Supporting infrastructure includes the RFT060GL-SIL battery-less transponders, programming tools, and readers. The systems achieve accuracies ranging from 2mm (IRM, RFM1.2) to 10mm (RFM2.1) and are designed for heavy-duty port environments with maintenance-free operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ground Sensing Localization (GSL) Radar-based positioning system that scans up to 2.8 meters below the surface to recognize unique subterranean composition and determine absolute positions with 2 cm accuracy. Operates independently of GNSS/GPS, in all weather and indoor environments, with no fixed above-ground reference points required.
• Spreader Measurement Sensor IRM400 Modular infrared measurement system that controls spreader sway, skew, trim, and list. Uses Position Sensitive Device (PSD) technology to locate light spots with high accuracy and is robust to sunlight. Delivers 0.01 degree sway and 0.05 degree skew accuracy at 125 Hz, with a vertical measuring range up to 70 meters.
• AGV RFM2.1 Positioning Sensor Absolute RFID transponder-based positioning sensor for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in heavy-duty port environments with up to 10 mm accuracy. Designed for AGV fleets operating in automated container ports.
• Gantry RFM1.2 Positioning Sensor Absolute and continuous RFID transponder-based positioning sensor for gantry cranes in heavy-duty environments, achieving up to 2 mm accuracy with transponders placed every 1.4 meters. Works with incremental encoder and recalibrates data every 50 ms.
• Gantry RFM1.1 Small Positioning Sensor Light-version RFID transponder-based gantry positioning system for heavy-duty environments with up to 2 mm accuracy. Provides continuous and absolute position measurement when a transponder is underneath the antenna and works with incremental encoders.
• Trolley RFM1.2 Positioning Sensor Absolute and continuous RFID transponder-based positioning sensor for trolleys in heavy-duty environments with up to 2 mm accuracy. Uses 134 kHz programmable transponders placed every 1 meter to deliver continuous absolute position measurement.
• RTG RFM2.2 Gantry Positioning Sensor Absolute and continuous RFID transponder-based positioning sensor for rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) in heavy-duty environments with up to 10 mm accuracy. Provides exact location of both crane legs for auto-steering and full automation.
• Straddle Carriers RFM2.1 Positioning Sensor Absolute RFID transponder-based positioning sensor for straddle carriers in heavy-duty environments with up to 10 mm accuracy. Provides exact location of both straddle legs for full automation when combined with odometry.
• Terminal Truck RFM2.1 Positioning Sensor Absolute RFID transponder-based 2D positioning sensor for terminal trucks in heavy-duty environments with up to 10 mm accuracy. Delivers exact position data to the navigation computer with a 250 mm nominal gap between antenna and fully buried transponders.
• Location Tracing System RFR25 RFID-based identification system that detects the location of vehicles in container ports. Uses 134 kHz programmable battery-less transponders installed in the ground to charge and read unique codes for vehicle location determination.
• Transponder RFT060GL-SIL Battery-less read-write transponder operating at 134.2 kHz low frequency to avoid disturbance by water, snow, and ice. Glass transponder protected by a silicon sleeve, installed by drilling 25 mm holes, with up to 500 mm reading distance, contact-less operation, and unlimited lifetime.
• Transponder Programming Tool RFT P1000 Handheld device that reads and writes both RFT050 and RFT060 transponders, programming them with exact position codes relative to a chosen reference point. Robust, small, and lightweight with USB connection and an optional battery pack.
• Transponder Reader RFT R1000 Pocket-sized robust handheld reader for RFT050 and RFT060 transponders. Reads unique position codes of BTG 134 kHz transponders installed in the ground or at crane booms, with LCD display and audible beeper.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ ARTGs with BTG Gantry positioning systems deployed at single customer location (Meidong Terminal, Ningbo Port Group)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GPR, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 7 September 2025BTG Positioning Systems completed the strategic acquisition of US-based technology company GPR, Inc. to expand innovation within container terminals and market leadership. Through the acquisition, BTG gains exclusive access to radar-based positioning technology that achieves positioning accuracy of 2 centimeters and operates independently of GPS or external networks. BTG aims to launch its new Ground Sensing Localisation solution by 2026, with joint R&D teams currently working on further development of radar-based positioning applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SICK AG: SICK is one of the world's largest suppliers of industrial sensors including RFID readers, LIDAR, and positioning systems for logistics and intralogistics applications. It is a broad incumbent whose industrial RFID product line overlaps with BTG's 134 kHz transponder-based positioning portfolio.
• ZPMC: ZPMC is the world's largest port crane manufacturer, supplying automated AGVs and STS cranes at major Chinese ports including Yangshan. Several of its automated units are equipped with BTG positioning sensors, making ZPMC a key channel partner and adjacent incumbent in the same automated container terminal market.
• TMEIC (Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems): TMEIC supplies automation, drives, and yard crane control systems for container terminals and bulk handling. Its terminal automation stack competes with and integrates against BTG's positioning layer in the same automated port equipment market.
• Kalmar (Cargotec): Kalmar is a major port equipment OEM whose ASCs and automation platforms (e.g. at ECT Rotterdam and Meidong) integrate BTG positioning systems. As a broader incumbent offering both equipment and automation software, Kalmar shapes the buying decision and competes for value capture in the same port-automation stack where BTG operates.
• Pepperl+Fuchs: Pepperl+Fuchs is a leading industrial RFID and sensor manufacturer serving factory automation, logistics, and process industries. Its identification and positioning technologies compete directly with BTG's RFID-based positioning offerings in industrial and yard-logistics environments.
• Konecranes: Konecranes supplies automated container handling equipment including STS/RTG cranes with embedded positioning and automation software. As a broader port-automation incumbent, it both competes with and complements BTG's positioning technology in the same automated terminal ecosystem.
• Honeywell Sensing & Productivity Solutions: Honeywell's sensing portfolio spans industrial position, RFID, and barcode technologies used in logistics and port-adjacent applications. As a broad industrial incumbent with far greater scale, it represents both competitive pressure and a potential strategic alternative for port operators evaluating positioning technologies.
• Terex (Gottwald Port Solutions): Terex's Gottwald brand supplies automated AGVs and ASCs deployed at Euromax and RWG with BTG positioning systems. As a broader port-equipment incumbent, Terex is both a key customer/integration partner and a competing supplier of automation solutions in the automated terminal market.

Direct peers

• Künz GmbH: Künz is a specialist in automated container handling systems including RTG, ASC, and AGV yard automation. Its positioning and control systems overlap with BTG's installed base at automated container terminals, making it a direct functional competitor for crane-based positioning integration.
• Identec Solutions: Identec Solutions supplies RFID-based positioning and identification systems for harsh industrial environments including ports, yards and mining. It competes directly with BTG in transponder-based positioning technology and AGV/container terminal tracking applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/btgpos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BTG Positioning Systems