U.S. logistics startup Airspace Technologies, renowned for its expertise in time-sensitive cargo transportation, announced its expansion into Asia, targeting Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. The company, founded in 2016 with a substantial $100 million funding, utilizes a sophisticated system involving sensors on packages and cloud-based software, providing real-time tracking of high-value shipments. Specializing in critical deliveries like human organs for transplant surgeries, Airspace is extending its services in collaboration with semiconductor giants, including Qualcomm.
As the semiconductor industry faces challenges in global air cargo due to disruptions caused by the pandemic and increased demand from fast-fashion brands, Airspace aims to address these issues. Semiconductors, vital for devices such as computers and smartphones, traverse oceans multiple times during manufacturing. The logistics startup, by offering real-time tracking and efficient delivery solutions, is helping chip manufacturers optimize their operations and reduce costly stoppages.
With the semiconductor sector seeking more flexible logistics options, including expedited deliveries, Alex Coates, Airspace's President and CFO, highlighted the industry's evolving demands. He emphasized the need for logistics partners to provide consultative solutions to navigate complex challenges, ensuring uninterrupted operations for multi-billion-dollar semiconductor factories.
Qualcomm's subsidiary RF360 Europe, a key player in radio frequency chip manufacturing, has already leveraged Airspace's services to monitor shipments between Asia and Europe. Michael Fleischmann, Senior Director of Sourcing at RF360 Europe, underscored the critical role of real-time package tracking in ensuring on-time deliveries, a vital aspect in the semiconductor industry's highly competitive and time-sensitive landscape.