CSI Wireless Inc.

2001 Winner: Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology (>25M)

Differential Global Positioning System Finds Global Applications

CSI Wireless Inc., Calgary, designs, manufactures and markets high-accuracy differential global positioning system (DGPS), wireless and combined DGPS-wireless products. The company’s products are widely used in Canada, the US and almost 20 other countries.

A Growing Industry

During the early stages of the emerging DGPS industry, CSI was founded in 1990 by President and CEO Stephen Verhoeff, and soon established itself as a leader in the industry. Throughout its history, the company continually introduced a steady stream of innovative products and repeatedly achieved phenomenal success. With the acquisition of Satloc Inc. of Scottsdale, Arizona, CSI enhanced its development of DGPS aerial and ground-based precision guidance systems, including aerial swath guidance systems for precision agriculture.

International Markets

When entirely new industries, such as telematics and fleet and asset management emerged, CSI acquired a leading wireless technology firm, Wireless Link of Silicon Valley. Combining its DGPS strengths with those of Wireless Link produced a powerful new company capable of aggressively pursuing additional markets worldwide. CSI’s customer base is truly global. In 2000, 13 per cent of CSI’s sales were to Canadians, 14 per cent to Europeans, 61 per cent to the US and the remaining 12 per cent to clients in other countries.

Sales have virtually doubled each year – from $4.4 million in 1997 to $8.4 million in 1998, and from $16.4 million in 1999 to an impressive $26.6 million in 2000. CSI has created meaningful employment, helped diversify the provincial economy, enhanced Alberta’s high-tech reputation and developed new technologies with several patents in place and pending.