WLC Group Expands Drone Service Business with JDRONE's Participation

WorldLink & Company (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Kyoto; President & CEO: Shinya Suda; hereinafter "WLC") is pleased to announce that it has acquired all shares of JDRONE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Takuya Ohashi; hereinafter "JDRONE"), making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Accompanying this acquisition, Katsuya Noguchi has been appointed as the new Representative Director and President of JDRONE.

Background of this matter: Accelerating the transition of the drone industry to the "social implementation phase"

Since joining the Exedy Co., Ltd. Group in October 2024, WLC has been providing solutions in the drone and robotics fields through its "SkyLink Japan" brand.

The current drone market has moved beyond the simple phase of aircraft sales, with a rapidly increasing demand for "DaaS (Drone as a Service)" which packages advanced operations, data analysis, and maintenance. JDRONE is a professional group that has built a leading track record in Japan in frontline fields such as volcanic observation, disaster response, and flight management.

Through this group participation, WLC's strength in "procurement capabilities for diverse aircraft and solutions" and JDRONE's "advanced on-site operational and service execution capabilities" will be directly linked. We will establish a system to provide one-stop solutions from aircraft selection to actual operation for customer challenges, thereby accelerating the social implementation of drones.

JDRONE's Future Vision and Goals

Under the new management structure, JDRONE, as a "field professional," will strongly promote its business with the following three key objectives:

1. Standardization of "Next-Generation DaaS" compatible with multi-platforms

JDRONE will maximize the use of WLC's wide range of domestic and international aircraft lineups to establish "multi-platform compatible operational standards" that are not dependent on specific manufacturers.

This includes packaging everything from optimal aircraft selection for missions such as inspection, security, logistics, and disaster prevention, to flight management and data processing. We will deploy a "sustainable service model" nationwide that allows customers to obtain high-precision results without the burden of aircraft selection and maintenance, promoting social implementation into real business beyond PoCs.

2. Value creation through collaboration of "Sales, Solutions, and Operations"

By integrating "WLC's diversified sales network and aircraft procurement capabilities" with "JDRONE's on-site operational capabilities," we will promptly reflect field needs in equipment selection and system construction. In collaboration with the surveying technology of Fuwa Drone Co., Ltd., which is already part of the group, we will establish a tripartite system of "Sales (WLC) × Surveying (Fuwa Drone) × Operations (JDRONE)." We will provide truly practical solutions that reflect the voices from the field.

3. Establishment of "Professional Standards" for Industrial Drone Operations

Leveraging the Exedy Group's advanced manufacturing technology and quality control backbone, we will strengthen our operational system based on aviation industry-level safety management standards. As a highly skilled group of technicians capable of safely and efficiently operating all types of aircraft, JDRONE will elevate its operational quality to become the de facto standard in the industry, contributing to the safety of Japan's skies and industrial development.

Comment from Katsuya Noguchi, Representative Director and President of JDRONE

"JDRONE is a company that has continuously demonstrated the potential of drones on the front lines. By becoming a part of the WLC and Exedy Group, I am confident that our 'field capabilities' can be directly linked to solving larger societal issues. We will create a 'new standard' for the social implementation of drones, utilizing all excellent aircraft and technologies without being bound by specific manufacturers."

Comment from Shinya Suda, Representative Director and President of WLC

"The current drone market is undergoing a significant shift from an era of mere 'aircraft sales' to an era of 'service implementation' that solves actual field challenges.

With JDRONE joining the WLC Group, we believe we have built a highly unique system in Japan by integrating WLC's diverse aircraft and solution procurement capabilities, Fuwa Drone's advanced surveying and data processing technology, and JDRONE's outstanding on-site operational capabilities.

Especially moving forward, in areas supporting social infrastructure such as infrastructure inspection, disaster response, logistics, and security, there will be a strong demand for 'practical operational level' services that go beyond mere PoCs.

Through a multi-platform strategy that does not depend on specific manufacturers, we will provide truly optimal solutions for our customers and further accelerate the social implementation of drones.

Furthermore, as a member of the Exedy Group, we will incorporate the mindset towards quality and safety cultivated in the manufacturing industry.