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LiLaas expands in-house capabiLityOne of the leading suppliers of control

levers and joysticks for the shipping industry, Lilaas stands out from the

crowd in other ways. Where many competitors have outsourced production, for example, Lilaas is committed to retaining its manufacturing capability in-house.

From its factory at the centre of Norway’s marine electronics industry in Horten, 75km from Oslo, Lilaas employs a highly trained staff of more than 60 technicians. It ensures that every aspect of product development and manufacturing meets the standards the company sets itself until finished products leave the plant. The 6,000m2 facility produces over 9,000 levers a year for customers worldwide.

Lilaas sales and marketing manager, Terje Akerholt, says: “Having our own in-house production, committed to the development of quality products, is one of the main reasons we are so successful. It allows us to make design changes quickly and easily and we can also offer complete systems with much more flexibility than companies which do not have in-house facilities.”

Lilaas specialises in customised marine and offshore control products and around 50% of its production is tailor-made to meet the specific requirements of individual customers.

The Horten factory has been running at close to capacity this year in response to high levels of demand and, as a result, Lilaas is taking steps to expand output. The company recently acquired new facilities on an adjacent site, which will enable it to boost its manufacturing and product development capabilities, and it has also acquired latest-generation CNC machinery to increase operational efficiency at its existing plant.

Terje Akerholt says: “We are seeing very positive trends in the market for our levers and joysticks and if this continues we will need more people, engineers and production

capacity within a very short space of time. Buying the new facility is essential to make sure we are ready to meet sustained high levels of demand from our customers.”

Lilaas is achieving considerable commercial success, not just in Scandinavia, where it already has a significant market share, but also in Asia. This year the company has secured a number of notable contracts to supply blue-chip customers in Japan, China and Singapore. “We are opening up new markets and this is another reason why we need to expand,” says Terje Akerholt. “Demand from Asia, in particular, is being driven by the requirement for market-tailored products that look good and pack in more functionality.”

To support its presence in Asia, Lilaas recently signed two key service and distribution agreements with companies in Singapore and Shanghai, the first time it has entered into such arrangements in the region.

These are exciting times for Lilaas, says Terje Akerholt, which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary. Two major new product launches, a completely new range of electronic levers

and a much improved joystick series, will be unveiled officially at this year’s SMM exhibition in Hamburg in September and market response to these initiatives has already been extremely positive. “This year’s SMM will be very special for us as we will be releasing new products that are strong in both design and technology terms,” says Terje Akerholt. “SMM is an excellent place to arrange meetings with new and existing customers to highlight and explain the many benefits of these new products, which we believe will put Lilaas firmly in the driving seat.”

With the marine technology market increasingly dominated by large multinational groups, Lilaas is proud to be different, not just through its in-house production and quality products, but also as an independent technology developer.

Oyvind Lilaas, son of founder Jan Lilaas, is at the helm of a company which is still very much a family-run concern. “Being a family-owned company makes it easier and quicker to take decisions,” suggests Oyvind Lilaas. “On top of that we are known as a good employer with certain values, and we will keep it that way.”

Oyvind Lilaas Terje Akerholt

Autumn 2012

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pRoduct deVeLopMentNew lever range on display

The official launch of the new electronically-controlled LO1 lever range from Lilaas at SMM in Hamburg will be a turning point, not just for the company, but for the marine industry as a whole. Externally, the new generation levers may look similar to their mechanical counterparts, but inside there are big changes.

The high software content integral to the levers represents a major advance in this branch of marine technology and the company says it will offer ship owners and operators numerous benefits. “I believe strongly that all-electric levers like the LO1 series are the future,” says Terje Akerholt. “Everything a customer needs can be pre-installed within the lever structure, and only a very shallow cut-out beneath the lever is required.”

The LO1 range, which incorporates advanced software solutions and a digital display screen, brings together the functionality of multiple joysticks or levers into a single unit. In addition, a wide range of different functions including tension and force feedback can be programmed to meet individual customer requirements.

A key feature of the design, developed in-house by Lilaas together with a Scandinavian company specialising in control system software, is the built-in TFT LCD display. This shows the position of the lever and feeds back information from the ship’s systems that are being controlled. The display screen also allows settings to be easily configured by the user to suit individual preferences much more easily than in the past.

Espen Hoff, head of the development department says: “We have invested in a unique software program, CREO/Pro Engineer, in order to meet our customer requests for flexibility and rapid change in the details of the control lever. This software tool enables the designer to “talk” (in 3D)

LO1 lever

directly to the machinery. No drawing is needed and within a very short time we are able to make parts in the material that our customers request. The program uses 3D and its accuracy is extremely high. As far as we are aware we are pioneering the use of this programme in Scandinavia.”

Terje Akerholt adds: “Every operator likes to work in a different way. With the new generation LO1 levers it will be much simpler to take this into account.”

Having the display as an integral part of the lever’s structure will make the LO1 class levers easier to use, as all of the information required by the operator is available in one place. The levers have also been designed to ensure a high degree of redundancy in the event of technical problems, and feature capacity touch switches, with up to four for azimuth or single controllers and up to eight covering a double controller. The switch text has been engraved on the lever as an added precaution against electrical failure. Other features of the

LO1 range include an isolated analogue and emulated potentiometer output, an isolated back-up system and an analogue dimming input.

Lilaas is marketing a core design platform for the LO1 series, with different models available for azimuth, thruster or propulsion control, and a range of options to facilitate customisation. These include a 4-20ma current loop, relay outputs, display graphics, a USB interface, electric motors, brushless DC motors, force feedback and the possibility of having either CAN bus, Profibus or Ethernet interfaces. “Some of these are firsts for the marine industry, putting us right at the cutting edge as far as control technology development is concerned,” says Terje Akerholt.

The process of securing DNV approval for the new levers is well advanced and a pilot order has been secured. Later this year the new LO1 levers will be installed for the first time on a series of newbuildings for a well-known offshore operator.

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Orderbook booming

Lilaas comprises two divisions: the maritime division and the mechanical division. Each has picked up significant contracts in recent months and these will keep major parts of the company’s production facilities busy for several years.

Lilaas’ mechanical division has received a surge in orders and recently signed a new agreement with a major Scandinavian communications supplier to supply the mechanical element to its on-board

contRact neWs

Smooth operator offshore

A new joystick, type LO4, is being launched by Lilaas to meet a need for greater control sensitivity on offshore and other vessel types. The new unit incorporates magnetic touch-free sensors and dispenses with the need for a potentiometer.

This approach offers users a number of benefits. The LO4 joystick is very compact and requires only a small amount of space under the mounting plate. In addition, the use of magnetic sensors makes the movement of the joystick extremely smooth, ensuring that it is user friendly and accurate to operate.

Other features include adjustable brakes, a push button with a light, and spring-return and switches on both X and Y axes. Furthermore all axes can be used simultaneously.

DNV type approval has recently been secured for the LO4 joystick. In fact the classification society has confirmed the certification at a higher level than originally requested by Lilaas, and so the LO4 series is now DNV approved (IP56) according to IEC 60945 and IACS E10.

Terje Akerholt says: “Ship’s officers need to have complete trust that the joystick will

LO4 joystick

function according to their wishes and so accuracy is vital. A small movement with a joystick can trigger a significant movement of equipment on the water. To address this we have made the new LO 4 joystick very smooth and highly sensitive and the key to this is the use of magnetic sensors.”

Lilaas believes the new joystick will be available from the third quarter of 2012, with production in Norway getting underway shortly. The LO4 will, the company promises, be “very” price competitive. A working model of the LO4, showing several different options, will be on display at the Lilaas stand at SMM.

satellite dish equipment for worldwide communications. The scope of the contract covers between 300 and 400 systems’ deliveries each year.

“We are also in the final stages of negotiating a contract with a Scandinavian customer and if the deal comes off it will provide a key base load of work for our factory for some time to come,” says Terje Akerholt.

In addition, Lilaas has secured significant business in Japan, where electronics firms have started to approach the company

directly. One particular contract could see Lilaas supplying over 500 control levers a year to one of the best known names in the Japanese maritime electronics field.

Terje Akerholt adds: “In the last few months we have received many requests from customers all over the world. Many of these are due to recommendations from already well-established Lilaas clients. In addition, several existing customers are looking forward to using our new levers or want of us to cooperate in the development new solutions for their equipment.”

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As part of its drive to better support increasing levels of demand for its levers and joysticks in Asia, Lilaas recently concluded its first service and distribution agreements in the region. The company has entered into a service partnership and agency agreement with Z-Power Automation in Singapore which will provide critical support for the company’s products in South East Asia.

coMpany neWs

Jan Ronning

For further information, please contact:Terje Akerholt, Sales and Marketing Manager, Maritime Division

Lilaas AS, Kongeveien 75, P.B. 705, N-3196 HortenTel: +47 3303 1850, Fax: +47 3303 1860

lilaas@lilaas.no

Expanding into Asia

Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to product development, Lilaas has appointed Jan Ronning as its new product manager. Jan was previously assembly manager.

Terje Akerholt says: “We have not until now had a dedicated product manager and Jan is perfectly qualified for this new role. As assembly manager he has all the required knowledge of our products and is constantly proposing ideas for possible improvements.”

In addition to having internal responsibility for the company’s product ranges, Jan will have an outward-facing role and he will work closely with Lilaas customers during

the development of all new and upgraded products.

Lilaas has also reached a separate distribution agreement with Shanghai EJH group, a well-known Chinese distributor focusing on high-end technical products and systems. Lilaas has recently seen a sharp increase in orders and inquiries in China and the agreement with Shanghai EJH will put Lilaas in position to better meet this demand. The agreement means Lilaas will also provide technical support training covering its products in China. The two agreements represent the start of a five-year programme to raise Lilaas’ global profile.

Norwegian Pavilion, Hall B7, Stand 230Come and see us at SMM

pRoduct ManageR appointed

Dedicated service

The deal includes establishing a dedicated service station within the port of Singapore which will enable Lilaas to offer greater technical support for the range of products it supplies in the area.

Furthermore, the cooperation with Z Power Automation will allow the company to build up stock in this strategic location to expedite delivery times.

Vital contribution

Terje Akerholt explains: “Many end-users are not aware of the vital contribution we make to their control consoles. Our customers are themselves often leading global integrators, including some of the best-known names in the market. We aim to make our customers even more aware of our contribution and I am sure these two agreements will help us raise the profile of the Lilaas brand in the key Asian market place.”