We’re happy to introduce that our manufacturing operations have moved to a state-of-the-art facility! This move will allow us to improve on several fronts, including testing & quality, inventory management, and capacity.
Read on to learn more about what this move means for our company and our customers.
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What We’ve Done So Far
We’ve been the go-to provider of real-time location systems since 2004. We’re the leader in forklift tracking, forklift collision warning, asset tracking, yard management, and more, helping our clients optimize their business processes not only to comply with regulations but also to improve overall operations efficiency. Litum solutions are utilized by industry-leading firms, including Fortune 500 companies in more than 45 countries around the world.
In 2019, we started the in-house production of our RTLS product line. This allowed us to better serve local and international clients from various industries. By 2021, the demand for our RTLS solutions increased so much that we had to transform our facility to increase production capacity and testing stations. We started looking for locations that are viable for our expansion and at the same time make it more convenient for us to cater to our global clientele.
In March 2022, we started our expansion to the new facility in the Aegean Free Trade Zone in Izmir, Turkey. The Zone offers several strategic advantages that are in line with our growth plans. It’s also a huge facility that houses all manufacturing-related activities and enables us to expand our production capability up to 4 times. We completed the new facility in less than 5 months and it is now fully operational.
Why the Aegean Free Trade Zone (ESBAS)?
The Aegean Free Trade Zone (AFZ) is a modern industrial park and the first export-processing zone in Turkey. The site measures 620 acres wide and is located 4 km from the Izmir International airport and 12 km from the city center and Izmir Port. ESBAS has built the entire infrastructure and facilities in the AFZ to make sure it’s highly viable to investors.
Litum is excited to be a tenant of the AFZ, which lets us erect a modern and well-equipped RTLS manufacturing center that will help us serve our clients better. The convenient location near the airport and port will also facilitate our import and export operations. We are confident that we will be able to take our business to the next level with the help of our new excellent facility.
The AFZ gives us 3 big advantages as a company looking to further expands its reach worldwide:
Operational advantages
The Aegean Free Trade Zone is known for its efficient and modern infrastructure, making it an ideal location for businesses looking to minimize costs and maximize efficiency. As a one-stop shop with minimum bureaucracy, the Aegean Free Trade Zone offers a variety of services that are advantageous for companies operating in the zone.
It is also one of the best locations for our company in terms of accessing markets and skilled labor. We are confident that we will be able to continue to grow and thrive in this dynamic and exciting environment.
Investment advantages
The AFZ provides a unique opportunity for companies looking to invest in manufacturing. The focus on the manufacturing sector within the zone provides employment opportunities and increases trade volume.
The advantages for manufacturing facilities investing in the Zone are as follows:
- VAT Exemption: Companies are exempt from paying Value Added Tax (VAT) on goods and services purchased within the Aegean Free Trade Zone.
- Customs Duty Exemption: Companies are exempt from paying customs duty on raw materials, components, and machinery imported into the Aegean Free Trade Zone.
Location advantages
The Aegean Free Zone is located close to the EU and the Middle Eastern markets, near major ports, international airports, and highway networks. It is 4 km to Izmir Airport, and 12 km to the Port of Izmir and the Izmir city center.
Products We Will Be Focusing On
When it comes to RTLS solutions, there are a variety of different technologies available on the market. But, if you’re looking for the most accurate and precise location data possible, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is the way to go. Here are the UWB RTLS products we’ll be producing:
- Tags
Tags are small devices that emit signals that are picked up by anchors and used to track the location of assets or people. Litum’s RTLS tags are made up of a small antenna, motion sensors, RTLS microprocessor, and a battery.
- Anchors
Anchors are stationary devices that receive signals from tags and relay that information back to a gateway or control panel.
- Gateways
Gateways are devices that receive information from anchors and pass that information along to a server and software application. The signals captured by our RTLS anchors are directed to RTLS gateways connected to the local network.
With the expanded capacity of our manufacturing space, we’ll be able to multiply the production capacity of the components of our real-time location system. We’ll also be improving our manufacturing process so that we can cater to the growing demand for real-time location solutions.
Planned New Flows at Our New Facility
With our expansion, we’ll also be improving existing manufacturing processes to better cater to the growing demand for our products.
Capacity Increase
Finally, we’re increasing our production capacity at the facility. This increase in capacity will allow us to take on more projects and produce larger quantities without sacrificing quality or customer service. We’re excited to be able to offer this expanded service to our clients and look forward to continued growth in the months and years ahead.
Validation & Test Room
One of the biggest benefits of the facility is the dedicated validation test room. This room will allow us to conduct extensive tests on our products before they leave the factory, ensuring that they meet our high standards for quality and performance. The results of these tests will be available to our customers upon request, so they can be confident that they’re getting products that meet their specific operational needs.
Lean Inventory Management
Another area we’re focused on improving is inventory management. Our new Lean Inventory Management system will help us keep track of raw materials, finished goods, and work-in-progress so that we can avoid stockouts and disruptions in production. This will also allow us to be more responsive to customer demand, ensuring that we can always provide the products you need when you need them.
What to Expect in the Coming Years
As the global leader in RTLS solutions, Litum is constantly innovating to bring new capabilities and benefits to our customers. We will continue to expand our manufacturing operations to meet the growing demand for our products and services in the coming years.
We are committed to providing the highest quality products and services to our customers, and our expanded manufacturing operations will allow us to do just that. With our manufacturing facility, we will be able to increase production capacity, improve product quality, and shorten lead times. This will enable us to better serve our customers and continue to grow our business.
If you’re interested in an RTLS solution for your facility, feel free to contact us!
