As the Thai subsidiary of Shinsho Corporation (part of the Kobe Steel Group), “Thai ESCORP”, not only deals with the sales of welding materials, welding machines, and robots, but also handles inspection, IoT, and automation-related equipment, supporting a wide range of manufacturing sectors in Thailand.
Since April 2023, they’ve become a collaborative partner with LiLz, Inc., a company in Japan that develops services utilizing AI and IoT technologies. After supporting exhibition appearances in Thailand in September and November of 2023, Thai ESCORP became the official distributor of LiLz, responsible for service expansion in Thailand.”
LiLz Gauge- streamlines on-site visual routine inspections
LiLz started its business with a team of AI researchers and engineers and searched for issues where AI technology could be applied. They heard from a work-site that it was “having problems with tedious routine inspections”. We found that workers were spending significant time on foot to inspect meters. In fact, many workplaces were facing similar issues.
LiLz was selected for the Acceleration Program by Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd., and collaborative development began in 2018. After two years of development, in June 2020, they launched LiLz Gauge, which utilizes IoT cameras to read analog gauges.
Three and a half years after its release, approximately 4,500 units have already been installed by approximately 400 companies in Japan.
The industries span various sectors, including steel manufacturing, facility management, chemical plants, gas, water treatment, and food, showcasing the substantial demand for remote inspection capabilities.
Remote meter reading simplifies on-site inspections and predictive maintenance of equipment is expected to be effective
▲ System configuration image
＜Key Features of LiLz Gauge＞
✔ Read multiple analog instruments with its unique IoT camera
✔ 3-year operationwith three daily image captures (long battery life)
✔ Ready for immediate use without power or network supply
✔ Camera equipped with SIM card for LTE connectivity
✔ High accuracy in readings thanks to AI technology
✔ Easy monitoring via smartphone or tablet (accessible from office or home)
✔ Cost-effectiveness due to in-house development of both camera and machine learning
▲ Real-time monitoring: access information instantly on your smartphone or tablet
The most attractive feature of this system is that it reduces the time and effort previously required for routine inspections and significantly streamlines and saves labor in the inspection process.
Product lineup of LiLz Gauge IoT cameras
LiLz Gauge provides three types of IoT cameras, offering tailored options based on installation environments and specific observation requirements.
・RGB type: Enables fixed-point capture of various gauges in RGB images.
・Thermography Type: Equipped with thermography imaging for temperature observations.
・Explosion-proof type: Features a camera certified for intrinsic safety and explosion protection suitable for use in chemical plants and similar environments.
▲ Compatible with a wide range of gauges
Mr. Hirakawa, Sales Representative at Thai ESCORP, explains, “In Thailand, while there is a high interest in IoT products, current challenges include issues like CCTV cameras requiring power, Wi-Fi experiencing frequent signal interruptions, and mandatory setup for smart meters.” LiLz Gauge seems poised to offer substantial differentiation from existing technologies in Thailand.
Onishi, President & CEO from LiLz also expresses optimism about the market demand in Thailand. “LiLz gauges are particularly effective in workplaces with large site areas, such as factories and plants. We are eager to verify its suitability for on-site challenges in Thailand. Leveraging the capabilities of Thai ESCORP, we aim to incorporate feedback from local users and provide services that effectively address their actual issues.”
LiLz Inc.
Established in Okinawa in 2017, this startup company is driven by the vision of advancing the world’s field through technology. Their focus revolves around the development and provision of services utilizing AI and IoT technology. With the mission of making on-site work easier through the technology integration of IoT and machine learning (AI),” LiLz Gauge was developed with the firm belief in creating a better user experience by independently developing both hardware and software (AI).
Keigo Onishi
President&CEO / Product Manager
Originally a software engineer, founded LiLz Corporation in Okinawa in 2017. Since then, he has been engaged in providing and developing services utilizing AI and IoT technology, including ‘LiLz Gauge.’ Onishi initiated the overseas expansion of LiLz Gauge in 2023. He enjoys hobbies such as tennis, sauna and fishing.
