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Business Profile |
Lilaas AS Based in Horten in Norway, Lilaas AS has become a world leader in control levers and joysticks for ships.
Lilaas AS – precision at sea and beyond For more than 60 years, Lilaas AS has combined Norway’s proud maritime traditions with cutting-edge innovation. From its base in Horten, the company has become a world leader in control levers and joysticks for ships, while also producing precision components for demanding sectors such as defence, aerospace, medicine, and even CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. With production firmly rooted in Norway and half of its products exported, Lilaas embodies both national heritage and global reach.
lems,” says Hoff. “Our products must pass extremely rigorous testing – vibration, humidity, electrical interference – before they are type-approved for use on ships. Precision, flexibility, and competence define everything we do.”
By Signe Hansen |
A good example is the L01 control lever, one of Lilaas’ most popular products. Used on large ships with multiple control stations, it allows captains to switch seamlessly between positions on the bridge. If the lever is turned on one console, identical handles elsewhere move automatically to the same angle thanks to built-in electric motors. This synchronous movement ensures safety, reliability, and intuitive operation – technology that requires meticulous engineering.
Photos: Lilaas AS
Founded in 1961 by Jan Lillaas, the company began as a small machining workshop specialising in turning and milling precise components. Over time, it steadily evolved into a dual-track enterprise: producing its own line of maritime control products while continuing to deliver high-precision parts for other industries. Today, Lilaas employs around 60 people at its headquarters and production facilities in Horten. “We are a small company, but we design, engineer, and produce everything in-house – mechanics, software, assembly production – and we test every product before it leaves the factory,” says managing director Espen Hoff. “That’s what sets us apart.” Clients include leading shipbuilders and system integrators such as Kongsberg Maritime and Wärtsilä, with Lilaas’ products ultimately installed on vessels worldwide – from ferries and cruise 22 | Issue 182 |
September 2025
ships to offshore supply vessels. “Around 50 per cent of our products are exported directly, but even what we sell domestically usually ends up at sea across the globe,” Hoff explains. High-tech products built to last At the core of Lilaas’ reputation is a focus on quality and reliability. “We are known for solving technically difficult prob-
Lilaas’ modern machine park also delivers high-precision parts for other industries.