Eliko Technologies, is an internationally operating Estonian location technology company. Germany is one of the strategically important markets where the company’s precise positioning systems assist clients in enhancing efficiency in production and logistics. According to the company’s CEO, Indrek Ruiso, Germany has been a natural choice due to the intense digitalisation of its industry and the size of its manufacturing sector.

Eliko Technologies specialises in accurate indoor positioning systems that allow companies to track product movement within the production process and measure efficiency at every step. “This is a solution that will become inevitable in the future for all manufacturing companies where product quality and cost depend on many moving parts that cannot be fully automated. From our clients’ experience, manufacturing companies can increase their efficiency by around 10% through real-time process monitoring,” explained Indrek Ruiso.

Estonia at Hannover Messe 2025
Visit our stand E44 in Hall 6 to discover how Estonian companies, including Eliko, lead in industrial advancement.

Germany’s small and medium-sized enterprises are large manufacturing companies in Estonian terms, where Eliko’s solution is widely used. “We see that their digitalisation is reaching a stage where the basic processes are well thought through and digitised, and the quick wins have already been achieved. Our system requires a certain level of digital maturity—if processes are still on paper or the production scale is very small, our solution is not beneficial.”

Eliko collaborates with Flowcate GmbH 

Eliko’s presence in the German market has been greatly supported by participation in international trade fairs, such as Hannover Messe. According to Ruiso, trade fairs are not only for attracting new clients but also for establishing key partnerships and staying updated with technological developments.

“International trade fairs offer us multiple benefits. One significant aspect is building new contacts and finding clients. These offer also an excellent opportunity to meet with existing customers and discuss upcoming projects. Additionally, attending these fairs provides a good overview of technological developments—something you can’t gain by sitting in an office or browsing online,” says Ruiso.

“Our system requires a certain level of digital maturity—if processes are still on paper or the production scale is very small, our solution is not beneficial.”
Indrek Ruiso, CEO of Eliko Technologies

One of Eliko’s key partners in Germany is the software company Flowcate GmbH, with whom they offer an even more comprehensive solution to manufacturers. “Flowcate is a software company that enables the integration of various positioning technologies and the transfer of data into manufacturing management systems. This allows companies to build more complex solutions where different moving elements use different positioning technologies, yet all the data flows seamlessly through Flowcate’s software,” Ruiso explains.

Flowcate was the first software provider to implement the Omlox standard—the first industrial standard for unifying data from different positioning technologies, governed by the Profibus organisation. “This means that Eliko’s positioning system is also compliant with the Omlox standard, giving manufacturing companies the confidence that they can easily and cost-effectively switch positioning solution providers if needed. It avoids so-called vendor lock-in.”

Ruiso believes working with Omlox and Flowcate will help Eliko strengthen its position in the German market: “This cooperation is a mark of quality for our solution—it confirms our reliability and demonstrates that our system has been validated and endorsed by third parties.”

Challenges and solutions in the international market

Expanding into international markets hasn’t been easy for Eliko, with the most significant challenges being choosing the most promising markets and using the right entry strategies with limited resources.

Enterprise Estonia (EIS) was a key supporter of the expansion process. “We’ve been participating for several years at EIS’s joint stands, which are very important because they give us more visibility than if we were attending fairs on our own. We’ve also used EIS’s export advisory services and worked with local experts in the German market, such as Tiina Kivikas and Leana Kammertöns,” Ruiso explains.

“For example, Eliko has taken part for several years in the annual conference of the German Association for Construction and Environmental Machinery, where they have showcased their solution. Remembering that one-time attendance is not enough—consistency and patience are key to developing business ties in Germany.”
Leana Kammertöns, Enterprise Estonia Export Advisor for Germany

“Smaller conferences and networking events can be extremely valuable when building business relationships in the German market—if the right target group is present,” said Leana Kammertöns, Enterprise Estonia Export Advisor for Germany. “For example, Eliko has taken part for several years in the annual conference of the German Association for Construction and Environmental Machinery, where they have showcased their solution. Remembering that one-time attendance is not enough—consistency and patience are key to developing business ties in Germany,” explained Kammertöns.

Tiina Kivikas, another Enterprise Estonia Export Advisor for Germany, helped organise a meeting for Eliko Technologies OÜ with Flowcate GmbH at the LogiMAT trade fair in 2023, which Indrek Ruiso attended as a visitor. “Although the companies had previously been in contact, the dialogue had stalled. Sometimes, a timely nudge in the right direction can prove decisive for future cooperation,” shared Tiina Kivikas.

Future directions and expanding into new markets

While Eliko’s primary focus remains on the German market, the company already has clients in over 30 countries worldwide, including North America and Europe. According to Ruiso, Eliko primarily targets developed industrial countries with high labour costs and digitalisation already underway.

“Sometimes, a timely nudge in the right direction can prove decisive for future cooperation.”
Tiina Kivikas, Enterprise Estonia Export Advisor for Germany

Eliko Technologies will continue expanding in the German market, but it is also seeking partners to expand into new markets and explore opportunities in new application areas to bring its innovative solutions to a growing number of manufacturers.

“Our technology enables many applications beyond process monitoring—such as ensuring worker safety or automating production stages. We see significant potential for this internationally.”

GOOD TO KNOW

• Eliko Technologies is an Estonian company developing precise indoor positioning systems based on UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology.
• Their solutions enable tracking the movement of people and objects in manufacturing, warehouses, and healthcare facilities, improving efficiency and safety.
• The company’s systems are compatible with various software platforms and comply with the Omlox standard, ensuring smooth data exchange with other positioning solutions.
• Eliko’s main clients are manufacturing and logistics companies looking to optimise their workflows.

This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU

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