For over 20 years, Nashville-based International Tower Lighting, LLC (ITL) has been in the business of bringing the best in aviation obstruction lighting to the telecommunications industry.
Inspired to elevate aviation safety standards and product reliability through cutting-edge design and quality service, the company’s founders opened their doors in 1998 as manufacturers of high-performance replacement parts. From humble beginnings, they have grown the company steadily, earning loyal customers through a painstaking commitment to impeccable design, product quality and customer service, and systematically expanding the company’s product line to include a full range of obstruction lighting systems and tower lighting monitoring systems and services.
“ITL started small, with five people focused on spare parts for existing aviation obstruction lighting systems,” said Jack Burden, vice president of Sales and 18-year employee at ITL. “We specialized in producing replacement parts plus custom parts that were proving difficult for customers to find or get within a reasonable timeline. That was the beginning, and the rest is history.”
Early in ITL’s development, its most loyal customers encouraged company founders to develop proprietary aviation obstruction lighting systems under the ITL brand. Then, as now, ITL listened to the needs of its customers, and soon began designing and manufacturing complete systems as well as anticipating the need for dependable tower lighting monitoring software, equipment and services.
Today, the company holds the distinction of engineering and manufacturing the widest variety of spare parts and components for all makes and models of contemporary tower lighting systems on the market, while also offering a full range of tower lighting systems and monitoring services.
Recent additions to its expanded Tennessee headquarters include the ITL Network Operations Control Center (iNOCC), staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to provide reliable, cost-effective tower light monitoring services, and a new sales office based in Atlanta, Georgia, headed by 20-year industry veteran Joe Dean.
“What’s unique about our company is that the founders, who are both engineers, are the masterminds behind our products and are still very hands-on,” said Dean, vice-president of Marketing. “As leaders of ITL, they have built this business slowly and methodically – plus, they are fully engaged in all areas of the company’s day-to-day operations and willing to share their passion for excellence through best-in-the-industry designs, products and services.”
Another distinguishing aspect is the ITL approach to customer service. By first listening to and then consulting with customers, ITL’s service team identifies how the company’s products and services can best complement the customer’s needs – “as opposed to walking in and telling someone how it’s going to work,” said Burden. Additionally, ITL offers on-site and remote training workshops, and product technical support, to enhance their customers’ success in every way possible.
“Forging lasting relationships with our customers is at the heart of what we do each day. That’s why we are willing to go the extra mile on every level; in fact, we are known to support field calls on any tower lighting – even if it’s not ours, in order to ensure that our customers aren’t left in the lurch,” said Burden.
Among ITL’s new flagship product line is the ILS 3600 Dual LED Lighting System, the gold standard in aviation obstruction lighting systems, according to Burden. Utilizing LED technology and precision optics to provide a low power, low light pollution, dual tower lighting solution, it also features the following attributes:
All electronics are accessible at ground level, reducing the need for costly tower climbs.
The flash head contains only LEDs, and a multi-stage surge suppression network plus the system’s modular design facilitates ease of maintenance and long term reliability.
It has a low noise design, enhancing compatibility with 4G/LTE technology.
Burden further explains that beyond the sale of tower lighting equipment and components, ITL also offers tower owners a one-stop shop for trouble-free tower lighting management. ITL Field Service installs and maintains ITL equipment, and the iNOCC provides full-service monitoring for an all-in-one solution. And, ITL offers the best warranty in the industry on equipment installed by its crews. Looking to the immediate future, all of the company’s 4G products will also support 5G, once the network is rolled out.
“Speaking of 5G, we’re always looking to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to engineering, and we’re already in the throes of development for the next-gen network. The carriers have announced that 3G is going dark within one to two years, so all equipment will need upgrades,” said Burden. “Our track record shows that we’ve always been prepared and poised to help our customers for what’s next over the past two decades. 5G is just the next evolution, and we’re excited once again to join and support our customers on every step of this journey.”
Now headquartered in LaVergne, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, with a sales office in Atlanta, Georgia, ITL produces a complete line of state-of-the-art obstruction lighting and monitoring systems. For more information on ITL products and services or to contact a representative, visit: https://www.itl-llc.com/home.
By Keara Piekanski for Inside Towers
May 21, 2019
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