Zebra Enterprise Solutions and APS Technology Partner on Historic Project

Zebra Enterprise Solutions (ZES), a division of Zebra Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: ZBRA), and APS Technology Group, a leading provider of optical character recognition (OCR) and process automation technology solutions for marine and intermodal terminals, are making history.

Their customer, Yilport Container Terminal in Gebze, Turkey, will be the world’s first terminal to integrate ZES’ Navis SPARCS N4 terminal operating solution (TOS) with the APS Automated Gate System (AGS), Ship-to-Shore (STS) Crane OCR and MatchMaker Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) OCR systems.

Last year, Yilport implemented SPARCS N4 to support the terminal's anticipated capacity growth of 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in five years. Yilport relies on the web-based SPARCS N4 operating system to govern the movement of all container logistics and operations from gate to yard to vessel and to offer users improved customer support, lower operating costs and increased stacking yard capacity.

Yilport has already deployed ZES Autogate software integrated with APS OCR and APS Gate Kiosks. Currently, APS is expanding its automation services at Yilport by installing solutions on four STS gantry cranes and 18 RTG cranes that will automate the process of identifying containers and their dynamic weights, as well as connecting the data with internal yard tractors during loading and discharge operations.

With the integration of ZES and APS Technology, Yilport can automatically identify internal yard tractors during the container load and discharge process, and match the information between the truck and the container during the handoff process. Once this match occurs, SPARCS N4 directs the Yilport driver where to take the container in real time.

"Our goal is to provide a valuable service in the growing international shipping market, and to increase our efficiency and productivity by applying state-of-the-art technology,” said Robert Yuksel Yildirim, President and CEO of Yilport. "We have a finite amount of space, so we need automation to increase productivity and accuracy. We are the first terminal in Turkey with automated gate and crane OCR, which will benefit our customers with faster turnaround times, increased capacity and more accurate service.”

Yilport’s historic technology accomplishment is due to the collaboration of APS Technology and ZES. The companies have worked together on projects with nearly 10 customers as part of their official partnership. However, it is the Yilport project that extends APS Technology’s customer reach from the Americas to Europe by leveraging ZES’ customer base which represents more than 50 countries.

"When you have Zebra Enterprise Solutions saying our technology is proven, it brings us more credibility,” said Russ Scheppmann, President of APS Technology. "Now that we have a more formal relationship with ZES, it will be more of a cooperative sales effort. This helps simplify the sale to the customer while drastically shortening the project deployment and integration schedules as well.”

Bill Walsh, General Manager at Zebra Enterprise Solutions, said ZES and APS Technology will deliver for Yilport and will demonstrate that the ZES terminal software solution is the industry's proven leader.

"We are extremely proud to team with APS Technology which is such a well-known and reputable brand in the maritime industry,” Walsh said. "APS has a track-record of providing top-notch service – something our customers demand when shopping for solutions. Our partnership with APS allows us to offer customers the best-of-breed products. We will help Yilport Container Terminal set the standard for productivity, efficiency, and customer service for all area ports.”

Located in the center of the most developed industrial areas in the Marmara Region of Turkey, Yilport has become a choice terminal for transport because of its suitable draft, calm sea, moderate weather and easy access to the main roads. Currently, Yilport is undergoing a three-phased development project to launch a regional transshipment terminal with an annual throughput of 2 million TEU. Currently the terminal is at 400,000 TEU capacity, but eventually plans to move 2 million TEU by 2015.

About Zebra Enterprise Solutions

Zebra Enterprise Solutions, a division of Zebra Technologies Corporation, extends Zebra's reach beyond passive RFID by employing state-of-the-art software and hardware solutions to locate, track, manage, and optimize high-value assets, equipment and people across the world's largest supply chains. Whether tracking containers through a port, optimizing parts for manufacturing, or managing ground support equipment at an airport, the real-time asset management solutions from the combination of Navis, WhereNet, proveo, and Multispectral Solutions provide improved visibility and velocity to gain measurable business improvements. Utilizing products that are based on ISO/IEC 24730-2, Cisco CCX Wi-Fi, precision GPS, and UWB technologies, Zebra Enterprise Solutions offers a wide range of location solutions that are "application matched," enabling its customers to put the right asset in the right place at the right time. For more information about Zebra Enterprise Solutions visit http://www.zebra.com/zes.

About Zebra Technologies

Zebra Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: ZBRA) provides the broadest range of innovative technology solutions to identify, track, and manage the deployment of critical assets for improved business efficiency. Zebra's core technologies include reliable on-demand printer and state-of-the-art software and hardware solutions. By enabling improvements in sourcing, visibility, security and accuracy, Zebra helps its customers to put the right asset in the right place at the right time. Zebra serves more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies worldwide. For more information about Zebra’s solutions visit http://www.zebra.com.