The Lokata Company (pronounced low-kay-tah, "locator") was formed in the late 1970s in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. The first product was a combined marine receiver and direction finder, for yachts and small boats. From there, the company designed and manufactured products for the marine electronics market, including communications receivers, Navtex receivers, radar detectors, transponders and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs).
The company was acquired by Kelvin Hughes Ltd, and eventually moved to Hainault in Essex. Production of Lokata-branded products has ceased, as the company now concentrates on products for commercial shipping. Thousands of Lokata products remain in use worldwide.
In 2001, support for Lokata EPIRB products was transferred to Sartech Engineering Ltd.
In 1983 a New Scientist article covered a story about the inventor of a Lokata product called the "Watchman", a passive marine radar detector. He had independently re-invented part of the well-known Exocet missile's guidance system in his invention. This led to some publicised controversy involving the MOD and the Patent Office discussed in New Scientist magazine. The Ministry of Defence tried to requisition his patent, but he defied the secrecy order and went public and a public row arose about possible loss of employment making Lokata Watchmans in Falmouth, Cornwall where he lived.