The local Autocatalyst manufacturing division of Johnson Matthey, a leader in advanced materials technology for vehicle exhaust emission control, has implemented one of the largest 3Com-based wireless networks in SA.
The new system, installed at the company`s Germiston plant, is integral to the plant-wide production tracking and inventory control system. The 11Mbps system complements a third-party 2Mbps wireless network which proved to be too slow to meet the company`s requirement for high-speed barcode label printing at varying points on its many production lines. The 2Mbps network is now only used to provide access to the many handheld barcode scanners being used.
The system was implemented by 3Com partner, Integr8-IT, the Johannesburg-based high-level networking solutions and systems integration specialist. Integr8-IT recently assisted with the redesign, upgrade and consolidation of Johnson Matthey`s 10/100Mbps networks into a high-speed, 1Gb infrastructure.
"When it came to upgrading our wireless network, 3Com was the only company that had the high speed technology we were looking for," says Johann Landman, computer operations supervisor at Johnson Matthey.
"Integr8-ITdrove the project by securing the supply of key components and proved its technical capability with the timeous delivery of the project."
According to Landman, the wireless tracking system complements the type of production operations at the plant. "We need to be able to issue barcoded labels at various locations, based on monitored batch positions, in real-time," he explains.
The need for mobile wireless rather than a hard-wired, workstation-based solution was identified a few years ago as a more cost-effective and efficient solution for printing barcode labels as required along the production lines.
Commenting on the installation, Jan Roux, technical manager at Integr8-IT, says the key object of the upgrade was to provide faster wired-to-wireless network connectivity using the latest 3Com technology.
For the upgrade, Johnson Matthey selected Wyse thin client workstations and serial line printers with 3Com wireless bridges. These are linked via 100Mbps switches to the gigabit network and Citrix servers on which the tracking system is hosted.
In addition to the 3Com bridges, the system also comprises 11 wireless 3Com Access Point 6000s. These 11Mbps access points, which provide the link to the network, are located in the roof structure throughout the plant.
They are designed for sites requiring decentralised security and simple installation and are Wi-Fi certified ensuring they interoperate with any Wi-Fi product.
"These access points, each of which can support up to 65 simultaneous users at distances of 100m and speeds up to 11Mbps, deliver full LAN functionality and incorporate powerful security options. They`re ideal for a large site such as Johnson Matthey`s," says Bernie Parker, account manager, 3Com South Africa.
To expand wireless capabilities, 3Com 11Mbps wireless LAN bridges provide wired-to-wireless networking and also wireless connections between buildings, and 3Com wireless LAN PC and PCI Cards enable reliable connections for notebooks, desktop PCs and thin clients.
The system can be expanded easily by connecting as many as four Ethernet-enabled LAN devices to a hub and connecting the hub to 3Com via a 11Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridge.
Johnson Matthey has nine exhaust catalyst manufacturing sites around the world. These are located in the US, the UK, Belgium, Mexico, Argentina, SA, Malaysia, India and China.
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