T&S Stores, parent company of convenience shops One Stop and Dillons, has upgraded its customer support centre and distribution centres with a Molex Premise NetworksCategory 5e PowerCat system installed by GFI Informatics. The new flood-wired network forms the basis for the company`s planned expansion over the next five years.
Headquartered at Brownhills, Walsall, T&S operates 1400 convenience stores across the UK with distribution centres at Brownhills, Southampton and a recently acquired site at Preston. T&S has also recently expanded its headquarters by purchasing an additional two storey office building and warehouse adjacent to the Brownhills site.
The challenge for Les Mitchell-Hynd, Director of IS for T&S was to find a cost-effective structured cabling system which would be able to support future expansion: "The entire network is critical to our business for distribution and stock control."
Molex Certified Installer GFI Informatics has been working with T&S for the past two years and have a support contract which involves maintaining an NT Server, routers and a remote access solution. Del Smith, Account Manager for GFI Informatics said: "We recommended Molex products to T&S because the PowerCat Category 5e system is flexible, scaleable and appropriate for the environment. It will also enable T&S to cope with future expansion as it will comply with band-width requirements into the next decade."
GFI Informatics designed a network to work in line with T&S Stores business strategy for expansion over the next five years. Flood-wiring was the best option to enable T&S to achieve maximum occupancy of its customer support centre in the future. There are currently 450 users at Brownhills and just less than 900 live outlets. GFI Informatics connected the Category 5e system to a fibre backbone which runs from the new building, located on the other side of a road, to the existing office. Both buildings have been flood-wired with a potential 1500 points. GFI Informatics also installed Molex Premise Networks Category 5e system at the Southampton distribution depot which has 50 outlets.
Les Mitchell-Hynd explains: "We have only used structured cabling for data in the past. The new PowerCat system supports data, voice, dumb terminals and PCs and provides flexibility within our buildings allowing us to move desks around without cabling being an issue."
The network is controlled via a mainframe computer located at Brownhills. The 1400 convenience stores place an order via an EPOS (electronic point of sale) system. Orders are downloaded to the mainframe computer overnight and processed by region. Turnaround - from order placement to receipt - is about 36 hours. Stock is controlled at distribution depots with hand-held RF-guns to scan product bar-codes.
Les Mitchell-Hynd again: "We opted for the Molex system because it not only provides us with flexibility to expand but also reassurance with the 20 year product and system warranty. We have been very pleased with technical support provided by GFI Informatics and Molex. It is reassuring that on-site support is provided by both companies throughout the cabling process to ensure the system is compliant with Molex high standards."
Simon Barnard, Technical Services Manager for Molex Premise Networks said: "It is our policy to provide maximum support to end users and Certified Installers throughout the installation process and long after the job is complete."
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The PowerCat cabling system is suitable for high-speed data transmission. The panel offers both a 24 and 48 port solution and has been designed to meet the highest performance standards in the industry. It offers versatility for horizontal cabling and features an integral rear cable management tray, for ease of installation and cable dressing.
About Molex Premise Networks
Molex Premise Networks is a subsidiary of Molex Incorporated - a 62-year-old manufacturer of electronic, electrical and fibre optic interconnection products and systems; switches; value-added assemblies; and application tooling. Based in Lisle, Illinois, USA, the Company operates 52 manufacturing facilities in 19 countries and employs approximately 17,650 people.
With over 20 years experience, Molex Premise Networks is the longest established structured cabling system manufacturer in the UK market. Molex Premise Networks manufactures a wide portfolio of products catering for the transmission of voice, data and, more recently, video imaging signals. In supplying innovative structured cabling solutions world-wide, Molex Premise Network` reputation is one of technological excellence.
Molex Premise Networks manufactures a comprehensive product range include UTP, STP, SCTP, FTP and Fibre Optics. All products and services comply with and exceed recognised industry standards, including ISO 11801. EN50173 and EIA/TIA 568A.
Appreciating the need for a customers` confidence in their chosen installation, Molex Premise Networks offers a Global 20-Year System Performance, Application Assurance and Product Warranty. In accordance with this, Molex Premise Networks continually develops its products to meet emerging technologies such as Category 6 and 7, remaining at the forefront whilst stretching the boundaries of cabling communications technology.
For further information, please visit Molex Premise Networks` Web site:- www.molexpn.co.uk
About GFI Informatics
GFI Informatics is the UK arm of GFI Informatique - an international IT services organisation employing 6500 people. Now one of the UK`s largest (lb26 million turnover), independent solutions providers, GFI Informatics has a track record of over 25 years of knowledge and expertise in information and communications technologies.
GFI Informatics` blue chip customer base spans all industry sectors and includes finance, telcos and retail; Reuters, Glaxo Wellcome, Hays Group, Eurostar, First Group, ICL, HSBC and BT. There is also a significant presence in the SME and public sectors.
The company`s mission is to contribute to clients` efficiency and business success through the development and implementation of an appropriate communications strategy and subsequent solutions. Main areas of activity are consulting and professional services, solutions supply, integration, implementation and support services for all IT activities including e-business and security issues.
GFI Informatics enjoys strong links with technology partners such as Cisco Systems (as a Silver Partner), Nortel Networks (Enterprise Solutions Partner), Lucent Technologies (Prestige Partner), Avaya Communications (Prestige Partner), RAD, RiT, Check Point, RSA Security, Molex, Madge, Microsoft, Novell and others.
GFI Informatics has 160 employees and offices in Lichfield (Staffordshire), Milton Keynes, London, Cumbernauld (Strathclyde) & Warrington (Cheshire).
For further information, please visit GFI Informatics` web site:- www.gfi-informatics.com
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