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ORACK
MOELLER FACILITATES TAILORED I.T. CONTROL

An automation solution comprising of Moeller PLCs, components and software has helped local manufacturer Fibretronic Sales to develop a sustainable competitive advantage for its mobile IT server cabinets, by allowing customers to tailor their access and reporting options instead of having to conform to a one-size-fits-all approach.

Fibretronic Sales is an IT and telecommunications distribution company that supplies infrastructure products such as copper and fibre optic cabling, carrier class wireless networking, switches and the ObserverRack range of server cabinets through branches in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

In Durban, where manufacture takes place, branch manager Shaun Cothill explained that ObserverRack was developed to meet the need for a server room small enough to save on traditional building costs, and mobile enough to be able to move with the company whenever it relocated.

"It is essentially a mobile asset - an environmentally controlled air-conditioned server cabinet that provides a regulated, controlled and secure enclosure which incorporates gas facilities, fire protection, GSM and LAN capabilities," Cothill explained.

"The product is easily deployable and fully self-contained, and provides a controlled environment for servers by means of a steel cabinet which replaces the traditional computer room," he continued.

"ObserverRack eliminates the high costs of adapting an existing room within the clients building every time there is office relocation."

Cothill said that the concept of ObserverRack, which was launched about three years ago, has been readily accepted by the market. Over 200 units are currently installed and some 900 units will be deployed into parastatals in the near future.

"It is expensive to build and implement data rooms," Cothill said, "because many different suppliers have to be approached to source the various components of fire protection, firewall, access control and so on.

"So selling this product has been quite simple - not quick and easy, but simple - because it solves the problem through its single-sourcing solution, and it provides mobility for the future through its self-contained cabinet concept."

Cothill said that, at the time of product development, Fibretronic's engineers found that the various automation systems available for this application were somewhat rigid, limiting the choice available to the customer.

Moeller, however, exclusively offered to customise the PLC and supply it with a robust touch screen, GSM modem and LAN connectivity, and to write software that would allow the end user to tailor their access control and monitor their network environment from anywhere in the world.

The result is environmental control that is not merely passive, but which will alert the customer by SMS or email whenever any of the environmental parameters falls outside the set ranges, allowing him to despatch a technician and control the depth and time of technical access to the cabinet.

With Moeller having been involved in the project from the start, a strong relationship has developed between the two companies, particularly in Durban which has become the main point of interface. Moeller now supplies PLC training to Fibretronic's installation crews to facilitate telephonic problem solving.

"During product development, we had a look at various product options in terms of automating the cabinet," Cothill said. "Moeller was the only company willing to write the software for us and back the product with their PLCs, then supply the solution complete with Ethernet, RS232 and web interfaces."

"So we were offered a single-source solution that eliminated the need to go to many different suppliers and build the solution ourselves. Moeller gave us everything we needed to manufacture this product and make it a success.

"It is a unique partnership which we see continuing indefinitely into the future," he concluded.

PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS:

ObserverRack touch screen

Issued on behalf of CBI-electric Industrial Controls (Moeller Division)
Further information: José Ruivo (manager sales & marketing)
Telephone: +27 11 977-0700
Fax: +27 11 977-0758
e-mail: ruivo@moeller.co.za
P O Box 100, KEMPTON PARK, 1620, SOUTH AFRICA

Issued by Thrush Industrial Marketing
Contact: Alan Thrush
Telephone: +27 11 483-1511
Fax: +27 11 483-3160
e-mail: info@thrushindustrial.co.za
P O Box 1933, HIGHLANDS NORTH, 2037, SOUTH AFRICA

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