Delivering Connectivity for Industrial Applications
Digitalization is not a new topic, and for sectors like retail and travel, this has already happened. The companies that invested in digital transformation are reaping the rewards. However, it has not yet had the same complete transformative impact on several more industrial sectors, like mining, rail, and offshore energy for example. This is partly due to the challenging operating environments. The first priority needs to be maintaining Mission-Critical connectivity; then, we will start to see heavy industry take advantage of some of the additional opportunities that complete connectivity presents. In this blog, Axel Schroeder, Head of Global Vertical Markets at RFS, explores how we can deliver both Mission-Critical and wider connectivity to support industrial applications.
Why Mission-Critical is Critical
Mission-Critical communication is essential because it plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of crucial tasks and operations. In dangerous environments like mines, tunnels, and offshore platforms, effective communication is essential in the event of a disaster – a fire or a building collapse. Likewise, in manufacturing facilities or warehouses, the environment may not be as harsh, but the need for complete coverage remains the same.
Timely and accurate communication is at the heart of coordinating responses, allowing critical decisions to be made, and ensuring the safety and security of individuals both on-site and those entering as part of the rescue effort. Therefore, the reliability of a Mission-Critical Communication System is vital. However, when we look to deploy this in an industrial setting, there are significant challenges to be overcome, and these vary from industry to industry.
The Mining Industry: Digging Deeper with Radiating Cables
Mines often extend several kilometers below the earth's surface, where normal radio signals cannot reach. They consist of deep and awkward underground spaces that are difficult places to install connectivity. At RFS, we find the most efficient and reliable way to deliver coverage in a mining environment is using radiating cable. It allows contoured coverage across the entire site, and our RADIAFLEX cables are robust enough to withstand the tough environment and meet all regulatory requirements needed.
In the future: With the Mission-Critical backbone in place, the mining industry can look to extend connectivity to support a greater range of applications. For example, implementing robotics to tackle riskier tasks or using sensors and AI to improve operations are just a few examples of what can be achieved with digitalization.
Rail: Keeping Communication on Track
Within the rail industry, one of the most challenging areas to maintain connectivity is through tunnels and underground sections of the rail network. They pose a significant challenge to Mission-Critical communication, as it is challenging to ensure complete coverage across a tunnel that spans many kilometers. Again, radiating cables offer an efficient way to address this issue.
In the future: From meeting customer demand for improved on-board connectivity to enabling self-guided trains, having a connectivity infrastructure that can be built out to accommodate new applications is essential for the next five years of digital transformation in the sector.
Offshore Oil and Gas: Maintaining Connectivity
Offshore energy platforms operate in some of the harshest and most remote environments when trying to deliver connectivity. However, the harsh and remote environment is what makes Mission-Critical communications so important. Robust, ruggedized solutions are needed to withstand the most extreme marine environments and maintain functionality in the event of a fire or similar disaster. At RFS, we offer dedicated Private Wireless Networks that bring full coverage to indoor-outdoor environments of any size and complexity.
In the future: The future for offshore energy holds several digitalization opportunities; they may include using AI for predictive maintenance or data modeling to identify risks or improve efficiency. With a connectivity backbone in place, offshore energy organizations can build on this to take full advantage of digital transformation opportunities.
Renewable Energy: Ensuring Uninterrupted Communication
Renewable energy is a rapidly growing industry, and offshore wind farms face particular challenges when it comes to Mission-Critical communication. Situated miles away from land, these wind farms require robust and reliable communication infrastructure to offer uninterrupted connectivity. Obstructions such as towering wind turbines, adverse weather conditions, and remote locations make maintaining constant Mission-Critical communication a significant task. At RFS, we have decades of experience installing offshore networks and are bringing the knowledge and technology that has served oil and gas platforms to a growing number of green energy customers.
In the Future: As the demand for renewable energy grows, so does the need to utilize new technologies to drive efficiency. We expect to see wind farms take advantage of the integration of artificial intelligence and automation to maximize efficiency. Combined with the use of more and more IoT sensors to facilitate predictive maintenance, the connectivity demands of renewable energy producers are set to increase dramatically.
Manufacturing: Building Robust Connectivity
For manufacturing facilities, Mission-Critical Connectivity is essential from a safety perspective. However, delivering connectivity in an expansive space filled with heavy machinery has its challenges. To ensure comprehensive coverage across the entire facility presents a significant challenge that needs to be addressed. Here radiating cable offers a solution. By enabling contoured coverage, we can make sure that the entire facility is flooded with connectivity working around the obstructions of machinery. We have delivered this effectively for our manufacturing customers across the globe, including for TSMC, the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer.
In the future: Digital transformation having a significant impact on the manufacturing industry with automation, robotics, and AI already being utilized to enhance production. With a Mission-Critical network in place to ensure safety, we can then build on this to deliver additional communication networks that support the connectivity needs that come with embracing technological advancements.
Warehouses: Delivering Comprehensive Connectivity
Warehouses need a combination of approaches when it comes to delivering complete coverage across an entire site. The open loading bays need equipment capable of flooding a large open space. On the other hand, storage areas which are densely packed with racking and products present more of a challenge. By combining a Passive DAS system for open spaces with a radiating cable-based solution that delivers coverage to each aisle of the storage area, RFS has been able to deliver comprehensive and robust Mission-Critical for warehouse customers. For more information on this read our case study [link].
In the future: As with virtually every industry, digital transformation is impacting the warehousing sector. It is transforming operations with the introduction of technologies ranging from real-time tracking to automated warehouse management systems. To accommodate this there needs to be a robust communications infrastructure, capable of supporting additional demands for connectivity.
Conclusion
Industrial environments are, by their nature, a challenge when it comes to delivering connectivity. However, for both safety and the evolution of these sectors, getting communications infrastructure in place for Mission-Critical and beyond is essential. By enabling reliable communication and data transmission in challenging environments, significant progress can be made to ensure safety, as well as efficiency and productivity. As every industry continues to push the boundaries of technology and explore what can be achieved, it is vital to have infrastructure that can overcome issues in industrial environments and enable every sector to capitalize on digitalization.
