Manufacturing
& Mining Industries
 |
- Broad-spectrum networks to resolve
LAN extension problems
- Portable computers in vehicles and
in mines or on shop floors
- RF connected hand-held computers in
manufacturing plants
- In-process Monitoring
- Real-time Asset Management: Tools,
Materials, Parts
- Instant Purchase Verification,
delivery Confirmation and Order Tracking
- Industrial Controls
|
Details...
The manufacturing industries are finding that
broad-spectrum networks can resolve many difficult LAN extension problems, especially in
remote mining areas. In many cases, installation of a cable inside a factory or a mine, or
between two factory sites is too complex and the leasing of WAN facilities too expensive.
If there is a clear line of sight available and distances are short (in some cases, up to
10 miles, or 16 kilometers), wireless bridges such as Solectek’s AIRLAN bridge can be
used as economical extensions to a LAN. An added bonus is the resulting freedom to use
portable computers in vehicles and in mines or on shop floors.
Organizations such as Placerdome Canada Ltd. (a mining company) and
John Deere (a foundry) have used the technology in this way. Placerdome connected three
sites (7.5 and 0.5 miles — 12 kilometers and 800 meters — apart) with wireless
bridges. John Deere installed AIRLAN equipment and mobile notebooks in indoor mobile
vehicles.
Companies such as Telxon and Norand have implemented many vertical
applications in manufacturing plants using RF connected hand-held computers (see
photograph of Telxon computer in factory environment.)
Ruggedized Notebook and Handheld
Applications
Some of the manufacturing and mining
environments require that the mobile devices be highly ruggedized that can
withstand extreme temperatures ranges (hot and cold), be shock-resistant and
be fall-proof from a distance of 3 to 4 feet on a concrete floor. Several
vendors provide such ruggedized devices. Go to ruggedized
end user device pages and vendors such as Amrel
and Xenocom.
