Case study category: Production

The manufacturing plant Brovedani Slovakia has acquired new infrastructure

The manufacturing plant Brovedani Slovakia has acquired new infrastructure

Network
Production

The Brovedani Slovakia plant is undergoing an important digital transformation including all production processes and the entire structure. That's why we needed to update our infrastructure and integrate digital technology into all our processes to implement projects safely and achieve the right performance. As our professional partner, Soitron guided us through all phases of the project with expertise and precision. With SLA Gold, Soitron continues to have everything under control on a day-to-day basis. 

Edoardo Mascherin, Lean Manufacturing & Industry 4.0 manager 

Background

We helped Brovedani Slovakia to build a new virtualization infrastructure, which ensures the operation of all systems of the manufacturing plant. As the original systems were obsolete, both in terms of hardware and software, they had to be replaced with a newer solution. The modernization was brought about by a complete replacement of both hardware and software components of the virtualization platform.

Project implementation process

During the presales phase, we presented the proposed solution to the customer and explained its advantages. Throughout the process, Soitron provided expert consultations, as part of which we discussed the complete implementation step by step. The main challenge for us was the implementation part – important components of the new solution had to run on one of the original servers after implementation, while the server was simultaneously used for production applications until the last moment.

In addition, we had to be careful not to disrupt production, which was running 24×7. Our team carried out the replacement without any downtime. The project also included a partial extension of the network infrastructure. In conjunction with/Together with this project there was also another one – backing up the new virtual environment.

Results and benefits

a more modern and reliable solution

more efficient system operation

Gold SLA agreement

Customer Profile

Brovedani Slovakia s.r.o. is part of the Brovedani Group SpA based in Italy. In Slovakia, it specializes in mass production of metal micro-components for the automotive industry. It is one of the most important employers in the Galanta area.

Technologies used

HPE ProLiant servers, VMware vSphere virtualization platform, VSAN solution from VMware

Firewalls by Palo Alto Networks protect IT and OT networks in a manufacturing company

Firewalls by Palo Alto Networks protect IT and OT networks in a manufacturing company

Cybersecurity
Network
Production

Thanks to the expertise and experience of our technicians, the deployment of the new solution was carried out quickly and seamlessly, without affecting the normal 24/7 production operations. 

Soitron team 

Background

A Slovak manufacturing company with 1,500 employees, part of an international group, was looking for a suitable firewall solution. One of the essential requirements for the chosen solution was to meet a number of next-gen functionalities. The legacy solution was outdated and not compliant with the current requirements. The client requested application-level visibility and a higher level of security.

Project Progress

We proposed a new technological solution based on Palo Alto Networks firewalls. The solution we provided to the client was the current market-leader in terms of firewall security. One of the main requirements of the client was to have separate firewalls for IT and OT networks, i.e. to have a separate network environment for managing industrial production technology elements.

This made it possible to achieve an even higher level of security against potential cyber threats and to make the environment more resilient against outages. The challenge was not to disrupt production processes.

Results and Benefits

high level of security

greater application-level visibility

more resilient environment against potential cyber threats

replacement of traditional firewalls with next generation firewalls

Technologies Used

Firewall Palo Alto Networks

Remoska launches a revolution in manufacturing with modern IT systems

Remoska launches a revolution in manufacturing with modern IT systems from Soitron

Cybersecurity
Network
Production

Our vision was to build a plant with world-class industrial automation technologies that is fully digitalized and well-secured against cyber threats, and potential technological failures that could disrupt production continuity. 

Petr Vaněček, CEO and Managing Director 

Background

The traditional Czech brand Remoska needed to build a new greenfield plant to expand their capacity and maintain competitiveness. The intention of the company’s management was to use cutting-edge technologies for industrial automation, robotization and digitalization in the new factory. Remoska decided to select through a selection procedure a technological partner for the architectural design, project management, and the implementation of information, communication, and software technologies. Strong security was one of the key requirements.

Project implementation

Soitron experts designed a modern and secure technology architecture to keep costs under control, including virtualization, the use of existing servers, and the integration of Software as a Service (SaaS) services, such as Microsoft 365.

The digitalization included building a network communication infrastructure, establishing an on-premise data centre with cloud integration, deployment of energy monitoring (IoT), implementation of cyber security measures, implementation of IP telephony, coordination and integration of systems such as ERP, MES (Manufacturing Execution System), warehouse management, and attendance.

Results and benefits

increasing competitiveness, sustaining production in Europe

process improvement, better production planning and streamlining

high security and minimization of downtime risks

energy consumption optimisation

Soitron was responsible for integrating and aligning all systems and technologies

Customer profile

Remoska s.r.o. is a traditional Czech producer of quality kitchenware with more than 65 years of tradition. It produced its first baking pan as early as 1957. Later, production expanded to include a new line of pots, pans, kitchen accessories, stainless steel cookware and electrical dishes. Today, Remoska is a renowned brand that offers new trends in modern cooking. In Kopřivnica, it built a new production plant with top technology. A new division of the company – EFC Design, dealing with OEM production, was also created. They organize their own cooking school in the professionally equipped culinary centre.

Technologies used

Cisco HyperFlex, Cisco UCS, HyperFlex Data Platform, Cisco ISE, VMware vSphere, Microsoft 365, Azure AD Premium, LoRaWAN

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Logmanager simplifies the management of IT systems and enhances security at inventec

Logmanager simplifies the management of IT systems and enhances security at Inventec

Cybersecurity
Production

Logmanager was the first product based on SIEM that we implemented in our company. Thanks to SOITRON, the implementation was easy and directly focused on each requirement. We were very satisfied. 

Jiří Tomaštík, IT Netwok Engineer Supervisor 

Background

Inventec was looking for a solution that would help them comply with the Cybersecurity Act (CSA). They have achieved that by deploying Logmanager – a product that helps obliged entities to meet their obligations under the CSA.

Project implementation

The project started with a consultation where we, together with the customer, specified the list of devices to collect logs from. In the next step, we classified these logs, and, for any device not natively supported by Logmanager, we created a parser (i.e. a code that extracts interesting parts of the log and stores them under a specific name in a database). With such normalized data, we generated views for interesting logs. For specific situations that could potentially arise, we created custom email alerts.

This platform enables much earlier detection and responses to any network problems or vulnerabilities. Notifications can alert the customer if someone unauthorized is trying to log into their key server.

We deployed Logmanager in the customer’s two datacentres. The project is continuing with the deployment of another Logmanager in the OT environment, where it will be used to collect production data.

Results and benefits

easier IT system management

comprehensive view of the status of all parts of the network

incident alerting and advanced reporting

an intuitive user interface

compliance with the legislative requirements of the CSA

Customer profile

Inventec (Czech) s.r.o. is a member of the Inventec Corporation, which is based in Taiwan. Inventec manufactures and develops electronics and information technology products. The company has manufacturing facilities and innovation centres in several countries. Their operations in the Czech Republic are dedicated to the production of computer servers.

Technologies used

Logmanager was developed as a centralized log management system, providing an easy way of viewing all machine-generated data in an organization. In the first step, Logmanager collects, unifies, and provides long-term storage of event logs and records from active network elements, security devices, operating systems, and application software. It then stores the collected data in near real-time in a well-defined and powerful database that IT security professionals can access through predefined dashboards and structured or full-text queries with results displayed in a graphic format. Logmanager also provides basic SIEM functions, such as alerts with limits and simple correlations.

An industrial IoT solution enables Linet to prevent accidents and production downtimes

An industrial IoT solution enables Linet to prevent accidents and production downtimes

IoT
Production
Linet is one of the iconic brands of Czech industry and a leading European hospital and nursing bed manufacturer. The transport of the abrasive medium in the machine causes significant wear and tear to the machine parts. Linet was confronted with occasional failures in the abrasive transport equipment caused by malfunctioning motors.
Case study was published 30.11.2022

REQUIREMENTS

  • prevent production downtimes and damage to a blasting machine
  • prevent the blasting machine from being buried in abrasive medium
  • reduce service costs
  • extend life and preserve investments into production machines
  • create a simple yet fully functional system for switching the machine off when a malfunction is indicated

SOLUTION

  • install sensors to shafts and bearings to measure temperature and speed
  • design and deploy analytical software
  • configure the machine shutdown sequence

RESULTS AND BENEFITS

an automatic machine shutdown when a fault in the abrasive medium transport system is detected

reduced repair time

the prediction of probable bearing failure

the elimination of damage to equipment

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The new headquarters cannot do without first-class network connectivity

The new Doosan Bobcat EMEA headquarters cannot do without first-class network connectivity

Network
Production
The world’s largest manufacturer of compact loaders and excavators, Doosan Bobcat, is a household name in the industry. Over some time, the company has built a unique campus in Dobříš, bringing to one place a manufacturing facility, a development and innovation centre, a dealer training centre (the Bobcat Institute), and the most recent addition – its EMEA regional headquarters. In 2017, its EMEA headquarters were relocated from Waterloo in Belgium to Dobříš in the Czech Republic, which marked one of the most important milestones in the company’s history. Soitron had been involved in this.
Case study was published 11.08.2021

REQUIREMENTS

  • Design and implement a LAN network infrastructure in the newly-built headquarters of Doosan Bobcat, a manufacturer of compact construction machines
  • Connect the headquarters with existing buildings
  • Build Wi-Fi connectivity for the entire campus
  • Equip 26 conference rooms and the auditorium in the new headquarters building with state-of-the-art audio and video equipment a room booking system

SOLUTION

  • Connect the new headquarters with 10 GB fibre optic routes
  • Design and implement a LAN infrastructure based on Cisco technologies with 720 gigabit ports with PoE support
  • Provide Wi-Fi signal coverage for the building and the entire campus
  • Deploy Cisco Prime Infrastructure software for more effective infrastructure management

RESULTS AND BENEFITS

The headquarters is equipped with modern, fast, and reliable network connectivity.

There are highly presentable and modern meeting rooms.

There is a simplified network management.

The infrastructure has been put in place to ensure teleconferencing and the high productivity of people in their day-to-day work.

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How the internet of things helps farmers?

HOW THE INTERNET OF THINGS HELPS FARMERS?

IoT
Production
As the Internet of Things (IoT) trend continues to grow, it does not shy away from the agricultural sector either. An exemplary case is the Agrodružstvo Miroslav farming cooperative in Moravia, Czech Republic. Soitron has built a smart sensor-based private IoT network on the farm. These sensors allow farmers to monitor and easily see the costs of water and electricity consumption in individual barns.
Case study was published 04.02.2021

IoT at farm

REQUIREMENTS

  • Uncover the root cause of why milk cooling costs are so high
  • Find out the real production costs and identify possible savings
  • Reduce operating costs, which are reflected in the price of one litre of milk and one kg of meat

SOLUTION

  • An IoT solution for efficient production management
  • Sensors for optimising electric power consumption
  • Sensor installation without the necessity to install new cabling
  • Data collection, monitoring, and evaluation

RESULTS AND BENEFITS

Optimised energy consumption in milk and meat production

Reduced cost of milk cooling: modification of power, water and gas consumption, temperature, ventilation, and lighting conditions in cattle barns

Eliminated risk of exceeding the maximum electricity consumption

Kofola “hired” a cloud robot to do a robotic job

Kofola ”hired” a cloud robot to do a robotic job

Robotisation
Production
Kofola has had previous experience with robotic workers. They had been used, for example, by their Finance Department. However, that implementation was accompanied by various problems. That’s why the IT specialists took special care in specifying what they expected from the robot. Every Kofola employee uses dozens of systems. For Kofola IT specialists, these were routine tasks which further increased the likelihood of making errors. A reverse analysis revealed that cumulatively these activities “cost” the IT department one month of work a year. This was enough to consider investing in their automation.
Case study was published 14.10.2019

Requirements

  • Increase the capacity of IT Department staff and be able to handle all requests without the need to enlarge the team by hiring additional staff.
  • Identify and unburden people from having to perform repetitive tasks that do not require any special skills.
  • Create more space and time for the IT team to perform creative work that develops the people and the company.
  • Optimize the functioning of the IT Department.

Solution

  • Identify processes suitable for automation.
  • Audit the information systems involved in the employee termination process.
  • Analyse employee termination processes: the description and ordering of steps and the creation of standardized models.
  • Design a robotic process automation (RPA) solution in the cloud system.
  • Test in a simulated environment and the deployment and optimization of the solution.
  • Detailed monitoring and reporting, providing the client with a 24/7 overview of how the robot works in qualitative and quantitative terms.

Outcomes

The software robot saves the Kofola’s IT Department one month of routine work per year.

Minimal error rate of employee termination-related operations.

Higher IT staff satisfaction due to the robot helping them with routine work they no longer have to do themselves.

Costs reduction.

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Smart industrial rail guided vehicles need a reliable communications network

SMART INDUSTRIAL RAIL GUIDED VEHICLES NEED A RELIABLE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

Network
Production
What do industrial enterprises need to operate efficiently and without unnecessary downtime? Undoubtedly, many managers would say reliable machines, timely supplies of raw materials and energies, and skilled labour. Probably, only a few would highlight a communication system used for the transportation of pallets loaded with goods from an automatic packaging line to a warehouse. However, the example of Mondi SCP – a pulp and paper producer from Ružomberok, Slovakia, shows how important role communication technologies play not only in people’s lives, but also in manufacturing enterprises.
Case study was published 25.02.2019

Requirements

  • Replace an existing outdated communication system of the automated finished product warehouse for a more innovative technology
  • Eliminate downtime in the manufacturing process
  • Improve availability and stability of the pallet transport system
  • Comply with the highest quality and safety standards
  • Streamline and simplify difficult maintenance

Solution

  • Design a new WiFi-based communication system solution
  • Replace ProfiBus with ProfiNet communication protocol
  • Secure and encrypted protocol
  • PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) in a wireless environment
  • Wireless Access Points integrated into the existing wireless environment
  • Cisco industrial-grade networking components

Outcomes

Uninterrupted passage across the entire wireless network

Secured and encrypted wireless communication

Effective system diagnostics

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Soitron Security Sensor allowed ZKW Slovakia to see their IT security situation

SOITRON SECURITY SENSOR ALLOWED ZKW SLOVAKIA TO SEE THEIR IT SECURITY SITUATION

Cybersecurity
Production
Industrial enterprises are usually not pioneers in deploying cyber security technologies, because their technology refresh cycles are multiple times slower and more costly than those in the IT sector.
However, ZKW Slovakia s.r.o., a leading supplier of lighting systems and electronics for the automotive industry, is one of the bright exceptions.
Case study was published 07.01.2019

Requirements

  • Get a continuous overview of the network security and corporate ICT resources.
  • Demonstrate cyber threat resilience and data protection capabilities to key contractors.
  • Enhance security of the technology infrastructure.

Solution

  • Penetration testing and deployment of the Soitron Security Sensor solution integrating multiple security technologies from various vendors such as
    Flowmon, Cisco and Fortinet.
  • An audit based on customer network monitoring and the gathered data.
  • Final report on the current state of IT security and recommendations for improvement.

Outcomes

Identification of deficiencies that the customer would not have been able to uncover without deploying the advanced technologies.

Strengthening of the IT security of ZKW Slovakia s.r.o.

Ability to test multiple high-end security technologies from various vendors in a single package.

Enhanced overview of the status and performance of their enterprise network, including alerts of any anomalies, which allows the company to identify potential threats and performance issues in a timely manner.

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The art of bringing two incompatible systems together

22.08.2017

The art of bringing two incompatible systems together

When one of the world’s largest chemical companies appointed Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to take over its Managed Service contract, HPE needed to complete a highly complex full-service global integration without its client providing any engineering support. Soitron was brought on board to handle the project on the behalf of HPE, and took on the challenge from start to finish.

requirements

  • To integrate HP Service Manager (HPSM) with HPE’s client
    existing SAP system – two incompatible systems, unable to communicate
    with each other.
  • Data sovereignty, accessibility, encryption and service continuity were of particular importance.
  • To develop an alternative solution to address several challenges.

this solution demonstrated how soitron can

  • Integrate multiple platforms together without any business disruption.
  • Making incompatible systems work together.
  • Handle complex and challenging projects while adhering to very tight deadlines.
  • Problem solve to the very highest of industry levels
  • Design scalable solutions for any volume of transactions

results

Development of the unique IT Smart+ solution – a new service offering which Soitron now offers to businesses facing similar challenges.

The solution is flexible enough to allow the two disparate systems to interact with each other.

The solution could be used by a team of specialist to deliver the project on time.

A system which could handle any volume transactions in a standardised framework.

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Monitoring as a service significantly streamlines the operation of OMS Company

MONITORING AS A SERVICE SIGNIFICANTLY STREAMLINES THE OPERATION OF OMS COMPANY

Network
Production
OMS decided to benefit from all advantages of monitoring as a service. This solution is able to solve issues relating to IT infrastructure as a complex system, performance and load of individual devices, components as well as applications. Correct set-up of processes can save time and decrease or minimize the production outage. New monitoring solution provides OMS also with significant cost savings.
Case study was published 13.04.2017

Requirements

  • To create a concept of modern monitoring service minimizing negative impacts of unexpected incidents on OMS operation.
  • To alert about specific incidents and monitor defined parameters.
  • To avoid and eliminate infrastructure outages.
  • To ensure smooth and continual operation of the company.
  • To disburden IT department of time-consuming maintenance.

Our solution

  • Full migration to new monitoring as a service solution.
  • Transition of competencies to service provider.
  • Development of additional features based on customers’
    requirements.
  • Service of providers’ certified specialists.
  • Reduction of hardware requirements on monitoring infrastructure.

Results

Modern monitoring service flexible to handle all dynamic changes in IT infrastructure.

Automation of specific tasks with no need for administrators' interaction, who can dedicate their time to other work activities.

Elimination of hardware outages that may endanger or interrupt the production process of the company.

Automatic ticket assignment to relevant team of specialists responsible for its resolving.

IVAN KOLLÁR

Senior Monitoring Consultant (Soitron, s.r.o.)

Monitoring service is capable to actively monitor all selected parts of infrastructure (such as switches, routers, servers, etc.) according to customized settings and defined parameters.
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