Red Lion Controls, an expert in communication, monitoring, and control for industrial automation and networking, says it has worked with distributor Facelco S.A.S. to provide a remote connectivity solution for Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM) in Colombia, a multi-utility and telco company focusing on power generation, transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution, wastewater treatment, aqueducts, and telecommunications. The combined Red Lion and Facelco industrial-grade remote connectivity solution provides monitoring and control throughout EPM¹s power distribution network, helping to save time and reduce costs.
The new Red Lion Sixnet rugged RTUs and I/O provide a simple yet powerful means to reliably monitor and control remote sites around the clock in the harshest environments. These compact automation systems can start small and grow as needs increase without requiring hardware replacement.
EPM turned to Red Lion and Facelco for remote connectivity capabilities for its power distribution infrastructure of reclosers. With multiple locations, the multi-utility company was looking for a flexible solution to monitor and interact with legacy equipment across its distributed network infrastructure. By using a remote connectivity solution that combines Red Lion¹s Sixnet series industrial RTUs and cellular routers with a network analyzer from Facelco, EPM can seamlessly connect, monitor, and control its recloser network. This upgrade lets EPM lower overall total cost of ownership by extending the life of its infrastructure and preserving CAPEX expenditures for other projects.
“The primary benefit for EPM was implementing a solution that would extend the life of its existing recloser network. This remote connectivity solution allowed them to extend the life of existing legacy equipment, which can last 15 to 20 years, as well as increase control of the network,” said Alejandro Arango, engineering director at Facelco. “By working with Red Lion and Facelco, EPM was able to cost-effectively improve network control, maximize availability and protect its network investment.”
The remote connectivity solution includes Red Lion IndustrialPro cellular routers that deliver wireless DNP-3 connectivity to RTUs that act as a controller. This deployment enables EPM to remotely connect and communicate with its power distribution system. In addition, Facelco network analyzers provide real-time diagnostics that allow EPM to proactively respond to conditions to ensure system integrity and network uptime.
“With different types of equipment deployed throughout Colombia, EPM’s power distribution system must be constantly monitored to ensure customers receive continuous, uninterrupted service,” said Stuart Eaton, vice president of CALA sales for Red Lion. “The combined Red Lion/Facelco solution ensures the network is running efficiently and lets EPM save time and money by eliminating expensive truck rolls to remote locations.”
Power substations and electric, gas and water utilities like EPM require high-speed, high-capacity networks that let real-time access to critical information regardless of location. Red Lion¹s industrial automation and networking solutions improve productivity and reliability by providing customers the ability to seamlessly connect, monitor and control operations.
Red Lion Controls
www.redlion.net/together
info@redlion.net.
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