TIC Group (TIC) is a Victorian-based inventory and supply chain solutions provider that works with prominent retailers and suppliers globally. With 30 years of retail supply chain expertise, TIC continues to exemplify “sustainability through innovation”.
TIC’s reverse logistics division, the Central Returns Centre (CRC), was presented with an opportunity to make use of a spacious but rundown server room to install their IT infrastructure. However, it would require significant investment to make it fit for purpose, particularly in the areas of fire suppression and air conditioning.
We have confidence in Rittal’s product. It works seamlessly with the backup power solutions we’ve put in place. It covers our major pain point of heat build-up in the event of a mains power failure.
Considering the room dimensions, TIC would have to either oversize the fire suppression and climate control or invest in construction works to reduce the size of the room — both costly options. To add insult to injury, the renovation or retrofit outlay could not be recouped should the company relocate premises in the future. TIC would land back at square one.
Thus, Steve Gwyn, who heads TIC’s IT Support, had to source an alternative option to deliver:
- An equivalent solution to a conventional room fit-out that would future-proof against relocation or power failure
- Fire suppression for protection of the room’s high-value contents
- Air conditioning designed to manage the internal server temperature requirements
The Solution
A solution was proposed by TIC’s trusted UPS provider and Rittal Certified IT Partner, NPS (Natural Power Solutions): three fully contained server and network racks with LCP DX in-rack cooling technology.
This system was protected by an Automatic Door Opening kit, Access Control System, Fire Detection and Suppression System and Environmental Monitoring, covering each of TIC’s requirements. The advantages of this all-in-one solution outweighed the risks of a room upgrade, and Rittal offered the complete package: equipment, supply delivery, installation and commissioning.
“I’m very happy with the quality of the installation,” said Steve at IT Support. “A major advantage of the Rittal solution is the smart infrastructure monitoring that we wouldn't have had [were the room renovated].”
This feature offered TIC complete peace of mind and high availability. “I have comfort knowing beforehand that something is going to happen inside the racks. We have preemptive monitoring rather than being reactive,” said Steve.
In fact, Rittal’s solution stood up to the test of a recent power shutdown. Remote monitoring delivered granular data and easy management, helping TIC save significant time and effort.
I feel we need to loop back to the point they needed fire suppression, a/c AND protection against power failure.