When an old server room site was demolished, HamiltonJet had to find a solution to keep its manufacturing plant active – and fast. Dr John Eichler, the company’s Manufacturing Engineer, had to identify a reliable data centre and storage location.
[The RiMatrix Micro Data Centre] designed as a complete solution. When you buy from other brands, paint and screws are missing, or things don’t quite fit. With Rittal, it just works.
HamiltonJet is a market leader in waterjets and vessel controls based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Trusted worldwide for its expertise, HamiltonJet provides boat builders, naval architects and marine operators with the latest high-performance propulsion technology.
When an old server room site was demolished, HamiltonJet had to find a solution to keep its manufacturing plant active – and fast. Dr John Eichler, the company’s Manufacturing Engineer, had to identify a reliable data centre and storage location.
Option A for storage was the plant. But choose this, and it would expose multiple units to dust and other airborne contaminants while forklifts and staff risk damage or security breaches. Option B was a new server room (pitched by the IT team) that was equally expensive and time-consuming. That left the office. Though it was clean and cool, no staff could focus near a whirring data centre. There was no choice but to install the multiple units inside the plant.
HamiltonJet stressed that it couldn't afford to wait for months for parts. Dr Eichler had to find a secure, affordable solution offering:
Protection from contamination and interference
Maintaining a constant cool internal temperature
Off shelf availability in New Zealand for quick installation
An affordable price compared to a server room build.
After comparing data enclosures from local suppliers, Rittal was a clear choice. Dr Eichler immediately recognised the products for their quality and reliability. Plus, Rittal’s attractive price point won out against inferior alternatives at less than half the cost of a server room.
Dr Eichler sought Rittal New Zealand’s expertise and recommended the RiMatrix Micro Data Centre (MDC). Fast and flexible, the MDC can be quickly combined with other components into the perfect solution. A Rittal 47U TS IT IP55 rated cabinet protects the internals from harmful dust and oil, and a rear-mounted Blue E+ cooling unit manages climate control. It was considerably more reliable than the air-conditioned office.
Rittal also recommended an IoT interface for its internal monitoring and management capabilities. It proved extremely useful because Dr Eichler could check the unit temperature while working remotely.
The solution ticked all the boxes: dust protection, climate control, price point and reliability. This decision, he says, was a no-brainer. “It was [Rittal’s] reputation that did it for me,” said Dr Eichler, adding, “[The RiMatrix Micro Data Centre] is designed as a complete solution. When you buy from other brands, paint and screws are missing, or things don’t quite fit. With Rittal, it just works.”
He also had peace of mind knowing technical support is available. Rittal quickly resolved Dr Eichler’s questions during the IoT device configuration and got the system up and running.
Teltrac Communications, a long-term supplier to HamiltonJet, completed a smooth installation with electrical installation done by the internal team. Dr Eichler reports, “As far as projects go, this one was pretty easy!”
HamiltonJet has run its RiMatrix Micro Data Centre for over 4,000 hours and counting – with zero downtime. It has proved itself as a viable solution for a new factory in which it will help deliver a data fibre highway around the whole site. Even the IT team, who were staunch advocates of a server room, can see the performance advantages. Looking ahead, HamiltonJet will scope requirements for three more RiMatrix Micro Data Centres.