case studies
Memco
Product: EtherStream
Industry: Manufacturing
Location: Maidenhead, Berks
Memco HQ relies on high-bandwidth EtherStream Internet connectivity with its new manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic.
"As a customer for over six years, it is obvious to me that Easynet Connect is a proven market leader when it comes to secure, reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity. As a manufacturing company, we rely on the transmission of business critical files to support production."
John Wheatley, IT Systems Administrator, Memco
THE STORY
Established in 1971, Memco has its international headquarters in Maidenhead, UK. With a turnover of £20 million a year, Memco is the internationally-renowned market leader in the manufacture of infra-red detectors for lifts. In 1990, the company was bought by Halma plc, a global organisation with a £350 million annual turnover. The group consists of more than 40 companies across the world and specialises in manufacturing and marketing of health and industrial safety products for hazard detection and life protection, including the Elevator Division, of which Memco is part. Memco's aim is to continue to be the leading provider of electronic door entrance safety systems and a major supplier of lift emergency telephones. Amongst its customers, it lists some of the world's top landmarks such as the British Library and some of the largest airports, hotels groups, hospitals and even royal residences.
Memco has been an Easynet Connect customer since 2002. The company has evolved and upgraded to higher bandwidth systems as the business has grown. During the last six years, the volume of information transmitted via the Internet has increased 100 fold, with a single branch computer link to four European offices and a new manufacturing plant now linking to sister company offices in New Zealand, Shanghai and Singapore.
From its HQ in the UK - serving some 120 employees - Memco needed to upgrade its IT system to ensure a faster and higher level of Internet connectivity so that it could communicate more quickly and effectively across its multiple sites. These include sales offices in Italy, Spain, France and Germany.
In addition, Memco needed guaranteed, reliable communication with its new 4,000 square metre Central European manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic which opened in 2008. It turned to Easynet Connect's dedicated, copper-based Ethernet service, EtherStream. This provides a high level of security and reliability to transmit critical volumes of traffic between sites such as the new manufacturing plant. Also, EtherStream supports a constant flow of information including order documentation, drawings, job sheets, not to mention email, VoIP telephony and video conferencing.
THE CHALLENGE
As a customer of Easynet since 2002, Memco and its UK HQ in Maidenhead are at the hub of the company's multi-million pound European operations. As such, over 90% of its connectivity underpins communication between the UK and five European sites as well as the overseas offices of Memco's parent company, Halma plc. This requires the implementation of high-bandwidth, fast and highly reliable Internet connectivity to support manufacturing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
THE SOLUTION
Easynet Connect's EtherStream, offering a dedicated line & fully-managed service, including 24x7 UK-based IT support; unlimited usage; symmetrical 10Mbps with capacity to upgrade to 20Mb; zero contention rate
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THE BENEFITS
- Robust, fast and secure Internet connectivity
- Reliable connection to support manufacturing data as well as over 4,000 emails per week for more than120 employees
- Ability to transmit large volumes of data such as manufacturing specifications and production information
- Easynet Connect's strong infrastructure and 24/7 UK based technical support service provides guaranteed levels of connectivity, particularly when communicating with international offices
Written by Famous4Communications.