Rapid Transformation at the Edge
8 System Integrator Successes You Can Learn From
Rapid Transformation and Project Success with Zero-touch Edge Computing
Digital transformation is an imperative for all businesses – and end users are turning to system integrators for technology solutions to improve efficiency, performance, and safety. Zero-touch Edge Computing provides SIs with a foundation for project success by delivering unmatched reliability and rapid transformation of infrastructure.
For 40 years, Stratus has been developing edge solutions that simplify, protect, and automate our digitally transforming world. By delivering zero-touch Edge Computing platforms that are simple to deploy and maintain, protected from interruptions and threats, and operate autonomously, Stratus ensures continuous availability for end users’ business-critical applications.
The following 8 SI customer success stories showcase how system integrators leverage Edge Computing to deliver continued success for their customers in several industries, ranging from Oil & Gas to specialty chemical manufacturing and transportation.
- Up to 5,000 I/Os
- Up to 4 virtual machines
- High availability or fault tolerant
- UL Class I Div 2 certi ed
- 100,000+ I/Os
- 30+ virtual machines
- Intelligent uptime layer
- Fault tolerant
Streamline Innovations
Streamline Innovations, based in San Antonio, Texas, is a Stratus system integrator that develops and operates a proprietary process that removes toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in Oil & Gas, Water & Wastewater, landfills, and biogas. To succeed in the competitive oilfield services market, the company continually innovates to operate equipment more efficiently, optimize performance, meet customer budgets, and enable a greener future.
Using Stratus® ztCTM Edge, Streamline Innovations developed a visionary solution called the ValkyrieTM Intelligent Platform to bring AI-powered predictive maintenance, remote operation, and 99.5% uptime to remote oilfield equipment.
“Having seen what the Stratus Edge Computing platform is capable of in a complex solution such as the Super Valkyrie, it’s clear that edge technology has a lot to offer the Oil & Gas industry. I am talking about Smart Wellheads, Smart glycol units, Smart JT Skids, and more.”
Dr. Peter Photos Chief Technology Officer Streamline Innovations
For the full story, check out How Streamline Innovations uses Stratus Edge Computing to bring AI-powered predictive maintenance, remote operation, and 99.5% uptime to remote oilfield equipment.
Loginet & Petra Srl
Petra Srl owns and operates one of Italy’s largest oil depots, handling millions of liters of oil and gasoline and loading hundreds of trucks each day. To enable efficiency for depot operations, Petra runs Nuovo Petrol, a next-generation terminal automation solution from an experienced system integrator, Loginet.
With the Loginet solution and Stratus Edge Computing, Petra automated manual processes and integrated disparate terminal systems to reduce risk, enable real-time data, and centralize visibility of operations. The company reduced depot load times by 33% and has experienced zero downtime in a decade using Stratus Edge Computing.
“Petra hasn’t had an unplanned outage in more than 10 years. They've never experienced any business disruption with Stratus as their foundation. When our customers need that extreme level of reliability, we will continue to rely on Stratus for continuous computing.”
Gianluigi Campisano Automation Engineer
Loginet
For the full story, check out How Stratus Edge Computing eliminated downtime and enabled depot-wide visibility with Loginet’s Next-Gen Terminal Automation Solution at Petra Srl.
Challenges
Alewijnse
Netherlands-based Alewijnse is a global leader in maritime technology, providing critical systems for vessels ranging from yachts and naval ships to increasingly complex dredging, offshore, and transport rigs. A Stratus system integrator, they design, deliver, and create on board electrical and automation systems, as well as advanced marine electronics.
Using Stratus® ftServer TM, Alewijnse developed the maritime industry’s first future-proof virtualization and visualization platform to manage critical ship systems. The new platform replaced 20 computer systems with one server, reducing the system footprint by 75% and doubling the lifespan to eight years.
• Enable vessel-wide computing for critical ship systems with limited space in a harsh operating environment
• Eliminate unplanned downtime and provide redundancy for ctritical systems
• Reduce constant IT refresh cycles to reduce cost and maintenance
Solutions
• Alewijnse AlViVi (virtualization and visualization) platform
• Stratus ftServer
• Rockwell Automation ThinManager
Benefits
“Our customers now have one view of all critical systems that they can share anywhere on the ship. That visibility and access to information enables quicker response and better decision making for ship operations.”
Johan Van Rikxoort Product Manger Alewijnse
For the full story, check out Alewijnse: Edge Computing in the Maritime Industry.
• Reduced total computing, cabling, and cabinet footprint 75% by replacing 20 distributed on-board computers with one ftServer
• Doubled the lifespan of the compute platform from four to eight years and reduced maintenance and service by 50%
• Simplified IT capability and adapted for OT environment and systems
Challenges
Progecta & Synthomer
London-based multinational specialty chemicals company, Synthomer, produces additives and raw materials for creating coatings, paper, textiles, and health and protection products. Previously, the company’s production facility in Piedmont, Italy was controlled by PLCs from different manufacturers operating independently like siloes. These islands of automation were difficult and expensive to maintain and operate.
In 2018, Synthomer modernized the plant’s disparate control system with an ftServer running Rockwell Automation PlantPAx® DCS, with the help of system integrator, Progecta. The project drove a considerable increase in production and revenue at the plant by creating a simple, standardized, and resilient system.
“Redundancy at the compute level matched with PlantPAx DCS redundancy at the control level is a formidable combination for downtime prevention for mission-critical applications. By partnering with Rockwell Automation to characterize this joint solution, we’re delivering a massive leap forward for operations.”
Frank Hill
Director Rockwell
Automation, Strategic Alliance at Stratus
To learn more, check out How Synthomer centralized and optimized operations with a Rockwell Automation DCS using Stratus ftServer.
•Centralize control of siloed PLC systems from different manufacturers
•Solve the expense and complexity of operating disparate PLCs
•Migrate to a distributed control system without shutting the plant down
Solutions
•Stratus ftServer platform
•System integration by Progecta
Benefits
•99.999% uptime with the fault-tolerant ftServer
•Vast availability of data empowers operators and fuels analytics
•30% increase in production at the Piedmont facility
•Rockwell Automation PlantPAx DCS
Quantum Solutions & St. Louis Airport
As a major transportation hub for 30 years, St. Louis Lambert International Airport is pursuing digital transformation initiatives to bring Industry 4.0 to aviation. Such modernization projects are critical for consumer experience and stakes are high.
Previously, projects had been piecemeal and disconnected, and limited to improving one area of the facility at a time. system integrator, Quantum Solutions, used Stratus Edge Computing, upon the recommendation of the St Louis Airport consultant, to replace an aging and disparate Building Management System, and accelerate digitalization at the airport.
“High availability is a big thing. When you're talking about moving an entire airport with multiple legacy siloed solutions over into one centralized system then you can't afford to have downtime.”
Jeremy Meahl
Regional Sales Engineer and Owner
Quantum Solutions
To learn more, check out Unified Operations Center Powers Successful Digital Transformation at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
•Modernize a decades-old operation, the largest and busiest airport in Missouri
•Deploy and scale compute infrastructure to optimize operations of more than 190,000 daily aircraft operations on four active runways, two terminals, and five concourses
•Support 15.6 million passengers and 74,000 tons of cargo per year •Stratus ftServer
•AVEVA System Platform
•System integration by Quantum Solutions
•Enabled situational awareness and unified operations center backed by easy-to-use fault tolerant computing
•Continuous availability for critical business applications
•Open and scalable software architecture Challenges Solutions Benefits
Dynamic Controls Inc.
Dynamic Controls Inc. represents Schneider Electric for HVAC, Power and Energy Controls, Life-Safety and Security Solutions, Building Management Systems, Building Integration and Systems Service and Maintenance.
DCI combined Schneider Electric EcoStruxure with Stratus Edge Computing to optimize the operation of a large data center customer in Denver, Colorado. Using EcoStruxure PME, the solution integrated disparate systems from multiple vendors with Modbus and BACnet protocols. The Stratus ftServer provided redundancy and downtime protection, giving continuous and extended visibility across the organization, even if there are power issues or transfer tests.
“EcoStruxure with Stratus were the big winners because it could handle all the data center operations, integrating all siloed operations on a single platform, and in the process, consolidating all the disparate data and islands of automation.”
Rolla Starkey Branch Manager
Dynamic
Controls Inc
For the full story, check out Dynamic Controls Inc. Combines Schneider Electric Ecostruxure with Stratus Edge Computing to Optimize Data Center Operation, Improve Reliability, and Extend Visibility across the Organization.
•Central and integrated disparate systems to enable a single digitalized core
•Lack of power redundancy and operations fail-over introduced risk for data center operator
•EcoStruxure Building Operation from Schneider Electric
•EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert (PME) from Schneider Electric
•PowerLogic PM5560 Power Meters from Schneider Electric
•ftServer by Stratus Technologies
•Deployed fault tolerant system with 5 nines availability to protect 12,000 sq foot data center from unplanned downtime
•Reduced compute footprint from multiple computers to a single Stratus ftServer
•Reduced costs and increased capacity for future growth due to less hardware, panel space, and wiring.
Enginuity Global & QuarterNorth Energy
QuarterNorth Energy, a leading oil and gas producer that operates deep water, shallow, and shelf assets in the Gulf of Mexico, needed to modernize infrastructure and process control technology on its Bullwinkle oil platform – a project critical to improve safety and responsiveness, eliminate costly downtime, and drive operational excellence.
QuarterNorth Energy turned to Enginuity Global, a system integrator with expertise in process automation, control, and field services. In only 45 days, Enginuity upgraded all PLC panels, and deployed a single fault-tolerant Stratus Edge Computing to centralize platform operations and enable separate Process Control and Safety Shutdown Systems.
“The ftServer is a tank. It offers a simplistic approach to a complex system. Part of our motto at Enginuity is, ’We simplify a complex world.’ And so, Stratus servers definitely help reduce some of that complexity. And, we were able to save a substantial amount of money using them.”
Eric Belgard
Lead for Automation and Controls
Enginuity
For the full story, watch the webinar Automation and Control Modernization: How to Improve Control System Reliability While Remaining Within Budget.
•Modernize oil platform’s legacy control systems and infrastructure
•Decentralized control systems
•Outdated servers, workstations, and controllers
•System response time in the tens of seconds slowed reaction time, decision making, and visibility on operations
•Control system/safety system at capacity
•Stratus ftServer
•Rockwell Automation PlantPAx™ Distributed Control System (DCS) including HMI SCADA and Factory Talk® historian with SQL Server supporting 6,000 I/Os
•Anti-virus and cluster management software
•System integration by Enginuity Global
•Consolidated 12 applications running on six (6) servers to a single, fault-tolerant Stratus ftServer compute platform
•Centralized monitor and control resulted in higher yield, improved safety, and no downtime for critical applications
•Improved system response time by 1,000%, from more than 20 seconds to milliseconds
RoviSys & Leading Life Sciences Company
A leading life sciences company that manufactures cell biology and DNA, RNA, and protein analysis products needed to eliminate downtime and data loss to avoid costly disruptions and ensure regulatory compliance.
In one week, RoviSys, a global system integrator specializing in automation, deployed Stratus® Edge Computing platforms running Rockwell Automation PlantPAx® for three manufacturing sites. The new production control architectures provided fault tolerance, simplified validation, converged OT and IT, and reduced TCO by 15-20% compared to a cluster solution. The life sciences company has experienced no downtime and is able to service the Stratus platforms without dedicated IT support.
“With Stratus’ longevity and durability, and streamlined FAT/SAT verification, our customer has a top-performing, high-availability solution for the long haul.”
Network Engineer
RoviSys
For the full story, check out How RoviSys deployed Stratus Edge Computing to eliminate downtime and data loss, converge OT/IT, and reduce FAT/SAT from weeks to days for a life sciences company
Challenges
•Eliminate downtime and data loss in batch manufacturing for three sites of a life sciences company
•Ensure data reliability for FDA regulation, GMP, and VCAP
•Enable manufacturing operations team to maintain and support compute infrastructure without high-level IT support
Solutions
•Stratus ftServer® and Stratus ztC Edge™ for fault tolerance and data collection
•Rockwell PlantPAx software for campus-wide production control
Benefits
•Eliminated downtime and consolidated software workloads
•Reduced FAT/SAT from weeks to hours; completed full validation in one week
•Reduced TCO by 15-20% and increased compute infrastructure lifespan to 15 years
Simple Protected Autonomous
Harness Opportunities at the Edge
Edge Computing is projected to become a $15B market over the next few years – and opportunity is open for system integrators with the right expertise.
•Less than 50% of organizations have the expertise of how and when to deploy Edge Computing - CFE Media/Stratus Edge Computing Trend Report
•More than 70% of manufacturers look to strategic partners to operationalize solutions - Deloitte and MAPI, 2020
The Stratus Global SI Program is built around building confidence, capability, and productivity to create scalable Edge Computing offerings for end users. We are customer focused and treat our partners the same way we treat our customers. Through the Stratus Global SI Program, system integrators gain the training, certification, and accreditation to develop Edge Computing technology practices that allow them to implement industry leading Edge Computing platform solutions.
•We ensure that our products and services drive partner and customer value and loyalty
•We become trusted advisors and partners to our partners and customers
•We consistently receive feedback that we have delivered outcomes that exceed expectations
Join the Stratus System Integrator Program
