Case Studies
HELSA AUTOMOTIVE
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The Challenge:
Textile company Helsa, located in Gefrees, Germany, provides filter systems for almost all of the world's automobile manufacturers. When it's fiber optic systems connecting multiple locations reached their limit, Helsa knew it needed a viable, high-speed connectivity solution. Unlike in other industries, the automotive industry requires all components to be in the production line at the exact instant they are needed. Instead of having a large warehouse, companies rely on suppliers, which are responsible for down-to-the-minute component logistics. It would be disastrous if production stopped due to cable damage, causing a client to wait for their filters. Looking for a viable alternative to fiber optic cables, Helsa's IT staff found that LightPointe's optical wireless solutions would be perfect.
LightPointe Solution:
Helsa turned to system integrator ITL, which had extensive experience with free-space optics technology from LightPointe. They installed LightPointe's FlightLite 155/1000 system. It offers secure connectivity, and is capable of sending high volumes of data back and forth between the Helsa central office and both Gefrees external facilities. In addition to being immune from problems caused by cable damage, this technology is exceptionally fast compared with traditional fibre optics. The laser sends and receives 155 megabits per second and is so reliable that even heavy snowstorms and thick fog have no effect on them, when properly deployed. At a time when company information is often more valuable than money, it is important to Helsa's Administration Director Wolfgang Schelter that no unauthorized persons can intercept Helsa's internal information.
LightPointe's optical wireless products — based on the latest in free-space optics (FSO) technology — are now at work in more than 60 countries, in 2,000-plus installations.
Sound Byte:
"The system is absolutely foolproof; nothing can happen. The laser beam would be obstructed if anyone tried to use a receiving device to intercept the data. Information is also encrypted in a code that is impossible to crack. This type of complex technology is only possible when the transmitter and receiver are in each other's line of sight, as is the case at Helsa."
— Martin Hartenstein, ITL Engineer and Wolfgang Schelter, Administration Manager at Helsa.
www.helsa.com
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