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Concept to completion: bespoke enclosure solutions from ICEE Bringing a bespoke enclosure order from concept to successful completion requires more than a package of manufacturing, installation and maintenance services says Chris Arnold of bespoke solutions contractor ICEE Managed Services, it also demands highly experienced and trusted project management resources that work closely with the customer. Ever thought about the story behind those conspicuous green cabinets increasingly populating Britain’s streets? The simple appearance is deceptive, because many of these cabinets contain ultra-sophisticated fibre optic technology that promises higher productivity and profitability in the workplace, and greatly improved benefits for the consumer at home. Those cabinets signify the government’s aim to roll-out super-fast fibre optic broadband across the United Kingdom by 2025. The goal being to make the
UK more competitive, better connected and equal to the best global standards, such as the city-state of Singapore or countries like Sweden. In Britain, fibre optic cable is replacing copper wire as part of a massive transformation in the telecommunications industry. Known generally as ‘fibre to the property’ (FTTP), the property itself may be commercial offices, factories and warehouses, or your home, be that a house or flat. Bringing fibre as close as possible to the user means faster exchange of megabytes of data, essential for workplace team collaboration, video-conferencing and other key processes, not forgetting the internet of things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 coming fast down the line. It also plays a role in supporting the introduction of 5G performance. During Covid-19 lockdowns, those working at home may well wish for faster internet speeds and more data to boost productivity and cut frustration, especially where one copper line is serving several users in the household. Later, watching video downloads, playing interactive games and internet browsing increasingly requires fast transmission. Demand for much more data is set to increase, not diminish, at work and at home. Get what you actually want with bespoke Back to street cabinets, for years these enclosures have been
simple boxes, mostly fabricated in sheet metal, and built to industry standard sizes and types. But today, whatever the application, with technological change happening faster than ever before, customers want equipment enclosures and structures that meet exact requirements and specifications. In other words, bespoke solutions. They don’t want compromises with off-the-shelf options that are not quite big enough in particular dimensions, or lack space for future expansion, or where they have to pay hefty premiums for extras, like sound insulation, cooling or heating provision, higher quality security locks and other non-standard options. In the world of fibre optic equipment enclosures, bespoke is a good option because the communications technology changes so fast. Internet service providers (ISPs) constantly want to upgrade performance to customers and maintain competitive edge by replacing outmoded equipment within cabinets. The new equipment may operate more efficiently and faster and allow more connections to be made, but these upgrades have to be anticipated. This means building in flexibility at the design stage for replacement kit that may be larger and require more cooling. Or, if more connections are possible, enlarging watertight
Chris Arnold, Key Account Manager, ICEE Managed Services Ltd.
Simple on the outside, but this type of enclosure - this one made, installed and maintained by ICEE - contains sophisticated, super-fast, broadband technology
and insect-proof cable entry and exit points, and increasing internal cable routing. With a bespoke solution, making provision for all these potential changes is far easier at the design stage, with an on-screen, 3D prototype. Above all, what part can the enclosure itself play in supporting all those corporate and departmental aims and objectives? The answer is, at the design stage, a bespoke solution provides the opportunity to finetune the equipment enclosure and make it work the way a company wants, fully reflecting its aims and values and adding competitive edge. A complete start to finish service The design stage is only one part of the product lifecycle. Manufacturing is another and once an enclosure is made, it has to be fitted out and tested, then shipped to site for installation. But
before any of that happens, the location for the enclosure has to be agreed, not only with the ISP but whoever owns the land. Planning consent may be required, or permission sought from a local authority highways department and local police to partially or fully close a public thoroughfare, if installation requires it. Someone has to manage all these details and much more. Thankfully, a complete enclosure solutions provider like ICEE offers not just manufacturing services, we do the whole lifecycle process including vital project management. Whatever the type of enclosure or structure being made, our comprehensive and ‘joined up’ project management complements the complete, endto-end service referred to above. It ensures a contract is fulfilled successfully, from placement of the order, through the concept and prototype stages to completion of works and handover to the customer. We do
this with all bespoke equipment enclosures and structures for public spaces that we make for customers in different industries including the transport, architecture, building and construction, marine and sustainable energy sectors. One of the additional and important benefits of this policy is the way we can help a customer at all levels of the organisation – from senior management right through to field implementation engineers. Based on expertise and knowledge gained over decades, we can coordinate and work closely, not only with a customer’s in-house delivery team and external contractors, but also liaise with all necessary public authorities to gain permissions and organise events, access and timings. For the customer, this total and highly integrated approach saves time and money, eliminates inefficiency, and ultimately, delivers productive, profitable and dependable solutions, whatever type of enclosure or structure we are supplying. 8 To find out more please contact: ICEE Managed Services Ltd. 20 Arnside Road, Waterlooville Hampshire PO7 7UP Telephone: 02392 230 604. Email: sales@icee.co.uk Web: www.icee.co.uk