Industries
IT for manufacturers and workshops
Onsite IT for manufacturers and workshops: factory-floor Wi-Fi, office networks, UPS protection and tough, tidy cabling.
Manufacturing and workshop environments are hard on technology. Dust, vibration, heat and electrical noise from machinery shorten the life of equipment and disrupt wireless signals, while the business still needs the office, the production floor and the dispatch bay to share information. Quoting, scheduling, stock records and machine files all depend on the network. We see workshops where the office has good IT and the floor has none, or where a single unprotected computer controls something important. We come to the site, assess what the environment demands and install equipment suited to it.
- One-off jobs, no contract
- After-hours work can be arranged
- Works alongside your existing IT provider
- Price agreed before work starts
IT problems manufacturers and workshops run into
- Wi-Fi is poor or absent on the production floor because of metal, racking and machinery.
- Office computers and floor terminals share one flat network with no protection between them.
- Dust, heat and vibration cause hardware failures in standard office-grade equipment.
- Power dips and outages damage servers and computers, or corrupt files that are open.
- Machine files, drawings and job sheets are held on one computer with no backup.
What a good setup looks like
A good factory or workshop network is planned for the environment. Cabling is run in conduit or tray, away from machinery and sources of electrical interference, and fibre is used for longer runs between buildings and bays. Wi-Fi access points are rated for the conditions and placed for coverage across the floor, avoiding shadows created by racking and large equipment. Switches and cabinets sit in enclosed, ventilated spaces rather than on a dusty shelf next to a machine.
Office and floor systems are then separated. Production terminals and any machine-connected computers sit on their own network segment, with controlled access to shared files, so a problem in the office does not stop production and vice versa. A business firewall controls external access. Uninterruptible power supplies protect servers and key computers, so a power flicker lets equipment shut down properly rather than corrupting data. Any mains wiring needed for them is done by a registered electrician.
Finally we protect the data. Job sheets, drawings and machine programs are stored on a server or storage unit with a backup to a separate location, and restores are tested. Remote access is closed to the outside unless there is a good reason, and where a supplier needs access to a machine, we set up a controlled, logged connection. We document the cabinets, ports and devices so repairs on a busy day are quick and clear.
Jobs we do for manufacturers and workshops
- Survey and cover the production floor with industrial-grade Wi-Fi.
- Run tough cabling and fibre to separate bays, sheds and yard offices.
- Install a UPS for servers and key computers, with a safe shutdown set up.
- Separate production terminals from the office network behind a firewall.
- Move drawings and machine files to a backed-up server with sensible permissions.
- Replace dust-clogged equipment and put network gear in a proper enclosure.
Services that fit
Warehouse & Industrial Wi-FiWi-Fi that scanners and forklift terminals can roam on reliably.Data & Network CablingStructured Cat6/6A and fibre cabling, patch panels and cabinets.Fibre Optic CablingFibre links between buildings, floors and distant comms cabinets.UPS InstallationBattery backup so a power cut never takes you down.Firewall & Network SecurityBusiness firewalls, VLANs and VPNs configured and documented onsite.Backup Setup & Disaster RecoveryBackups that follow the 3-2-1 rule and are restore-tested.A quick IT checklist
Run through these yourself. Anything you can't tick is a good place to start:
- Is there reliable Wi-Fi in every part of the floor that needs it?
- Are network switches and servers in a clean, ventilated enclosure?
- Do key computers and servers sit behind a UPS?
- Are production terminals separated from the office network?
- Are machine programs and drawings backed up to a second location?
- Does a supplier connect remotely to your equipment, and do you control how?
What a visit looks like
When you book a business job, you tell us what's going on and we reply with a time that suits you and a price. Nothing starts until you're happy with both.
On the day, the technician arrives, looks at the problem in person and confirms the plan with you before starting. If something turns out different from what was expected - a part is needed, or the cause is somewhere else - we stop and agree the change with you first.
When the work is done we test it with you, show you what was changed, and leave the area tidy. For business jobs we note what we did, so there is a record for whoever looks after your IT next.
Pricing
Each business job is priced before work starts. The price depends on what's involved - the size of the site, the equipment, and whether parts are needed - so the quickest way to a number is to tell us about the job on the booking form.
There is no contract and no monthly fee. You book the job you need and pay for that job.
IT for manufacturers and workshops: questions
Can you survey the floor before installing Wi-Fi?
Yes. We walk the site, note metal, racking and machinery, and test signal in the areas that matter. The results guide where access points are mounted and how many are needed for dependable coverage.
Will you work around production?
We will plan the work with you, aiming for quiet periods and keeping disruption to a minimum. Cable runs, mounting and testing can often be staged so that most of the plant keeps running.
Do you install the power supply for a UPS?
We supply and set up the UPS itself and configure its shutdown and alerts. If a dedicated power circuit or other 230 V work is needed, a registered electrician carries it out, and we coordinate with them.
Can you connect our machines to the network?
We can connect machine controllers and computers that support a network connection, using suitable cable and an isolated network segment. Machine programming and settings remain with the machine supplier or your own staff.
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