SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MAY 2008: The Pohang Iron and Steel Company, or POSCO, is the world's third largest steel producer and the source of immense
national pride for South Koreans.
Its steel has served South Korea's robust
shipbuilding and auto manufacturing industries for nearly half a century,
and POSCO exports several billion dollars worth of steel in global trade.
When their antiquated paging system at their immense Pohang warehouse site
began to malfunction, causing logistical snafus in what is normally a
well-oiled machine, the company contacted Seoul-based Seki Electronics to
modernize the system. Given that the system required sophisticated
programming and that each of the eleven warehouses were up to six miles from
the command center, Seki designers used SymNet digital signal processors to
implement the design with an intuitive user interface and CobraNet audio
networking to effectively but inexpensively wire the system.
The POSCO warehouse audio system is used to send automated messages and
announcements. The automated messages originate from a PC with morning
greetings and safety instructions; lunch break announcements and background
music; and end-of-the-workday announcements. However, the system sees the
most use for announcements to control truck traffic and telephone paging
from the command center.
At the heart of the system lie four SymNet 8x8 DSPs and three SymNet
BreakIn12s. With a few exceptions to conform to their physical layouts, each
of the eleven warehouses takes five inputs: one for the automated PC
announcements, two for chime sources, and two for telephone inputs. One
chime source and one telephone input serve the inside of each seven million
square-foot warehouse, while the other chime source and telephone input
serve the outside of each warehouse. A few of the warehouses have other
dedicated areas. A SymNet CobraLink converts the audio bussing to CobraNet for cheap CAT5 wiring of the sprawling facility.
Depending on its size and complexity, each warehouse has a SymNet Express
4x4 Cobra or Express 8x8 Cobra for processing and distribution of the
command center feeds and for return input of telephone signals. Each SymNet
Express unit outputs to a collection of Bose 1800VI and Alesis RA-150
amplifiers that power Bose 302A, 802 III, and Cube loudspeakers located in
strategic positions throughout each warehouse.
Technical Manager HH Lee commented, "There were two critical features of
this audio system that made SymNet the perfect choice. First, SymNet's
easy-to-use SymNet Designer software made programming the somewhat
complicated and repetitive logical control structure straightforward.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, SymNet's seamless integration with the
CobraNet protocol meant that we could wire the system using a single
inexpensive Ethernet wire between the command center and each warehouse.
Since some of the warehouses are as far as ten kilometers [approximately six
miles] away from the command center, that was a very significant savings of
time and money."
With the new audio system up and running, the POSCO warehouse facility is
again up and running at maximum efficiency. All the truck drivers know where
to go and when to go there, no calls are missed, and the automated messages
keep everything is lock-step.
ABOUT SYMETRIX
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