Economic

ECONOMIC: BUILDING RURAL ECONOMIES

8 December 2023

Improving connectivity across our sites with a dedicated 4G private network

As part of our ‘Factories of the Future’ vision, we wanted to connect our four operational sites across Norfolk, Suffolk and Nottinghamshire, to help increase productivity and efficiency, as well as improving health and safety.

The challenge

To achieve this connectivity, we required a flexible private network across multiple sites, which needed to be to be secure and multi-functional. We also wanted the network to be future-proofed, to be able to transition from 4G to 5G at the appropriate time. Working in partnership with Virgin Media O2 Business, we launched the first-of-its-kind, custom-built network in January 2022, and it has been going from strength to strength ever since, demonstrating clear improvements to site operations and allowing our teams to improve efficiencies.

The solution

The first multi-site network of its kind in the UK is part of the ‘Factories of the Future’ initiative for British Sugar

Our sites used to only be monitored and managed via a central control room, but the private network means site teams and and managers can now take the control room with them and access it via mobile devices to get real-time updates on what’s happening across all four factories.

We have already seen productivity gains and received positive feedback from the workforce using the devices. There are also plans to introduce future innovations that demand increased speed and capacity, as well as machine learning to help automate knowledge capture and make sure processes are as efficient as possible. This is part of the evolution roadmap that will see an upgrade to 5G, where it benefits site operations.

Paul Hitchcock, Head of Engineering & Technology, British Sugar, said:

“Previously we needed someone in the control room and someone who could walk around the site. Now we have one person who can walk around the site with the control room in their hands.”

Grant Shenton, Account Director for ABF, Virgin Media O2 Business, said:

“We looked at what British Sugar wanted, where they aspired to be and at what pace they were going on that journey. We’re now delivering full connectivity across every square foot that they asked for, with a network that will grow with their requirements.”

The outcome

Our network is already delivering efficiencies and cost benefits across the business, including:

• Full control of a secure private network, with data management dashboards and the ability to add or remove apps
• Technical flexibility
• Improved health and safety, and security
• Increased productivity and efficiency
• Future transition from 4G to 5G
• Cost savings over time
• The capacity to expand to smart tech, including Internet of Things, robotics, automation, and even health and safety drones

Steve Pritchard, Senior IT Business Partner, British Sugar, commented:

“For me, the best part of the solution is that you hardly notice it, because it’s just working. And the managed service means we can concentrate on doing what we do, and Virgin Media O2 Business can manage the network on our behalf.”

Learn more about the project in our video, here.