Automotive

Flat-pack 19" racks reduce installation time by 75%

20th August 2013
Nat Bowers
0

Two new train lines are currently under construction on the Metro system in Barcelona. The lines, which will boast driverless technology, are fully automated and will stretch almost 30 miles, with 52 stations along the way. The automation technology requires that each station hosts its own data centre with up to ten 47U, 19" rack cabinets installed. Due to the limited access to the stations the contractor responsible for the project was eager to find a solution which reduced installation time while providing totally reliable housing once complete.

With a population of almost 4.5 million, and approximately the same number of tourists each year, Barcelona relies heavily on its underground rail network (Metro) to help ease the burden of transport from its roads. To help reduce traffic and improve travel within the beautiful city, two new lines (L9 and L10) are currently under construction which will run 29.7 miles, from the city's airport all the way to the centre of Barcelona. The lines will be fully automated, with driverless trains and platforms which do not require conductors. Abantia, a global engineering solutions provider, is responsible for delivering the project.

Albert Cabre, Abantia Communication Systems Director, comments: "The Barcelona Metro is very important to the city and its expansion is vital to the continued growth of our tourism industry. The new train lines will connect the airport directly with the city centre which will help to reduce the strain on our road networks and reduce congestion. It was decided that the new lines should be fully automated because this will mean that they can run 24/7, all year round. However, it also means that we have to deliver an extremely reliable system which is operational 99.98 percent of the time; meaning there is room for about 10 minute’s downtime per year."

The automation and environmental control requirements of the project mean that in each of the stations it will be necessary to install a data centre for all of the equipment.

Throughout the 52 stations it was estimated that over 750 19" rack cabinets, each standing at 47U, would be required to facilitate the main system and the back-up system along with any further cabling requirements. On average the stations are located approximately 90 metres underground with no lift access; this makes access very difficult, especially when the racks are over 2 metres high. Abantia was keen to source a solution which would allow the installation time to be kept to a minimum without compromising on the reliability.

Albert continues: "It was estimated that it would take almost four hours to transport a single rack down the 15 floors and install them within the data centre. Repeating this process more than 750 times would have a serious effect on the delivery schedule so it was decided that we should seek an alternative solution. We had worked with Retex on a few other projects so approached them to see if they could offer help. Fortunately they have developed a flat pack rack design which allows our engineers to build the rack once it's in situ. The rack is so quick to put together that we were able to install each unit in just under an hour, taking 75 percent off our estimated times."

Logic2 rack range from Retex on the new Barcelona Metro extension

The Logic2 19" rack range from Retex features a unique flat pack design which offers a volume reduction of up to 70 percent during delivery, meaning that they can be easily moved to their desired location and navigated through narrow corridors, stairwells and doorways. Once the rack is in position it can be assembled in less than 5 minutes using just 8 bolts. The assembly process is extremely simple and it's impossible to miss a stage out, meaning that if it looks complete it is complete.

The range is constructed predominantly from aluminium parts which makes the units light yet robust, while also ensuring that they carry the aesthetics of a high quality product. The parts are precisely machined and fit together tightly, so once the rack has been built it is as strong as any other premium product on the market; able to bear over 1,500kg of static load.

Alan Lewis, Business Development Manager for Retex UK, adds: "The Logic2 range has been specifically developed with projects similar to the Barcelona Metro extension in mind. The reduced installation times can save many thousands of pounds over the course of a project and help meet tight delivery schedules. Installation is quick and simple and can be carried out by just one person. Once built we are confident that the range offers the same reliability as any pre-built model on the market meaning that in applications were 100 percent reliability is critical you couldn't ask for a better rack."

Albert concludes: "Having tested the Logic2 range thoroughly we are satisfied that it offers the same robust performance as any other premium rack product on the market. The range is incredibly flexible, with many sizes and accessories available, and the advantages of the flat pack design are undeniable."

Retex manufactures a complete range of 19" racks, sub-racks, enclosures and accessories which are all designed to offer easy installation and industry leading reliability. The range has been available in the UK for almost two decades through distributor networks and can now be bought direct from Retex UK.

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