“We had strict compliance regulations to follow and needed an easy, flexible and affordable way to meet these requirements, as well as improve our decision making ability. By implementing Honeywell’s wireless transmitters, we were able to monitor temperatures in all areas of our facility and view both historical and real-time data in a centralized control room. They also helped us reduce maintenance, personnel and other costs.”
Chris Upwards, Manager of Process Engineering, Roche Diagnostics
Roche Diagnostics needed to meet stringent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance regulations, as well as increase access and availability of data for improved decision making. After weighing hard-wired data acquisition options, Roche selected Honeywell’s XYR 5000™ wireless transmitters. Designed to integrate seamlessly with Honeywell’s Experion® Process Knowledge System (PKS), the wireless transmitters enabled Roche to realize the following benefits:
In 2004, Roche Diagnostics decided to upgrade its temperature monitoring to an integrated, networked system of sensors at its Indiana facility. With a building already equipped with a system of electronic temperature and humidity monitors, Roche first considered a wired application.
“Although we initially thought our best option was to upgrade to a new wired application since our infrastructure was in place, we soon learned that we had to design for flexibility,” said Chris Upwards, Manager of Process Engineering, Roche Diagnostics.
After reviewing configuration requirements, a wireless solution was selected as the optimal choice because it could change with the facility needs if the company wanted to reconfigure equipment or warehouse operations.
Roche had worked with Honeywell, used Experion to control operations at the site and decided to select the company to provide this temperature monitoring solution.
Although Roche considered installing a hard-wired solution to monitor temperature readings in its warehouse, it realized that Honeywell’s wireless transmitters provided the flexibility, accuracy and affordability required. A 10-member team was formed with Roche, Honeywell and outside consultants to help validate the project.
Honeywell’s wireless equipment efficiently transmits by frequency hopping, using sensors and bases that communicate through randomly alternating frequencies like the 900 MHz range. “Transmission at Roche has been clear and uninterrupted despite hard-to-reach locations of various sensors,” said Upwards.
To guarantee information redundancy and constant uptime, base radios were connected with coaxial cables to remote transmission units (RTUs) manufactured by RTUnet. Data was then passed through Roche’s LAN. The implementation and validation process was completed in less than four months.
In addition to the temperature, the system monitors humidity and sensor battery life. If temperatures move out of spec or a battery runs low, an alert pops up to control monitors logged into Experion. If an alarm situation arises, the RTU signals off-site Honeywell staff who notify key Roche personnel.
“The wireless system has been operating for less than a year but the benefits are clear,” concluded Upwards. “We know that we have a system that complies with regulatory requirements and provides us with the ability to generate accurate data and act on that data from any remote location. The people on our team find this a very useful solution.”
XYR 5000™ is a trademark and Experion® is a registered trademark of Honeywell International Inc.