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Teesside firm keeps UK flights on time with specialist system

Teesside firm Applied Integration has designed and delivered a complex control system that will keep UK flights operating on time.

The firm installed an emergency power management control system for a data centre that ensures the safe and timely operation of all flights across the UK.

Having previously renewed a similar control system for the British Embassy in Moscow, Applied Integration directors believe these initial power management control system contracts are “the tip of the iceberg”.

As a result, the Stokesley-based systems integrators are now looking to tap into a potential multimillion pound international market over the next decade.

Launched by directors Roy Coleman, Graham King, Lee Raywood and Garry Lofthouse, the company recently announced plans to double both its £4.4m turnover and 34-strong workforce over the next five years.

In completing its most recent project, Applied Integration was scoped with the design, build, testing, installation and commissioning of a power management control system that had no single point of failure, as well as allowing one of three backup generators to supply the facility with power should there ever be a failure to the main system.

Director Garry explained: “Without the insurance certificates, aircraft cannot legally take off, so it is a critical piece of equipment.

“Having suffered a mains power failure that resulted in planes across the UK being delayed and grounded by up to three hours, the customer wanted to introduce a new control system to provide high availability and ensure there would be no repeat incident in future.

“Having designed and built the system, we then developed extensive test documents to ensure that all failure modes, including negative paths, could be 100% functionally tested in the factory prior to delivery, thus assuring the customer the highest degree of confidence in the system.”

Applied Integration is now looking to win contracts to install similar systems to buildings such as banks, datacentres and businesses in the UK and overseas.

“There is a considerable market out there to install such systems within prestige buildings in the event of a mains failure,” said Garry.

“We have installed four similar systems over the past 18 months, including renewing the control system for the British Embassy in Moscow, but this truly is the tip of the iceberg.

“We have built up an excellent, long-term relationship with ABB over the past 10 years, during which time we’ve become their supplier of choice because they know we deliver every time.

“Having received hugely positive feedback from our first installations, we are confident that we have opened up a major long-term opportunity that will continue to provide work for the next 10 years and more.”

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