Case Studies
Ring-Redundant IIoT Networking for a Singapore Semiconductor Facility
Verified outcomes from energy saving, industrial IIoT, digital twin, and broadcast infrastructure deployments across Singapore.
Client Context
A Singapore precision semiconductor manufacturer operating multiple cleanroom production lines required a network infrastructure upgrade to support Industry 4.0 integration: connecting legacy production equipment to their enterprise MES system, enabling real-time equipment telemetry, and implementing asset tracking for wafer carriers and portable tooling. Any network disruption during production would result in wafer scrap — an unacceptable cost.
Challenge
The existing factory network used legacy industrial Ethernet with no redundancy. A single switch failure would take down an entire production zone. The EMI environment from production equipment caused intermittent connectivity on unshielded links. Asset location relied on manual radio check — a 30-minute search process for misplaced wafer carriers. The client required zero-downtime redundancy, EMI-hardened hardware, and hardware-free asset tracking with no infrastructure installation in the cleanroom.
LHS Electronics Solution
MACH RS30 Managed Switches — full ring-redundant (MRP) topology across all production zones; <30ms recovery; IEC 62443 cybersecurity rated
SICOM Protocol Switches — PROFINET-optimised Layer 2 switches at machine cluster level for deterministic production control traffic
RUT 5G Routers — shop-floor to ERP/MES connectivity; Modbus RTU extraction from legacy CNC equipment
Odot PROFIBUS to PROFINET Gateways — 12 legacy production machines integrated into the new PROFINET network without replacement
Belden DataTuff Cat6A — EMI-shielded horizontal cabling throughout all production zones; oil and chemical resistant
Indoor Positioning — hardware-free wafer carrier and tooling tracking deployed via existing Wi-Fi infrastructure; zero cleanroom modifications
Outcome
- Zero production downtime during installation: phased ring network deployment during planned maintenance windows
- Single switch failure recovery time: <30ms (vs. 3–5 minutes on legacy network)
- 12 legacy machines integrated into MES via PROFIBUS/PROFINET gateways — no machine replacement
- Wafer carrier locate time: 30 seconds (vs. 30-minute manual search)
- Cleanroom compliance maintained: no hardware installed inside cleanroom for positioning
Technology Brands
