MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA /Marketwire/ -- Apprion, a leader in industrial wireless application networks, announced it has completed work on one of the world's largest and most ambitious industrial wireless video applications at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation's mill in Stevenson, AL. Smurfit-Stone is a leading integrated containerboard and corrugated packaging producer and one of the world's largest paper recyclers.
Smurfit-Stone implemented a mill-wide Apprion ION wireless application network, wireless cameras, and ION video analysis application as a cost-effective solution for providing additional government-required security at the Stevenson mill, a requirement of the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act (CFR 33) because of the Stevenson mill's proximity to the Tennessee River.
"We took this opportunity to enhance our security with the latest wireless video technology and at the same time put in place a wireless application network that will allow us to deploy new applications, such as condition monitoring sensors, and enable mobile operators," said Bobby Sammons, General Manager at the Stevenson mill.
Smurfit-Stone partnered with Apprion to deploy its award-winning ION System—a premier industrial wireless application network solution—and the Apprion ION Video Application. The video application tracks, counts, and identifies objects; analyzes motion; and delivers video intelligence from live video streams by performing real-time video analytics. The system makes the intelligence actionable by issuing alerts to appropriate security, safety, and operational personnel and archiving video for intelligent search, event correlation, and performance auditing.
ION Video is integrated with the Apprion IONosphere as part of Apprion's ION System. This integration allows real-time video analytics to be combined with other ION applications, such as ION Condition Monitoring or ION Communications, to create individualized operational dashboards, customized to the individual's role in the plant.
Smurfit-Stone's Stevenson mill covers almost 1 sq. mile. The Apprion ION System provides a "wireless umbrella" that covers the entire mill's manufacturing processes with 22 wired and wireless video cameras and more than 40 Motorola 802.11 access points, managed by the Apprion ION system.
This wireless application network will support future wireless applications currently being considered, including video monitoring of key processes and equipment, wireless sensor networks to monitor equipment health, and wireless data to enable mobility of operations and maintenance personnel.
"We expect to see many more examples like this, where creative, forward-thinking, manufacturers like Smurfit-Stone leverage investment dollars to address regulatory concerns while simultaneously building a foundation that will support additional programs, improving productivity, efficiency, and safety," said analyst Harry Forbes of ARC Advisory Group. "Smurfit-Stone's decision to deploy the Apprion ION System and ION Video addresses its maritime security concerns while boosting their competitive position."
About Apprion
Apprion delivers wireless application networks and services for the process manufacturing industry. These wireless application networks are based on Apprion's ION System, "the first and only open, scalable, and extensible foundation for managing and integrating multi-vendor wireless devices and applications." Integrated into the ION System are five applications that are core to industrial wireless application networks: asset tracking, communications, condition monitoring, workforce mobility, and video.
Apprion and all other Apprion Inc. product or service names are trademarks of Apprion Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.