Underground Devices Inc. Powers Future Growth with Allied Telesis

Underground Devices Inc. (UDI), a long-standing leader since 1973, specializes in manufacturing essential components for underground infrastructure. Their product line includes duct spacers and bore spacers for encasing conduits, as well as nonmetallic cable racking for power and communications manholes. UDI recently moved into a newly renovated 106,920-square-foot headquarters in suburban Chicago, marking a significant milestone for the company.

An extensive renovation project completely transformed an existing industrial office building into UDI’s new state-of-the-art home. The building now boasts a brand-new manufacturing floor, expanded storage facilities, and thoughtfully reconfigured office and cafeteria spaces. To further support their operational needs, prefabricated offices also were integrated. The result is a headquarters that perfectly blends functionality with an inspiring, creative atmosphere, poised to drive UDI’s continued growth and innovation in an employee-focused setting.

The Opportunity: A State-of-the-Art Network for a Revitalized Building

The building renovation was the perfect opportunity to install a modern, secure, and high-performance network infrastructure to support both wired and wireless services across the facility. UDI relied on the expertise of the managed service provider Valexity Technologies to define the networking requirements and select a technology provider. Key requirements included:

• Seamless wireless roaming to ensure warehouse staff can maintain productivity without interruptions while scanning inventory.
• Reliable connectivity across the entire facility, including non-climate-controlled areas, is essential to support their ERP system and other core business applications.
• Prioritization of voice services, which are critical for real-time coordination across the manufacturing floor and offices.
• Comprehensive camera coverage for enhanced physical security and operational monitoring.
• Secure remote access for IT to provide rapid support and minimize downtime.
• Centralized management to streamline operations for their lean IT team.

A crucial consideration for UDI was limiting outdoor wireless coverage to enhance site security and prevent unauthorized access to their internal network, ensuring it remains a protected asset.

The Solution: A Holistic, No-Compromise Approach with Allied Telesis

Valexity evaluated the networking companies capable of delivering a solution and chose Allied Telesis for their ability to meet all technical and operational requirements—without compromise. This single-vendor approach not only simplified deployment but also ensured a seamlessly integrated and easily managed infrastructure, ready for future demands.

The implemented solution includes:

• Wall-to-wall wired and wireless LAN coverage powered by Allied Telesis, ensuring ubiquitous connectivity.
• Strategically placed wireless access points enabling uninterrupted seamless roaming for staff throughout the warehouse and offices.
• Voice over IP (VoIP) prioritization through Quality of Service (QoS) configuration, guaranteeing crystal-clear voice communications.
• Secure remote access capabilities for IT administrators, enabling rapid, efficient off-site troubleshooting and support.
• Full visibility and simplified network management using Allied Telesis’ Vista Manager™ and Autonomous Management Framework (AMF Plus), empowering UDI’s IT team with effortless control.
• A predictive wireless site survey conducted by Allied Telesis, optimizing Wi-Fi coverage and eliminating potential interference zones for peak performance.

This comprehensive approach ensures that every corner of UDI’s facility, from office desktops to critical warehouse scanners, has reliable and secure connectivity.

The Results: Uninterrupted Production and Enhanced Efficiency

The new Allied Telesis network has been running flawlessly since its implementation. UDI has experienced:

• Zero reported issues since going live, demonstrating the stability and reliability of the solution.
• Prioritized voice traffic, ensuring clear communications which are essential for production coordination.
• Flawless operation of critical warehouse applications leading to increased productivity.
• Uninterrupted connectivity for staff moving freely throughout the facility.
• Efficient remote troubleshooting by the IT team, minimizing downtime and keeping operations efficient.

Why Allied Telesis?

UDI and Valexity chose Allied Telesis because they were able to deliver a tailored, no-compromise solution. From the initial pre-sales consultation to the final deployment, the Allied Telesis team showcased deep technical expertise, proactive planning, and exceptional support.

“Allied Telesis provided exactly what we needed,” states Anthony Valle, CEO of Valexity. “Their predictive Wi-Fi survey, QoS capabilities, and centralized management tools gave us confidence from day one.”

By providing a robust, secure, and easily manageable network, Allied Telesis has empowered Underground Devices Inc. to maintain continuous production and focus on what they do best: manufacturing essential infrastructure components.

Key Products & Technologies Deployed

Allied Telesis Switches and Access Points

• x550 Series switches are high-capacity, resilient Layer 3 switches designed for demanding network core and distribution applications.
• x530 Series switches are high-performing, feature-rich Layer 3 switches offering versatile solutions for enterprise networks.
• TQ6702 GEN2 wireless access points are high-performance Wi-Fi 6 solutions, designed for demanding enterprise environments.
• TQ6702e are outdoor-rated Wi-Fi 6 access points, engineered for harsh environments with dust and moisture protection and a wide operating temperature range.

Vista Manager Unified Network Management and Monitoring

• Vista Manager simplifies complex network administration by providing a single, comprehensive view of all wired and wireless network devices. It automates critical tasks like configuration, monitoring, and security, significantly reducing manual effort, operational costs, and the likelihood of human error.

Autonomous Management Framework (AMF Plus)

• AMF Plus enables an entire network, from core to edge, to be managed as a single, virtual device, automating tasks like configuration, backup, upgrades, and device recovery. This “zero-touch” approach significantly minimizes manual effort and the potential for errors, improving network responsiveness, and reducing total cost of ownership.

Quality of Service (QoS)

• QoS ensures optimal network performance by prioritizing critical applications and data traffic. It prevents network congestion from impacting time-sensitive communications like VoIP and video conferencing, thereby guaranteeing a smooth user experience and protecting business productivity.

Secure Remote Access

• Allied Telesis solutions for remote access allow employees to securely connect to the UDI network from any location, ensuring data privacy and protecting against cyber threats.