14 June 2019

Mettis Aerospace’s 27-acre West Midlands facility

 

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has announced what it claims to be the world’s first Wi-Fi 6 industrial enterprise and IoT trial, as part of its ongoing Wi-Fi program.

Mettis Aerospace, a designer and manufacturer of precision-forged, machined and sub-assembled components, primarily for the aerospace and defence industry, will work with WBA members to test several use cases on a Wi-Fi 6 network at its 27-acre West Midlands (UK) facility.

The first of a series of global trials will enable the use of augmented reality, real-time monitoring of equipment, and a host of other applications in an enterprise network environment designed to digitize Mettis’ production line.

Mettis Aerospace is a supplier to organisations like Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.

The Mettis Aerospace environment is challenging from a connectivity perspective, with a large geography to be covered and industrial radio interference that can disrupt signals.

The WBA said some applications will require high bandwidth, others low latency and mission critical applications need clear prioritization for data.

However, it claims Wi-Fi 6 is well-positioned to support the provision of cost-effective enterprise-level connectivity in this industrial environment, “to these standards using the latest security capabilities”.

 “Wi-Fi 6 is a critical component for the future of connectivity for enterprises, operators and consumers, said Tiago Rodrigues, general manager at the WBA. “The work of Mettis Aerospace, the WBA and its members will clearly illustrate the role that Wi-Fi 6 has to play,” This first trial will serve as an example to industrial manufacturers around the world who are embracing the move to ‘industry 4.0’ about the capabilities to deliver transformation with Wi-Fi 6”.