01.01.07
Substantial cost savings in deploying industrial COTS PC based computers
Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) PC based computing continues to deliver unprecedented processing power at ever decreasing price points with outstanding reliability offering the best performance/value balance for increasingly stretched budgets.
New technologies and advancements in processors, storage, digital vision, communications, network connectivity are opening up previously technically and commercially non-feasible applications in the railway, transport and related security sectors. Such computer based automation has substantially reduced operating costs and increased effectiveness, responsiveness and infrastructure agility.
Managing PC based COTS in transport requires specialist expertise, particularly in terms of obsolescence management. Projects with development phases which can span many years, and even longer in service lifetimes, are being built using components with lifecycles measured in months, performance specifications tailored to lowest cost and commercial requirements not transport grade. This highlights the need to manage COTS through best practice to leverage its cost benefits but mitigate its shortfalls.
Captec has built up a substantial body of engineering knowledge and project management expertise to ensure COTS capability in the whole lifecycle, engineering in additional mitigating protection to compensate and remain fit for purpose, particularly in areas such as in shock, vibration, thermal management, ingress protection for water/ dust and EMC. Extensive best practice obsolescence management, close partnerships and controls of the supply chain and storage management.
ensure continuity of component supply
Captec remains at the forefront of the industrial computing industry, delivering a rich mix of standard and custom computing solutions backed by engineered technology and dedicated OEM support. Spanning a wide diversity of demanding market sectors, including defence, oil & gas, medical, utilities, manufacturing, Captec has an established track record of over 21 years in the industry and a global span with offices in the UK, Germany and North America. Captec solutions are characterised by their cost effectiveness, high reliability and outstanding performance, reducing lifetime cost of ownership and minimizing impact of obsolescence.
Captec has already had substantial involvement in the supply of industrial PC-based computing equipment to a wide range of railway contractors including Atkins, Metronet, Tubelines, Westinghouse, Thales, ABB and Siemens and experience in supplying computers for critical applications such as the London Underground Station Management Systems, Heathrow T5 Piccadilly extension amongst others.
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