Siemon and Trident Technology Solutions Transform UNC Health’s Infrastructure
Download PDFTrident Technology Solutions, a full-service technology company, partnered with Siemon to undertake a significant infrastructure project for UNC Health in Chapel Hill, NC. The success of the project was also attributed to the logistics and timely delivery of Siemon products by Graybar.
The project at UNC Surgical Hospital involved constructing new surgical spaces and patient bed areas, necessitating a robust and reliable technology infrastructure. The project deployed Siemon’s advanced products in a complete end-to-end solution consisting of Category 6 UTP cable, UltraMAX™ outlets, patch panels, racks, cable managers, and faceplates to ensure seamless connectivity and superior performance.
The Need for Expansion
To better serve the Chapel Hill and surrounding communities, UNC Health initiated this project to address the growing demand for advanced medical services. The addition of new surgical and patient bed spaces was crucial to accommodate the increasing number of patients. This project aimed to provide a comprehensive solution for future expansion and technology integration, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
Challenges and Objective:
The primary challenge was to create an infrastructure capable of supporting various applications, including VoIP, PoE, AV, security, wireless, and building automation. The objective was to outfit the facility with a modern technology infrastructure. This included enhanced bandwidth, integrating state-of-the-art systems and applications, and ensuring seamless connectivity across the facility.
Why Siemon?
UNC Health’s stringent requirements for high-quality products led to the selection of Siemon. As a Siemon-certified installer, Trident Technology Solutions was well equipped to meet these standards. Siemon’s reputation for reliability, compliance, ease of installation, technical support, competitive pricing, and warranty were key decision factors. Siemon’s Category 6 UltraMAX™ outlets, in particular, were chosen for their efficient design and ease of installation, which proved to be a significant time-saver for technicians. Siemon products were chosen exclusively, as UNC Health’s ISD specifications mandate the use of Siemon products for all new installations. This ensured consistency and reliability across the facility’s network infrastructure.
Project Design and Application:
The project involved the installation of horizontal and backbone cabling, utilizing Siemon products. The infrastructure included a newly built MDF (Main Distribution Frame) and 33 additional IDF (Intermediate Distribution Frame) and EIDF (Equipment Intermediate Distribution Frame) rooms. The infrastructure supported various applications, including VoIP, PoE, AV, security, wireless, and building automation. This support ensured that all technological needs of the healthcare facility were met, providing a solution that could handle current and future demands.
At the beginning of the installation, one of the initial hurdles was familiarizing technicians with the termination process of the new UltraMAX™ outlet. Technicians quickly found the UltraMAX outlet was easy to use and efficient, significantly reducing termination time. The punch-down termination module allowed cables to dress from both sides of the outlet allowing cables to flow neatly into cable managers. In addition, UltraMAX outlets can be mounted from the front or rear of a faceplate, enabling installers to terminate and insert outlets into the faceplate once already secured to the wall, simplifying the process. The UltraMAX TurboTool helped to accelerate project completion by enabling installers to quickly terminate thousands of connections, saving hundreds of labor hours.
Testing and Performance:
Post-installation, the network underwent rigorous testing and was found to be error-free. The comprehensive testing ensured that the infrastructure met all performance criteria, guaranteeing reliability and stability for UNC Health’s critical operations. The project was completed successfully, with the network running smoothly and as expected.
Completion and Handover:
The project was successfully completed within the planned timeline and handed over to UNC Health. The newly installed network infrastructure met expectations, providing a reliable foundation for the hospital’s technological needs.
The implementation of Siemon products yielded several specific benefits. The UltraMAX outlets, in particular, were noted for their ease of termination, flexibility in installation, and time-saving features. The ability to terminate cables from either side and pull through faceplates without removal streamlined the installation process, significantly reducing labor costs. These advantages translated into measurable ROI for Trident Technology Solutions and UNC Health, showcasing the efficiency and effectiveness of Siemon’s products.
Trident Technology Solutions expressed immense satisfaction with Siemon’s products and the overall experience. The quality, performance, and support provided by Siemon were pivotal in the successful completion of the project. Allan Anderson, Project Manager at Trident Technology Solutions, emphasized the seamless collaboration with Siemon and the positive feedback from technicians who appreciated the design of the UltraMAX™ outlets. Trident plans to continue its partnership with Siemon for future projects, underscoring the reliability of Siemon’s solutions. The success of the project was also attributed to the logistics and timely delivery of Siemon products by Graybar Electric, a key partner in the project. Graybar’s role in ensuring shipments was crucial in maintaining the project timeline and meeting all delivery requirements.
“The Surgical Tower Project for UNC Health was a huge success, due in part, to the strong local relationship Graybar has with Siemon. We worked closely together with the installer to order materials correctly per job timelines, stage material at our Raleigh Facility and deliver via Graybar truck to the jobsite.”
Conclusion
The collaboration between Trident Technology Solutions and Siemon resulted in a successful infrastructure for UNC Health’s Surgical Hospital. The project not only addressed the immediate needs of the healthcare facility but also provided a future-proof solution capable of supporting advanced medical applications and technologies. Siemon’s products, combined with Trident’s expertise, ensured a seamless installation process.
This case study highlights the importance of selecting the right technology and partners for complex infrastructure projects. Siemon’s commitment to quality, performance, and customer support, along with Trident’s dedication to excellence, set a benchmark for future projects. The UNC Health Surgical Hospital now stands equipped with a network infrastructure, ready to meet the evolving demands of healthcare technology and deliver enhanced medical services to the community.
“We’re thrilled to have partnered with Trident Technology Solutions on this critical project for UNC Health,” says Brian Jackson, Siemon Regional Sales Manager. “The Siemon and UNC partnership has been invaluable for many years, and this project is a prime example of our successful collaboration. Our solutions, including the UltraMAX jacks and TurboTool, were instrumental in creating a cutting-edge, future-ready infrastructure for their new surgical and patient care areas. The effi cient installation process, signifi cantly accelerated by these tools, resulted in substantial time and cost savings. I want to give special recognition to Ron Frye for his critical role in the management and execution of this project. This joint effort allowed us to deliver the project on schedule and within budget, ensuring minimal disruption to UNC Health’s operations.”
For more information on how Siemon can help with your infrastructure needs, visit www.siemon.com or contact Trident Technology Solutions at www.tridentts.com.
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