Company Profiles - Haliplex
Haliplex |
| Melbourne-based telecommunications manufacturer, Halipex, is designing smart, cost-effective products that enable utilities and transport companies to consolidate existing low-speed communications infrastructure with high-speed, next-generation technologies. |
| http://www.haliplex.com.au |
The story so far |
| Haliplex is a leading manufacturer of next-generation communications solutions for a range of utility operators worldwide including, rail, power and mining companies. Formed in 1999, the company has a major research and development facility in Melbourne, a sales office in the United States and a worldwide network of distributors, system integrators and resellers. Over the past three years Haliplex has focussed its world-leading R&D resources on designing customised communications solutions for transport and utility operators, a strategic decision that Chief Executive Officer, Richard Cookes, says is now paying off. The company designs and manufactures modular optical multiplexers that protect a utility’s investment in existing low-speed, critical communications infrastructure while also allowing migration to the high-speed, next-generation network. "Our point of difference is that we focus on an industry that many companies around the world have walked away from because there are long periods of time between upgrades. A typical power or rail company does not upgrade its network more than once every 10 to 15 years because these are mission-critical networks that cannot fail and require guaranteed response times," explained Cookes. "Large ICT players often advise utility operators that they need to keep their low-speed infrastructure but also buy a new high-speed solution. This would mean running two networks. What we do is consolidate both low-speed and high-speed communications into a single network." Another important advantage of Haliplex’s consolidation solution is reduced power consumption, as dual networks cost twice as much to run and generate double the greenhouse gas emissions – important considerations for many global utilities and transport providers. |
Reaching new markets |
| Two years ago Haliplex signed a lucrative deal with Nokia Siemens, the largest communications player in the utility sector, to resell its consolidation solution around the world. Haliplex also manufactures multiplexer blades that are fitted inside Nokia Siemens products. Haliplex also offers its consolidation solution direct to Asian, African and South American utilities and transport operators. "One of the things driving upgrades to these networks is the need for additional security measures such as implementing video cameras and other surveillance equipment," said Cookes. In late 2007 Haliplex secured three multi-milliondollar deals with the Malaysian rail network. The deals followed the company’s successful trade mission to CommunicAsia 2007 in Singapore, which they attended with support from the Victorian Government’s ICT Trade Events and Export Assistance program. Delivered by Malaysian systems integrator, Intelligent Essence, the three Malaysian deals will see Haliplex’s multiplexer products deployed across Malaysia’s east coast for the national rail operator, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB). They will also be used by Malaysia’s foremost light rail operator, Rapid KL, to manage the transmission of mission-critical data along Kuala Lumpur’s Ampang line. The third deal will provide a communications consolidation solution for Malaysia’s premier wholesale network provider, Fiberail, which operates an extensive fibre optic network along the Malaysian rail corridor. Spanning 1600km and all major townships in Malaysia, the upgraded network will deliver triple-play voice, video and data services and other business solutions. In November 2007 Haliplex partnered with systems integrator, Controles comunicaciones, to secure a major communications upgrade with Argentina’s premier power company, Ente Provincial de Energia del Neuquin. |
Why Victoria? |
| With access to highly qualified, reliable staff and advanced manufacturing facilities, the outer Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark is the ideal base for Haliplex. The company employs 30 staff at its Melbourne-based facility where products are designed, tested and built to prototype stage. Manufacturing is outsourced to a nearby company, Startronics, that is compliant with EU standards. All Haliplex products are compliant with the RoHS Directive, which stands for ‘the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment’. The directive bans new electrical and electronic equipment in the EU market that contains more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and other hazardous substances. Being close to the Yarra Valley, one of Victoria’s premier food and wine districts, is also a key advantage for Haliplex in terms of attracting qualified and experienced staff. “For many of our staff there are distinct lifestyle advantages of being able to work for an ICT company on the outskirts of a major city where they also have the benefits of a relaxed, semirural lifestyle,” said Richard Cookes. |
The future |
| Haliplex sees a long-term future in the utility sector, with government and private operators around the world looking to secure power utilities and upgrade existing rail infrastructure. "We believe that there are a lot of opportunities for us to grow our business in Asia and Europe. We expect to see greater adoption of light rail and monorail in the world’s major cities in the future and these upgrades will require extensive communications networks- all of which is going to mean more business for us," concluded Mr Cookes. |
