SYDNEY, Australia, November 11, 2005 - Sanitarium Health Food Company, the company behind Weet-Bix - Australia's number one breakfast cereal - has embarked on a major upgrade of its communications infrastructure based on an Internet Protocol (IP) Communications network from Cisco Systems®.
The converged voice and data communications system will help Sanitarium reduce operational costs, improve workforce productivity and provide a sound platform for the deployment of high-availability applications in a highly secure wired and wireless environment.
Dr Kevin Wallace, infrastructure services manager for Sanitarium, said the company was looking for a cost-effective solution to replace its existing phone systems across multiple sites and to create a more cost-efficient, flexible and secure network by moving to IP with Cisco. Dr Wallace said, "A Cisco solution has allowed us to replace legacy data and voice infrastructure, combining the two separate systems into a single highly effective communications network, with all the consequent benefits of one integrated solution."
Sanitarium has installed Cisco IP Communications technology at its major facility at Berkeley Vale, near Wyong, New South Wales. This facility handles 400 users locally and a further 200 in Auckland, New Zealand. Nine additional sites will progressively be added to the network over time, totaling more than 1100 users. Three call centre operations will also be included in the network using Cisco's IP Contact Centre Express and a Cisco Unity voicemail system.
Sanitarium's facilities at Berkeley Vale and Cooranbong, in New South Wales and Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand have been upgraded with new local area networks. Cisco Aironet® wireless local area networking (WLAN) access points with Cisco Access Control Server authentication and CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE) management have been installed at Berkeley Vale and Auckland, further reducing operational communications costs by allowing staff to communicate via voice, video and data within the building.
Cisco Australia and New Zealand managing director, Ross Fowler, said; "Cisco is proud to be associated with Sanitarium - an icon in the food industry in Australia and New Zealand. Cisco's unique ability to provide a truly intelligent and integrated security, IP Communications and WLAN solution simplifies the infrastructure required to operate a company like Sanitarium across multiple sites."
Sanitarium's Cisco network is based on Cisco Catalyst® 3750 and 3560 power over Ethernet switches. Cisco 7940G, 7960G and 7912G series IP phones are deployed, as well as Cisco Aironet 1200 series access points. Cisco security solutions are provided to Sanitarium through virtual private networking and firewall technology.
The implementation of Cisco's solutions at Sanitarium was carried out by Hewlett-Packard (HP), a Cisco partner. "HP made a huge difference," said Kevin Wallace.
Andrew Habgood, network and security consultant from HP said the ease of installation of Cisco's networking solution at Sanitarium was due to Cisco's leading edge position in the networking business. Mr Habgood said; "As the company that continues to lead in IP Communications, Cisco is the natural choice as networking partner for Hewlett-Packard."
About Sanitarium
Sanitarium, proudly 100% Australian owned, has developed a reputation for manufacturing quality health and vegetarian food products - a position that has been rewarded by the strong consumer trust we enjoy today.Through our continued commitment to nutrition education, consumer consultation and product development, Sanitarium has brought to the market an array of cereals and innovative foods including breakfast cereals, soymilks, spreads and easy-cooking vegetarian meals, which provide a more enlightened view of our daily dietary requirements.