Comtac delivers IoT monitoring solution to enable Swiss Saltworks to keep Switzerland moving

Comtac, an IoT design, production and engineering integrator business, today announced that it is supplying Swiss Saltworks with an IoT-based measure and monitoring sensor solution which ensures that salt supply is maintained and available in the right location at the right time across Switzerland. The solution ensures roads and streets are kept open for business throughout the harsh and prolonged winter periods.

The Comtac solution solves a part of a logistical problem for Swiss Saltworks who may need to distribute more than 7,000 tonnes of de-icing salt per day around Switzerland during the winter season.

Data, including salt levels and temperature, is fed back from a number of IoT-enabled “Salt Silos” to Swiss Saltworks’ head office, enabling it to precisely plan the provision of critical salt distribution across the country.

For Comtac, a u-blox Design Partner, an important component of the solution is the collection of data, which is via a radar sensor. The data is then sent to Swiss Saltworks head office via the u-blox Thingstream Communication-as-a-Service platform over the LTE network.

After a successful trial with 20 equipped salt silos, the Swiss salt works intends to introduce the solution nationwide on over 200 silos.

Oliver Berger, Business Development Manager Export & Special Projects, Saltworks, said, “By IoT enabling our mobile Taufix salt silos across Switzerland we are now in a position to make real time decisions on where and when to replenish stock. Beyond the obvious logistical efficiencies and ensuring that we keep streets and roads open for business, there is also a significant environmental uplift as we are able to cut down on erroneous deliveries.”

Stefan Zimmerman, managing director, Comtac, said, “We are delighted to have proven that with Comtac’s IoT sensing system we are able to bring both logistical and environmental benefits to Saltworks and their customers. This is just one example of how we are helping clients use data to manage their businesses more efficiently and we look forward to deploying our solutions in more innovative ways in the future,”