Powertrunk Sells first-ever TETRA System to be used in the North American Petrochemical Sector
Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend, LLC, a leading producer of transportation fuels, will deploy a digital TETRA radio communications network for its refinery operations located in Rosemount, Minnesota.
Provided by PowerTrunk, Inc. (part of the Hytera Group), this will be the first TETRA system for the petrochemical sector in North America.
The Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend Refinery has a radio population of approximately 4,000 users. The refinery covers about 1000 acres and has a production capacity of 339,000 barrels per day.
Bay Electronics, working with PowerTrunk, was chosen by Flint Hills Resources to provide the refinery complex with a complete communications system consisting of multiple radio sites with diversity receivers, fully redundant control equipment, antenna towers, protective shelters, generators, in-building antenna systems desktop radios, and the latest intrinsically-safe TETRA portable radios with remote speaker microphones.
“Mission-critical communications that keep our employees connected at all times are essential to maintaining safe operations,” said John Bowman, Digital Lead, Flint Hills Resources. “The solution we chose includes intrinsically-safe radios that are designed to provide crisp and clear audio in the noisiest workplace environments and are equipped with GPS, dynamic group and profile management, and other advanced features to enable a safer and more efficient workforce anywhere on our complex.”
“We believe our operations are best served by solutions that are based on open industry standards,” said Mark Murphy, Project Manager, Flint Hills Resources. “The TETRA solution was selected in part because it is the leading open standard digital radio communications technology in use around the world, and it will allow Flint Hills Resources to leverage the best practices in digital radio solutions in a complete and cost-effective manner.”
“This is another precedent and testament for TETRA applications in North America,” according to Edward Kelly, PowerTrunk Vice President of Business Development. “Our TETRA solution was chosen not only for its overall value, but on its technical merits which include highly reliable coverage and clear communications in a working environment that is challenged with high user density, RF multipath, and noisy and hazardous working conditions.”
“Bay Electronics has long been a proponent for TETRA in North America and is pleased to bring TETRA technology to Flint Hills Resources,” said Rick Nielson, President of Bay Electronics.
