Tees Business Tees Business issue 13 | Page 25

Serving the Teesside Business Community | 25 UCS Technologies has pioneered several innovative solutions for PD Ports. TECH T THAT ees technology and infrastructure firm UCS Technologies has teamed up with national giant PD Ports to improve operations and boost growth at its UK sites. PD Ports owns and operates 11 sites around the UK, including Teesport, one of the UK’s deepest water ports. Committed to sustained investment in ground-breaking technology and operations, in 2017 PD Ports contracted UCS Technologies to deliver the latest IT infrastructure to keep operations running smoothly in support of more than 1,250 staff across all sites. With a reputation for delivering reliable IT network infrastructure using state-of- the-art technology, Middlesbrough-based UCS Technologies has pioneered several innovative solutions for PD Ports. These include implementing a wide reach wireless network that allows staff to use electronic devices from anywhere on site and work uninterrupted. Further innovations include upgraded cabling, wi-fi and radio frequency identification (RFID), which uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track tags attached to objects. This allows goods to be moved far more quickly and easily than via traditional methods. UCS Technologies engineers provide day- to-day assistance and fault-finding across all sites, as well as regular updates to meet PD Ports’ commitment to sustained growth and improved operations. The technology experts add further value with quick response times, full project management and free knowledge surveys from industry experts. S U P P O RTING REGIONAL GROWTH PD Ports is at the head of Teesside’s thriving exports industry. The Teesport site acts as a gateway to global markets for exporters across the North-East and beyond. Local tech firm sets up PD Ports for success Having the correct infrastructure to keep the port up and running is imperative. Downtime simply isn’t feasible without significant consequence, and keeping the infrastructure of one of the largest container ports in the north running is no mean feat for UCS. In 2017, PD Ports was honoured by Navis with a global award for excellence and innovation for its Teesport site. The award recognised their commitment to continuous innovation that delivers greater efficiencies and further enhances visibility across its operational platform. UCS Technologies was proud to be part of the improvements, which led to the substantial benefits of improved vessel productivity and reduced truck turnaround times. Thanks to UCS Technologies, PD Ports and the thousands of companies it serves can rely on secure IT infrastructure to keep operations running. UCS Technologies director Paul Kidd commented: “Our aim is to make IT infrastructure work without effort. Like a good referee, when you do your job well you go virtually unnoticed. “By deploying the same engineering team to attend each site, we have gained a familiarity and can resolve issues much more quickly, reducing downtime for the company.” Rob McGregor, PD Ports IT team leader, said: “Since we started working with UCS Technologies, our logistics run much more smoothly. “Issues have decreased at all sites. This has significantly improved the way we work, increasing productivity and ultimately allowing us to service our customers more effectively. “It’s great to tell our UCS project manager what we need to achieve and have full confidence it will be designed and implemented effectively. “We’re looking to extend our footprint in the bulk market quite significantly in the future and have full trust that UCS Technologies will be there to support us.” LO C A L R E S O U R C E With its Middlesbrough headquarters and national team of engineers, UCS Technologies has the capability to implement small and large-scale solutions locally and nationally. The company recently provided the infrastructure for Kensington Aldridge Academy – dubbed the fastest school ever built following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. UCS Technologies prides itself on keeping companies running and utilising the latest technology to enable clients to better serve their customers. Free, no-commitment site visits are offered to assess clients’ requirements and ensure the best solutions are quoted for. Services include IT infrastructure, networking, wireless LAN, audio visual and voice networks. The company holds ISO 14001 and 9001 status.