The Background
Kerrygold, a world-renowned Irish butter brand, recently expanded its manufacturing facilities in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.
Kerrygold butter is sold in more than 120 countries worldwide, and the company has set an ambitious target to grow its revenue in Ireland to €2 billion. The new 65,000 sq ft facility employs a large workforce dedicated to meeting the ever-increasing global demand.
The Challenge
The Kerrygold factory in Mitchelstown produces up to 1 million retail packs of butter every day, making efficiency and seamless communication between staff absolutely vital. With production and packaging running around the clock, uninterrupted operations are essential. In such a high-volume environment, even minor delays or disruptions can quickly result in missed delivery targets and potential customer loss.
Prior to the installation of the Stella Doradus repeater system, mobile coverage inside the factory was extremely poor. Modern construction materials — including triple-glazed windows, steel frameworks, and metal-clad walls — prevented mobile signal from entering the building.
As a result, staff were unable to make reliable phone calls or use tablets effectively for their daily tasks — including in emergency situations. Forklifts, which depend on a strong 5G connection to scan pallets and update stock levels in real time, also experienced frequent delays. This lack of mobile coverage significantly reduced both operational efficiency and staff productivity across the facility.
The objective
With the focus on growing the revenue the management decided to streamline operational efficiency and reached out to Novatel, a trusted Stella Doradus integrator. The management requested the following:
- Reliable 5G signal to support work tablets
- Crystal clear phone calls throughout entire facilities
- Robust industrial solution
- Amplified signal for all mobile operators
The Solution
Based on the client’s requirements and on-site survey conducted by Novatel’s professional installers the Stella Doradus iRepeater System was selected.
An outdoor Yagi antenna was installed on the rooftop for capturing the strongest mobile signal from nearby cell towers. The signal was then amplified by iR6 repeaters and distributed throughout the entire building via strategically installed indoor antennas.
The Result
The management team was delighted with the strong and reliable mobile signal available throughout the premises after the installation. With the Stella Doradus iRepeater system in place, staff could now make crystal-clear phone calls throughout the entire facility. Forklift operations ran smoothly and on schedule, due to robust 5G connectivity for real-time pallet scanning and stock updates.