Solvalla horse track sees the light thanks to scalable and flexible midrange solution from Rockwell Automation Swedish racetrack calls in Kennedy Automation AB, a Rockwell Automation® PartnerNetwork™ member, to help it win by a clear length… and in high definition Challenge A Swedish racetrack needed a new lighting infrastructure to cater for the demands of HD broadcasting. Kennedy Automation had to cater for large distances and a short install window. Solutions A Rockwell Automation solution was installed, which included: • 13 Allen-Bradley CompactLogix L30ER PACs • Allen-Bradley Point I/O panels controlling 390 floodlights mounted on 28 masts and on the stands Effective lighting is crucial for both visitors and broadcasters • 1Gbit fibre Ethernet backbone around the 1km track which Background leverages Stratix 5700 managed switches The Solvalla horse racing track, located in Bromma, Stockholm, Sweden, • FactoryTalk View SE was opened in 1927 and is the biggest harness racing venue in the Nordic countries. The track hosts a number of important race events including, • FactoryTalk Historian SE on the last Sunday in May, the annual Elitloppet, one of harness racing’s • FactoryTalk VantagePoint most prestigious international events. Results With the popularity of the sport, with both visitors to the track and those watching televised events, the lighting is crucial; especially with the • Tailored lighting profiles extended hours of darkness experienced by a venue so far north. The • Much lower energy bills lighting is also vital to help ensure that any high-definition broadcasts are • More dependable performance lit well enough to do the format justice – especially if the TV cameras are • Less light leakage sited some distance from the racing action. • Longer lamp life For a recent upgrade to the lighting system, the owners of the track • Far superior HD broadcasting contacted Kennedy Automation AB, a Rockwell Automation Recognised conditions Systems Integrator, who designed and installed a new lighting solution • More reliable source of spare parts that would satisfy the needs of the most demanding race goer and high- • Greater flexibility definition broadcaster. • Ability to expand without affecting performance Challenge adds. “Failure of the system prior to or during a televised event is a huge risk, which could seriously damage the The existing arena floodlighting was controlled by a reputation of the arena. Therefore we made the decision semi-manual system, where huge banks of floodlights to deploy several controllers to help ensure continued were energised simultaneously. The arena floodlighting operation, even during a network failure.” provided only one level of lighting, which was barely suitable for TV productions, but totally unsuitable for all Kennedy Automation faced very tight timescales; with the other less-demanding uses of the arena. Even in winter, replacement system being installed in a short six-week simple maintenance operations had to use maximum period across June and July – the only time available in the floodlighting, which was very wasteful of both energy and racing season that the lighting is not required. “We had energy costs. to build and test a lot of the equipment off site,” Kennedy elaborates, “to make the installation and commissioning Kennedy Automation AB was tasked with the provision of process as quick and expedient as possible.” a complete control system, including individual control of floodlights. It also had to include software configuration of lighting groups to allow for activity-based lighting levels, Solution which also helped to ensure maximum lamp life, minimum The solution devised by Kennedy Automation AB energy usage and complete supervision of the system. comprised panels housing Allen-Bradley® Point I/O on According to Liam Kennedy, Lead Engineer at Kennedy each of the 28 floodlight masts, connected to 13 midrange Automation AB, there were a number of issues that had Allen-Bradley CompactLogix™ L30ER programmable to be addressed for the replacement solution; primarily automation controllers (PAC) via a 1Gbit fibre optic the sheer size of the installation, which comprised a 1 Ethernet backbone, based entirely on Allen-Bradley Stratix km track, 28 masts and over 390 floodlights on the masts 5700™ (industrial Ethernet switches & media) managed and stands. Kennedy Automation AB also had to take into switches. FactoryTalk® View SE provides the track operators account the inhospitable weather experienced at the with a monitoring, supervision and reporting platform, track. leveraging data supplied by FactoryTalk Historian SE and FactoryTalk VantagePoint®. “We had to lay new fibre optic cabling around the entire 1 km track,” Kennedy explains, “with fibre optics being used In operation, the CompactLogix PACs determine which to counter the adverse effects of long data-transmission floodlights are lit by sending the appropriate signals distances. We also had to install numerous panels around to the relevant I/O panels. This means that the track the circuit and, to counter the effects of the cold weather, operators can now adjust the lighting (lux) levels to the panels housing the programmable automation suit what is happening at the track. These include: 50 controllers (PAC) had to be heated. We are also installing lux for maintenance; 150 lux for training; 500 lux for a weather station, which will use the same fibre network, competitions, where people are in the arena and for highlighting the expandability of the solution. standard-definition broadcasts; and finally, 1,600-2,000 lux for full HD broadcasts. “The system has to be extremely dependable,” Kennedy 28 panels were built, one for each floodlight mast Kennedy elaborates: “UEFA has similar demands for someone that Rockwell Automation can recommend football stadia. HDTV has really put the pressure on venue without any doubts.” owners to ensure that their lighting is capable of providing the best possible visual HD experience.” The installation at the Solvalla track was recently put forward for The Swedish Lighting Award. Of the 90 applicants from across the nation, only four were Results shortlisted, including Solvalla. The eventual winner was The new solution has given the track owners far greater the National Library in Stockholm, but this in no way control of their floodlighting infrastructure. Light spill has detracts from the achievement by Kennedy Automation, also been significantly reduced thanks to much better as in the past the majority of applicants and shortlisted tailoring of the lighting direction, which is now possible solutions have been indoor lighting applications. In recent with the variable lamp control. The very expensive lamp years, due to the advances in LED technology, outdoor bulbs are also lasting much longer as they are only turned effect lighting projects have been nominated and recent on when needed. winners include effect lighting on a bridge. However, Kennedy believes that Solvalla was the first arena lighting Kennedy explains: “During a HD broadcast, the camera application ever to be shortlisted. operators can now zoom in on a horse’s nose or a driver’s face from 400 m away for replays. In the first week that we ran it at the full level, a driver was informed by a Additional Information www.rockwellautomation.com broadcaster that they could see the real determination on his face as he came around the second curve. The jockey The results mentioned above are specific to Solvalla’s use of Rockwell Automation products and services in conjunction with was staggered that they could see him from that distance other products. Specific results may vary for other customers. let alone his facial expression. Before the new lighting system was installed all you could reliably see was a bunch of 10 horses; now you can zoom in on a driver’s face.” As well as far superior broadcasting capabilities, the track’s owners are seeing much lower energy bills, more dependable performance, a more reliable source of spare parts and, as well as gaining much more flexibility in operation, they will also have the capability to expand the installation without affecting the existing performance – all thanks to the integrated and scalable Rockwell Automation midrange solution. Kennedy concludes: “We only use Rockwell Automation products, excluding all other possibilities. We would rather say no than deliver a non-Rockwell Automation solution. We want to be seen as being highly competent in the use of Rockwell Automation products in order to maintain our excellent reputation. We consider ourselves to be a primary ally of Rockwell Automation in Scandinavia, Rockwell Automation and PartnerNetwork companies collaborate to help you develop an ongoing approach to plant-wide optimization, improve your machine performance and achieve your sustainability objectives. Kennedy Automation AB Kennedy Automation are control systems experts for validated and high- Bällstaåvägen 18 risk environments. Specialists in Rockwell Automation products, it offers a 168 70 Bromma wide range of services to clients including: Sweden Phone: +46 (0)8 29 15 00 • Pre-qualified HVAC units [email protected] • Pre-qualified freezer rooms http://kennedyab.se/ • Automation management within process projects (pharma & biogas) • Design documentation (GxP) • Control system programming • Commissioning and validation of control systems • Scada and Historian solutions including Track & Trace • Product and application training Allen-Bradley, CompactLogix, FactoryTalk, , LISTEN. THINK. SOLVE., PartnerNetwork, Stratix 5700 and VantagePoint, are trademarks of Rockwell Automation, Inc. Trademarks not belonging to Rockwell Automation are property of their respective companies Publication MIDRAN-AP001A-EN-P – September 2014 Copyright © 2014 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the EU..