Sanitarium Upgrades to Cisco IP Communications

Sanitarium Health Food Company, the company behind Weet-Bix - Australia's number one breakfast cereal - has embarked on a major upgrade of its communications infrastructure based on an Internet Protocol (IP) Communications network from Cisco Systems.

The converged voice and data communications system will help Sanitarium reduce operational costs, improve workforce productivity and provide a sound platform for the deployment of high-availability applications in a highly secure wired and wireless environment.

Dr Kevin Wallace, infrastructure services manager for Sanitarium, said the company was looking for a cost-effective solution to replace its existing phone systems across multiple sites and to create a more cost-efficient, flexible and secure network by moving to IP with Cisco.

Sanitarium has installed Cisco IP Communications technology at its major facility at Berkeley Vale, near Wyong, New South Wales. This facility handles 400 users locally and a further 200 in Auckland, New Zealand. Nine additional sites will progressively be added to the network over time, totaling more than 1100 users. Three call centre operations will also be included in the network using Cisco's IP Contact Centre Express and a Cisco Unity voicemail system.

Sanitarium's facilities at Berkeley Vale and Cooranbong, in New South Wales and Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand have been upgraded with new local area networks.

Cisco Australia and New Zealand managing director, Ross Fowler, said; "Cisco is proud to be associated with Sanitarium - an icon in the food industry in Australia and New Zealand. Cisco's unique ability to provide a truly intelligent and integrated security, IP Communications and WLAN solution simplifies the infrastructure required to operate a company like Sanitarium across multiple sites."

Andrew Habgood, network and security consultant from HP said the ease of installation of Cisco's networking solution at Sanitarium was due to Cisco's leading edge position in the networking business.

Sanitarium, proudly 100% Australian owned, has developed a reputation for manufacturing quality health and vegetarian food products - a position that has been rewarded by the strong consumer trust we enjoy today.