The network of the future

Source: ZDF

The Challenge

Difficult framework conditions, growing competitive pressure

As a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF SE, BASF-Schwarzheide GmbH has the same ambition as its parent company when it comes to digitalisation: to play a clear pioneering role in the industry. The company faces challenges due to the structural environment in Germany, in particular the demographically induced shortage of skilled labour and the sharp rise in energy costs.

The company's clear strategy is to meet these challenges through innovation and technological solutions, including digitalisation. The aim is to react quickly to changing conditions and strengthen the site's resilience to the so-called VUCA world – volatility, uncertainty and complexity. Being able to work in a more agile and mobile way using the latest technology is also an important factor in recruiting young talent and therefore also contributes to the future viability of the company.

Under these conditions, BASF Schwarzheide GmbH has a large number of digital and networked applications that require reliable and powerful connectivity. The company has decided to set up its own 5G campus network for this connectivity and to work closely with Vodafone Business to realise it.

The Company

Part of the world's largest chemical group

BASF Schwarzheide GmbH has been part of the BASF Group since 1990 and employs around 2,000 people in the south of Brandenburg. As a chemical company, BASF in Schwarzheide makes an important contribution to greater sustainability by promoting the integration of renewable energies, organising its production in an energy-efficient manner and aligning its activities with the principle of the circular economy. The product range includes polyurethane base products and systems, crop protection products, water-based coatings, engineering plastics, foams and performance chemicals.

The production site of BASF Schwarzheide GmbH is located in the south of Brandenburg and is one of the largest sites within the BASF Group in Europe. BASF Schwarzheide GmbH helps its customers to be successful as a reliable partner with intelligent system solutions and high-quality products. Around a dozen partner companies have already established themselves at the Schwarzheide site.

The Solution

Site-wide 5G campus network in Schwarzheide

"5G offers clear advantages where machines communicate with each other, large amounts of data are exchanged almost in real time and latencies must be minimised," says Ole Gütschow, Head of Automation Technology and OT Connectivity at BASF Schwarzheide GmbH. He already counts a total of around 60 use cases that will utilise the emerging 5G campus network. These include the flexible and quickly realised network connection of production plants, the tracking of large-scale equipment through to construction site containers, the networking and predictive maintenance of process analysis devices, telemetry applications, the control of industrial robots and drones, the networking of native sensors, for example for energy metering, as well as the networking of cameras for security systems, but also for image evaluation as part of quality assurance measures.

"We see many more future fields that we will be able to realise once the 5G campus network is fully operational," emphasises Andreas Seide, Business Development and Site Marketing at BASF Schwarzheide GmbH. In the short term, the focus will be on replacing cable-based networking, while in the medium term, the expert expects autonomous systems to grow enormously in importance.

"Replacing cables in networking may not sound as exciting as other use cases," admits Ole Gütschow. "But this example is the one that benefits most quickly and clearly from the advantages of a 5G campus network. Many use cases would not be feasible at all with cable-based networking, but with 5G they can be realised quickly, easily and cheaply." In the future, more and more versatile applications for the local 5G network will be added to this use case.

BASF is developing many of the solutions mentioned above itself, in some cases with external partners, suppliers or universities, as well as in close collaboration with Vodafone Business, particularly in the area of connectivity. "We chose Vodafone because the company was an early and consistent adopter of 5G technology and actively contributed to the development of 5G campus networks," explains Andreas Seide. "Our close and trusting collaboration has confirmed this assessment at all times: Vodafone is convincingly contributing its huge 5G expertise to the joint network construction and joint solution development. Both partners benefit from this."

The 5G campus network at BASF's Schwarzheide site was put into operation as a test field in January 2022 and went live in mid-2024. A total of six antenna masts were erected at the site to provide the entire location with 5G network coverage. The first use cases had already been tested in advance as pilot projects and went live with the activation. Further solutions based on the 5G campus network are now being realised step by step.

The Advantages

Completely self-sufficient wireless network

BASF Schwarzheide GmbH benefits from a customised 5G infrastructure that operates on the company's own frequencies and as its own, completely self-sufficient radio network on the company's premises. There, 5G connectivity enables a wide range of applications.

As part of the world's leading chemical group BASF, the Schwarzheide site is focussed on growth and competitiveness. Here, Ole Gütschow, Head of Automation Technology and OT Connectivity, and Andreas Seide, responsible for Business Development and Site Marketing at the company, explain how the new 5G campus network is helping to achieve these goals.

Why is BASF Schwarzheide GmbH relying on its own 5G campus network?

Andreas Seide: With the expansion of the 5G campus network, we are taking the next important step in the digitalisation of our location. This mobile technology is an important enabler - it allows us to make existing applications more economical and to realise new, innovative applications that are not even foreseeable or conceivable today.

What specific advantages does 5G mobile technology offer over other networking solutions?

Ole Gütschow: 5G offers particular advantages where machines communicate with each other, large amounts of data are exchanged in near real time and latency must be minimised. With delay times of just ten milliseconds, the network reacts almost in real time and faster than any other previous generation of mobile communications. With 5G, the network also saves up to 20 per cent power compared to previous mobile technologies.

What practical advantages do you expect from this?

Andreas Seide: 5G is therefore a key technology for new automation applications, the use of robots and drones and the ongoing digitalisation of production facilities. The 5G campus network increases the competitiveness of our location and will also help us to offer young talent an attractive and meaningful working environment.

Why did you decide in favour of an isolated 5G campus network?

Ole Gütschow: We have the highest requirements in terms of the availability, exclusive capacity and detailed design of the 5G infrastructure on our company premises. We also have high security standards. For all these reasonts, the "Vodafone Business Campus Isolated" solution was the ideal choice.

How do you rate the co-operation with Vodafone in the implementation?

Andreas Seide: Our collaboration has been close and trusting from the very beginning. It includes close coordination in the development of joint solutions.

Ole Gütschow: And Vodafone is contributing its extensive 5G expertise to this joint solution development and network construction at all times.

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