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wireless communications wireless walkie talkies two-way radios todays wireless world safety and security safety productivity petrochemical mototrbo motorola solutions motorola is intrinsically safe
Innovations can dramatically influence the logistical needs of any industry. So when technological advances helped unlock natural gas and oil from shale formations, it meant growth for the petrochemical industry and an increased need for digital wireless solutions. As a result of the boom in shale gas, ExxonMobil has made plans to expand the capacity of its petrochemical complex on the Gulf Coast. The Baytown, Texas, complex will be tasked with converting ethane, a natural gas liquid, into the chemical building block ethylene, and from that to produce the plastic polyethylene. The company estimates the plant expansion will create 10,000 area jobs during its construction and $870 million of economic activity annually. In an article for TodaysWirelessWorld.com, Motorola Solutions' Dwain Lunau wrote that, "At ExxonMobil's Baytown polyethylene plant, operators need to constantly monitor pipelines that lead to the refineries for up-to-date measurements and leak detection and to stay in touch with maintenance personnel spread over a wide area. It is crucial that operators are equipped with wireless technology that enables them to better monitor pipelines safely and efficiently. Motorola MOTOTRBO digital two-way radios are the choice of many petrochemical plants because of their enhanced functionality." Motorola MOTOTRBO offers expanded digital voice, data, and control capabilities. It features lower licensing and equipment costs, clearer voice communications over a greater range, static and noise rejection, and extended battery life. However, in this kind of industrial environment, two-way radios must also operate as safety devices for the workers. In this regard, Motorola MOTOTRBO has two important features: These radios have an important "man down" feature, where it can be programmed to alert others when a user stops moving. The radios also have an intrinsically safe (IS) option. The devices are constructed to restrict electrical energy in hazardous areas to levels that cannot cause ignition. "Many are invested in the success of the U.S. petrochemical industry," Lunau explained, "for it to stay competitive, lower domestic costs, and reduce our dependence on international oil. Expanding production means more jobs for Americans and has increased the demand for digital wireless technology ready to meet this challenge."