Case Study: NLMK Group achieves secure, scalable automation network consolidation with Allied Telesis

NLMK Group - Customer Case Study

NLMK Group’s Lipetsk branch, part of one of the world’s most efficient steelmakers, needed to consolidate large-scale automation systems across four data center automation sites supporting eight workshops and production areas. As part of this modernization, the company needed to move server and workstation equipment into a virtual environment and choose distribution-layer networking equipment for aggregating uplinks from technological networks; Allied Telesis was selected as a candidate vendor, with the x930-28GSTX switch identified as the product fit.

Allied Telesis implemented a modular network and server architecture using the x930-28GSTX, delivering features such as stacking, VRRP, VRF Lite, OSPF, and ample VRF capacity for separating PLC and HMI environments. The result was a securely integrated, highly redundant infrastructure with isolated real-time shop networks, passive fiber-based connectivity to central sites, and improved troubleshooting and disaster recovery; the customer also reported stable operation after a firmware fix, with the issue resolved in version 5.4.6-2.6.

NLMK Group

Valery Yeremeyev

Head of the Technological Networks Department of the NLMK Process Automation Directorate