Factory Tannoy Systems
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Factory Tannoy Systems
Many factories and industrial settings employ a factory tannoy system to provide general audio announcements, mass notification and wider workforce communication.
Often large, busy sites with noisy production environments, industrial and factory sites present with a range of acoustic and installation challenges. Abletek has specified, designed and installed 100’s of commercial audio sound systems. We are experienced specialist contractors with a large client project portfolio, including a wide range of example factory tannoy system installations.
What is a factory tannoy system?
The term ‘Tannoy’ is widely used by many to describe a voice announcement application – synonymous with Public Address (PA) and Paging. A tannoy ‘system’ describes the various audio device entities that connect together to form the design and capabilities of the announcement application. Typical factory tannoy system devices entities are as follows:
- Mixing and audio processing
- Amplifier/s – provide audio output ‘power’
- Audio Inputs eg. microphones or a telephone interface
- Audio Output – loud speakers
- Audio Speaker Line Distribution (typically 100v for commercial)
How it works…. Audio input (eg. from a factory reception microphone) is processed by the system mixer before being amplified for distribution and output from playout devices / speakers. This drawing shows a typical traditional, multi-zone factory tannoy system.
Why do factories use tannoy systems?
Production, manufacturing and processing – factories are large, busy, noisy settings, often presented with hazardous work environments. Because of these challenges, most factories restrict use of any personal tech, cameras or mobile phones whilst at work. As a result, speedy / real time communication within factories can be severely limited. A factory tannoy system is used to provide important workforce communication – typical uses are as follows:
- Emergency & sccidents – 1st aid responder
- Lockdown & security announcements
- Fire alarm testing (co-ordination)
- Incidents relating to production / manufacturing process
- Maintenance / engineer call out
- General staff call and announcements
- Site & information announcements
Factory Tannoy Systems - Design Considerations
Factory sites are generally large in scale. Most have numerous open space production areas, sometimes spread across large sites with multiple buildings.
Common design considerations for most factory tannoy systems are as follows:
- Coverage plan
- Technology Options (traditional & IP audio)
- Zones (single zone or multi-zone, eg office, production, warehouse…)
- Strategic location of speakers (compete with ambient/production noise)
- Speaker qty/density (complete with ambient noise, ensure audibility)
- Speaker type & design:
- Type: horn, projection, wall cabinet etc..
- Design: IP rated, EX rated, IS rated
- Cabling plans (type of cable, cable lengths, cable routing / influences)
Audio Technology Options
Cost is a primary decision factor in all new audio installation projects. As factories and industrial settings are likely to require large qty’s of speakers, traditional audio remains a strong option for speakers. However, IP audio can be an excellent choice for audio distribution (in large buildings, between buildings) as well as provide improved audio source input and control. Mixing audio technologies in this way offers a cost effective balance and route for many factory and industrial sound system installations.
Factory Tannoy Systems | Mixed audio technologies
Most factory and industrial sites will typically require a large qty of speakers, with high audio ‘power’ requirement to service volume levels in often large spaces with high ambient noise levels. Cost, availability and limited PoE for high audio power provisioning mean 100v traditional speakers remain a popular option for these settings.
However, IP audio can radically change the audio design topology for factory and industrial sites (improving capability and function).
- Primary IP audio distribution
- Improved audio routing capability
- De-centralised system equipment (IP audio decoder & amplifier distributed to local IT / Comms rooms)
- IP audio inputs with prioritisation, scheduling, flexible zone planning and time of day routing
- Integration with SIP telephony tannoy & paging
- IP speakers to smaller zone areas (no supporting audio equipment required)
Factory Tannoy Installation Projects
Factory Tannoy / Audio
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