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CASE STUDY:

Monitoring LoRaWAN Solutions for Critical Infrastructure Installed in a Swiss Manufacturing Plant

🇨🇭Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland

Our client

Building type: Factory Building

Client Name: SCHOTT Suisse SA

Location: Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland

Building parameters: 1 building, 4 floors

Partner: SCHOTT Suisse SA

“The wireless flood detection devices are quick and easy to deploy and alert us before any damage is done, they’ve already prevented some incidents. The open/close sensors, on the other hand, detect if someone from outside opens the door and make sure it is properly closed for the night.”

Tristan Lieberherr, Automation Engineer at SCHOTT Suisse SA.

About SCHOTT Suisse SA

SCHOTT is a global technology and materials group driven by a “can-do” spirit and shared responsibility to achieve the impossible. As a foundation company, it embeds scientific research, societal impact, and environmental stewardship into its core. With 17,100 employees across 30+ countries, SCHOTT partners with high-tech industries—from healthcare and consumer electronics to semiconductors and aerospace—delivering innovative solutions that turn visions into reality.

Challenges

SCHOTT has invested millions in its production facilities to achieve manufacturing excellence. At its Yverdon factory, high-value machinery crucial to core processes is housed across multiple rooms, all cooled by water-cooled heat exchangers. To prevent costly water damage and respond immediately to unforeseen leaks, the company needed to implement a solution for continuous, 24/7 flood detection. Additionally, they needed to protect the factory’s assets and machinery, gaining data on whether and when the factory was entered, and improve their security.

Solution

SCHOTT implemented LoRaWAN® monitoring solutions across both its production facilities and offices to enhance the protection of the factory building and its high-value machinery. The deployment included 16 MClimate Flood Sensors installed around water-cooled heat exchangers, followed a year later by 15 MClimate Open/Close Sensors positioned throughout the factory and offices.

The Flood Sensors were introduced to provide proactive protection against water leaks. Each device is equipped with three detection pins, and when all come into contact with water, an immediate notification is sent to the connected BMS or IoT platform, while an integrated buzzer is also activated locally. Management teams receive instant email, SMS, or push alerts and can take actions to prevent expensive damage to the property. Designed for multiple uses, the sensors feature a sealed casing that prevents water from damaging the device. An integrated anti-tamper button further improves the sensor's own security by sending an uplink notification if interference is detected.

The Open/Close Sensors were installed at key entry points and garage doors to strengthen the site’s security. Using a magnetic reed switch, they detect door movement in real time and report each open/close event directly to the platform, providing clear data on when and where someone entered. The devices include an LED status indicator, a configurable button for sending uplinks, and it counts all the logs of the detected events. In addition, a built-in temperature sensor measures ambient conditions, helping with indoor climate optimization.

Both devices operate on LoRaWAN ultra-low-power technology, delivering a battery life of up to 10 years depending on SF configuration. They also support FUOTA (Firmware Update Over the Air), enabling remote updates without physical intervention.

Together, this integrated MClimate solution allows SCHOTT to closely monitor critical infrastructure, keep its facilities safe from water damage, and improve overall site security.

Results

Prevent Flood
Damage  

with Immediate Flood Detection  

Detect open
doors

and improve security

FUOTA  

Firmware Updates Over the Air

Up to 10 years

of battery life

Gallery

Products in this case study

MClimate Flood Sensor LoRaWAN®

The MClimate Flood Sensor is a discreet device designed to quickly detect floods as they happen and within seconds sends notifications to your system as well as activates an audible alarm on the spot. Featuring a temperature sensor, an LED, and a Buzzer, the device enables you to immediately respond when a flood occurs. Utilizing the LoRaWAN protocol, the Flood Sensor has the longest-lasting battery life on the market, going up to 10 years. Working seamlessly with the MClimate T-Valve LoRaWAN®, it prevents potential damage to your buildings and spares you costly repairs.

MClimate Open/Close Sensor LoRaWAN®

MClimate Open/Close Sensor LoRaWAN® is a small device that immediately detects the event of opening or closing windows, doors, cabinets, and more through a magnetic reed switch to report and trigger automation. It features an LED light that signals the status of the devices and a button that triggers an uplink. The device sends an uplink for every event of opening and closing and keeps an internal counter of the total number of events. It is equipped with a temperature sensor for accurately measuring the indoor climate and has ultra-low power consumption, reaching a battery life of up to 10 years. It operates in LoRaWAN Class A and, like all other MClimate devices, supports FUOTA (Firmware Upgrades Over The Air).

Recommended products

Combine Flood Sensor LoRaWAN® with the MClimate T-Valve LoRaWAN®

During a flood event, fast action is crucial to minimize damages and allow for timely investigation and resolution. The MClimate Flood Sensor LoRaWAN® monitors 24/7 and detects floods within seconds, providing notifications and acoustic alerts. When combined with the MClimate T-Valve, a device that enables remote shutdown of water flow in the pipes, your property is completely protected from distance. Utilizing both devices provides comprehensive monitoring and control, empowering you to take action immediately without the need for manual interference.

Combine the Open/Close Sensor LoRaWAN® with Vicki LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostat®

Ensure your building doesn’t waste energy when doors or windows are open by keeping the heating on. By combining the Vicki LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostat with the MClimate Open/Close Sensor LoRaWAN®, you can temporarily turn off the heating remotely when the event of opening a window or a door is detected. Utilizing these devices together improves the overall energy efficiency of your building.