Case Study: Bespoke CCTV and Remote Monitoring for a UK Sheet-Metal Manufacturer
CASE STUDY · BESPOKE CCTV & REMOTE MONITORING
24/7 remote visibility of automated production across multiple industrial units.
A long-established UK sheet-metal and machining business needed a single, scalable CCTV solution that could give remote 24/7 visibility of automated machinery across several industrial units. We designed, installed and later extended the system, including a COVID-era thermal camera.
Sector: Manufacturing (sheet metal & machining) · Founded: 1979 · Scope: Multi-unit industrial site
UKAS ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certified · Microsoft Solutions Partner · Certified 3CX Partner · RIPE NCC Member · 20 Years Supporting UK SMEs
Reviewed by Jez Walton, Managing Director, System Force IT · Published 2026-05-18
The client
A UK sheet-metal and machining business, established in the late 1970s, supplying clients across multiple industries. The business operates from a multi-unit industrial site and was experiencing growing demand that required new automated machinery to run 24/7.
The issue
The shift to 24/7 automated production created a requirement that traditional shift cover could not economically meet: continuous visibility of unattended machinery to confirm it was running correctly, with the ability to respond to issues before they became scrap or downtime.
The site presented additional design constraints:
- Multiple industrial units on the same site, requiring a unified rather than fragmented system.
- A live, working environment in which installation had to happen with minimal disruption to production.
- An obvious requirement for the system to be expanded as the business grew, without rip-and-replace cost.
When machinery runs 24/7 and staff don’t, the surveillance system becomes the night shift.
The solution
A bespoke CCTV system designed for unified management across all units, with remote access from laptop, tablet or mobile. The architecture was deliberately expandable so that adding cameras or covering new areas would be incremental, not a redesign.
Technical detail
- Cameras: high-quality units with clear picture quality and a powerful optical zoom suitable for monitoring machine status and operator activity at distance.
- Access: remote 24/7 viewing from laptop, tablet or mobile, with appropriate access controls.
- Coverage: single system spanning multiple industrial units on the same site.
- Expansion: architecture designed to accept additional cameras without redesign.
- COVID-era extension: a thermal camera was added to the system to monitor entry temperatures of staff and visitors during COVID-19, helping the business stay operational and safer through that period.
Outcome
Reduced shift cover
The CCTV system absorbed work previously needing on-shift human presence, reducing operating cost.
Production on schedule
Faster awareness of issues meant less downtime and fewer scrap runs.
Peace of mind
Security and operational visibility delivered by the same system; directors can check in from anywhere.
Rapid COVID adaptation
Thermal camera added quickly into the existing platform when needed, with no rebuild.
Scoping CCTV for production or a multi-unit site?
We design and install CCTV systems that fit the way you actually work: 24/7 production, multi-unit sites, mixed access requirements, and the ability to expand without rip and replace. Tell us your site and your operating pattern; we’ll come back with a scoped proposal.
Or call us directly: 01452 701355 · Business enquiries only · Response within one working day · No obligation.
Related: Business CCTV Systems · Cyber & Physical Security · IT Support for Manufacturing · IT Engineering Services.