Sterling Event Group is a leading UK provider of technical production, events, and creative technology.
Client Overview
Sterling had acquired a brand-new warehouse facility close to Manchester Airport. The building was a “greenfield” space: there was nothing installed, no network, no cabling, no WiFi. It was a completely blank slate, and Sterling needed the infrastructure to support their core operations (rigging, lighting, stage preparation, and equipment staging) and to adapt to the dynamic demands of event production, think a full warehouse of stage equipment one day and large empty spaces when the equipment is out in use.
Key Challenges
Highly dynamic internal environment.
Unlike a standard warehouse with fixed racking, this space hosts stage rigs, lighting trusses, temporary set structures, and has frequently changing layouts. That meant APs might be blocked or obscured depending on where staging gets placed, or traffic flows might shift unpredictably.
Unpredictable obstruction and high-density zones.
At times, large lighting or scenic elements might sit directly in front of wireless access points, or a crowd of crew/engineers could congregate, placing bursts of load on sections of the network.
Strong performance across the facility.
The warehouse WiFi had to deliver robust coverage across high ceilings, open truss spaces, and multiple floors or mezzanines, even when the line of sight is partially obstructed.
Scalability & manageability.
As operations scale, the network must remain easy to manage, monitor, and adapt without wholesale rework.
Sterling required a partner who could deliver not just design, but full delivery, management, and assurance of performance.
Solution & Approach
Performance Networks took a holistic, resilient approach to meet these challenges:
Network backbone & fibre ring design
We designed and installed a fibre loop (ring) topology throughout the facility. This provides resilient routing: if one fibre link is cut or fails, traffic can automatically reroute through alternate paths, ensuring that no part of the site becomes isolated.
In addition, we implemented robust cable management (in designated comms rooms/cabs), suitable for high-demand environments.
Access infrastructure: FortiGate firewalls + Ruckus APs and switches
For network security, segmentation, and traffic control, we deployed FortiGate firewalls, enabling layered policy enforcement and segmentation between staff, guests, production systems, and IoT traffic.
Wireless coverage was established using Ruckus access points, selected for their exceptional performance in challenging and dynamic environments.
Network switching was carefully designed to provide PoE, redundancy and uplink aggregation, all under complete management.
Adaptive design for a shifting environment
We used predictive modelling and real-world validation to simulate potential worst-case obstructions and ensure adequate coverage margins. Channels, power levels, and antenna orientation were optimised to reduce interference and saturation, with careful planning to accommodate dense device populations (e.g., staff tablets, control systems, crew devices).
Managed Service & Monitoring
We now provide a fully managed service, taking complete responsibility for the ongoing performance and reliability of Sterling’s network. This included monitoring of health, access point load, signal strength, and client behaviour to ensure consistent connectivity across the warehouse. The team deliver proactive maintenance, carrying out tasks such as firmware updates and configuration adjustments to keep the system optimised. Dedicated support and incident response ensure that any issues are quickly resolved.
Results & Benefits
The deployment delivered a number of key outcomes for Sterling. With a fibre loop and resilient routing in place, the network maintains connectivity even if a link is disrupted. Coverage remains strong throughout the warehouse, with wireless performance staying consistent even in challenging staging setups where large sets or lighting rigs might block the line of sight, a result of planning and adaptive design. The system also performs reliably during periods of intense activity, supporting high device density with minimal dropouts.
Conclusion
For a technically demanding and flexible environment like a production warehouse, a “standard warehouse WiFi” approach won’t always work. You need adaptability, smart design, and a partner who can operate at the same pace that systems and staging evolve.
If you have a space with shifting layouts, high device density, or mission-critical connectivity requirements. We’d be glad to walk you through your options and explore how similar principles could work for your facility.
