Case Study: Integrated Phone PA System for Industrial Plant Communications

Background & Challenges

In modern industrial plants, multiple communication systems often exist separately:

• Intercom system for internal voice calls

• EPABX / PABX (PBX) system with external trunk line access

• Public Address (PA) system / Paging & loudspeakers for announcements

• Security, Fire Alarm, Access Control, etc.

Operating them independently leads to:

• Limited use of PA (only certain zones, no remote paging)

• Multiple hardware and maintenance costs

• Inflexible expansion / reconfiguration

• Redundant user terminals and complex workflows

✅ Solution Goals for Phone PA system

Design and deploy an integrated communication system with a phone PA system capability, so that:

1. Any EPABX/PABX telephone user can make announcements over loudspeakers.

2. Announcements can be made in one zone, selected zones, or all zones.

3. The system supports intercom between buildings/offices + outside trunk line access.

4. Architecture is scalable, flexible, maintainable, and future-proof.

🔧 System Design & Features

The solution deployed at the plant included both server-side and endpoint equipment to ensure reliability, expandability, and rugged operation:

• P560 SIP Intercom Server (100 Users)– Core system server providing SIP-based intercom, PBX functionality, and integration with PA.– Manages user extensions, paging groups, and external trunk line access.

• LC101-AD-H-FB-S IP67 Outdoor Hotline Phone with Broadcast– Rugged IP67 outdoor hotline phone with built-in broadcast capability.– Enables direct hotline calling and announcements in harsh environments.

• LC101-AD-S IP67 Auto-Dial Hotline Outdoor Telephone– Auto-dial hotline phone for critical communication points.– Designed for industrial environments requiring fast, reliable connections.

System Capabilities:

• Integrated architecture combining Intercom, EPABX/PBX, Hotline, and PA/Paging

• Zone-based paging (single zone, multiple zones, or all zones)

• Multiple control desks for operators across the plant

• Point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and master/slave configurations

• Transparent networking over digital PCM/TDM or SIP/IP infrastructure

• Interfaces with trunk lines, radio, and data networks

• Rugged outdoor endpoints (IP67) for high-reliability operation in industrial environments

🔍 Implementation Steps

1. Needs Assessment

2. System Design (server + endpoints + PA zones)

3. Hardware Integration (P560 server + LC101 outdoor hotline phones + loudspeakers)

4. Configuration & Testing (zones, paging groups, redundancy)

5. Training & Maintenance Plan

💡 Results & Benefits

• Unified workflow: Telephones can directly make PA announcements.

• Scalable: SIP-based architecture supports expansion beyond 100 users.

• Reliable & rugged: Outdoor hotline phones (IP67) ensure uptime in demanding environments.

• Cost-efficient: Reduced maintenance, minimized hardware duplication.

• Safe: Clear PA coverage during emergencies.

❓ FAQs for IT Specialists & Designers

• How many zones can the phone PA system support? Scalable to dozens of zones via SIP groups and amplifier integration.

• Can the outdoor hotline phones survive harsh conditions? Yes, LC101 models are IP67-rated and designed for industrial plants.

• Does the P560 support external integrations? Yes, including trunk lines, radio networks, and data interfaces.

• Can announcements be made from standard telephones? Yes, any PBX/SIP extension with the right access can page through the PA.

🔑 Conclusion

This integrated phone PA system—powered by the P560 SIP Intercom Server and LC101 IP67 hotline phones—delivers reliable, scalable, and future-ready communication for industrial plants. IT specialists and system designers can rely on this solution to unify intercom, PBX, hotline, and PA under a single architecture that is rugged, expandable, and efficient.