NTS

The differences between power grids and networks are getting smaller and smaller. Thereby

ENERGIE STEIERMARK (“power grid Styria”) is and remains the connecting link.

Words by:

Michael Samec

Photo by:

Energie Steiermark/Christian Jungwirth

They both do something very similar –

yet they need the respective other.

Whilst NTS makes sure that data

flows through networks, Energie Steier-

mark ensures that energy flows to

the customer via their electricity, gas

and district heating networks. No data

flow without electricity, no energy

flow without a data stream. They are

the forth-largest energy and service

provider in Austria and have sufficient

amounts to offer: five petabyte (this is a 5

with 15 zeros) per year flows through the

networks serviced by NTS.

“NTS supports us in the area of various

data networks in the group as well

as storage solutions – from the design

and the development to the operation”,

explains CEO Christian Purrer. Execu

tive Director Martin Graf emphasizes

that this is not always an easy feat:

“NTS provides essential contributions

that have to meet our requirements

of being an operator of critical infra-

structure as well as a modern service

provider.”

NERVE CENTER

Raaba-Grambach is an international hub! Does it sound

strange? But it’s a fact! Time to visit the NTS headquarter.

Words by:

Michael Samec

Photo by:

Marija Kanizaj, beigestellt

The level of automation that already

existswould not be possiblewithout a re-

liable networking of the systems, stres-

ses Purrer. Failures in the data network

would affect the operation of the energy

networks immediately, which in turn

could have major implications on the po-

pulation. At least under certain circum-

stances – and these need to be prevented!

“That’s exactlywhy internal aswell as ex-

ternal professionals are needed in order

to ensure a failure free energy supply in

the future as well”, states Purrer.

Energie Steiermark as well as NTS con-

centrate on something that ordinary

consumers only know from hearsay, as

the consumers will only come into

contact with it in the next couple of

years. This is the introduction and the

networking of smart meters – the intelli-

gent electric power meters as well as the

management of the smart grids – the

intelligent electricity networks. Here,

electricity and data flow lead into

each other completely.

It sounds like the humming in a beehive

– uniform and quiet, but still busy

murmur fills the room. It is Monday 8:26

AM and we are visiting the NTS head-

quarters. Most of the 120 employees at

this location have gathered already.

With a coffee mug or a water bottle in

hand and some ideas in their heads. This

meeting must be attended. In four mi-

nutes it will start, the weekly global NTS

meeting. The employees of all locations

are all getting together as well and the

locations are connected live with picture

and sound. The conference room as a

showroom for the collaboration sector.

Raaba-Grambach is the nerve center of

the company. By spotting the Schloss-

berg (“Castle Mountain”) through the

window, one can recognize Graz, the

capital city of the Austrian province

of Styria. “Here, we can expand how

we require it”, is the answer of the NTS

Board members

Hermann Koller

and

Alexander Albler

to the question

“Why exactlyhere?”. “Representative of-

fices in the city center that look

stunning, but are expensive and imprac-

tical, are of no value to us. Youwill expe-

rience just now that we are the center

of the world!”

The location is perfect: the technology

park Grambach is technically up-to-

date, which enables NTS to fulfill from

there all offered services without any is-

sues. “The closeness to the freeway as

well as the airport that is a 5 minute

drive offer tremendous advantages for

frequent travelers such as the NTS em-

ployees”, whispers

Harald Reicher

, his

last sentence.

Because it is 08:30 AM. The meeting just

started on time as always. Agenda point

one: news from Santa Monica.

A network for the

power network

facts

Forth-largest energy and

service provider in Austria

1,700 employees in 29

locations

600,000 customers

1,000 servers,

1,850 office clients

13 terabytes of daily

data usage

» THE LEVEL OF AUTOMATION

THAT ALREADY EXISTS WOULD

NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT

RELIABLE NETWORKING OF

THE SYSTEMS. «

Christian Purrer (left), CEO

» NTS MEETS OUR REQUIRE‑

MENTS OF BEING AN OPER-

ATOR OF CRITICAL INFRA

STRUCTURE AS WELL AS A

MODERN SERVICE PROVIDER. «

Martin Graf (right), Executive Director

2 minutes to the freeway,

5 minutes to the airport,

10 into the old city center

of Graz – connected

perfectly:

Raaba-

Grambach

graz

fun facts

PROFILE

CUSTOMER STORY

SITE

REPORT

Thanks to video conferencing with

other NTS locations, everyone in

Austria falls in line.

Fresh

Location Manager Harald

Reicher is on site since 2017.

WHEN ARE NTS GRAZ EMPLOYEES EN-

JOYING THEIR BARBECUE?

24/7, THE

ENTIRE YEAR. AT NTS, THE GRILL NOT

ONLY SIZZLES DURING THE SUMMER

HEAT, BUT ALSO AT TEMPERATURES

BELOW FREEZING. 300 CEVAPCICI

(PIECES OF MINCED MEAT) ARE PREPA-

RED OUR WAY AND EATEN – IN ANY

WEATHER.

120

Employees network

from here.

190

Customers. Amongst them

Energie Steiermark, Magna,

Sappi, Samsung SDI,

Barmherzige Brüder, Wifi,

AVL, Anton Paar.