TransAlta deploys Ricoh video system at Perth office

TransAlta has deployed a new videoconferencing system from Ricoh at its Perth office to connect staff in Western Australia with colleagues in other regions.

The project replaces a single videoconferencing unit previously housed in the Perth office kitchen. That arrangement no longer suited a growing team or a heavier schedule of larger meetings, including town halls linking staff across three continents and day-to-day discussions between sites in Western Australia.

After reviewing the office layout and space constraints, Ricoh designed a mobile system built around a purpose-made trolley rather than a conventional fixed-room installation.

The trolley carries two 65-inch Yealink digital meeting boards, one for the presenter and the other for content. The system also includes a wall-mounted Yealink UVC86 camera that tracks presenters, wireless microphones, and Microsoft Teams integration.

TransAlta operates as a power generator in Canada and the United States and supplies electricity to mining and industrial operations in Western Australia. In Perth, reliable video links have become an important part of internal communication because staff work across dispersed facilities and remote operational sites.

The Perth deployment also reflects a broader shift in how industrial and energy companies manage communication between offices, field locations, and overseas teams. Video meetings that once served as a secondary channel are now used for operational discussions, town halls, and exchanges with customers and partners.

Gehan De Silva, IT Infrastructure Specialist at TransAlta, outlined the limits of the previous setup in Perth.

"We had been using a small video conferencing unit in our company kitchen in Perth," De Silva said.

"However, we were finding this was no longer able to provide the level of support and performance that we required. A decision was taken to find a more scalable, better performing alternative," he added.

Ricoh had already worked with TransAlta on print infrastructure, which led the energy group to review the supplier's broader workplace technology services. The new installation is now being used for meetings with employees, customers, and partners.

Mobility focus

The choice of a mobile trolley rather than wall-mounted screens was driven by the physical limits of the office. It allows the equipment to be moved and used for different kinds of gatherings at the Perth site instead of being fixed to a single meeting-room layout.

TransAlta said the setup can support meetings of up to 50 participants in the office while also allowing remote staff to join virtually. When not in use for meetings or town halls, the two 65-inch screens can also serve as internal digital signage.

De Silva said the new equipment had changed the experience of larger meetings.

"The Yealink equipment has been a game changer for us when it comes to holding town halls and video conferences," he said.

"The screens are very clear, and the remote camera and microphones have significantly improved the experience for participants in other locations," De Silva added.

Travel impact

TransAlta also linked the Perth deployment to a reduction in travel between offices. Fewer in-person trips could help lower emissions, an issue that has become more prominent for large industrial operators seeking to reduce operational travel where remote communication can substitute for flights.

That point also aligns with the company's stated approach to supplier selection. TransAlta said it places weight on sustainability when choosing technology partners and viewed Ricoh as aligned with that approach.

De Silva said the platform had also become easier for staff to use because it is based on Microsoft Teams, a system already familiar to many office workers.

"Our meeting capabilities have been significantly improved as a result of the new Ricoh solution. Staff find the equipment intuitive to use and remote participants report a more immersive experience. Being based on the Microsoft Teams interface, the solution allows meetings to be easily scaled as staff numbers increase," he said.

The relationship between the two companies extends beyond the current installation, according to TransAlta.

"Ricoh has long championed its renewable strategies and activities and so we are pleased to have them as a key technology provider," De Silva said.

"We look forward to continuing to work with them as our operations grow in the future," he added.