There are plenty of stories about information technology solutions involving large enterprises. But what about a small chemical plant with pumps, tubes, pipes and data all under the control of one lone contract IT specialist?

This was the situation for Texmark Chemicals Inc., a specialty chemical manufacturer located on the outskirts of Houston, Texas. It needed a new control system for the plant, and when Texmark chief executive officer Doug Smith (pictured, right) heard about a demonstration of a systems-integrated manufacturing facility at last year’s Discover event, he got interested. But he didn’t want complexity or a system that would burden his small operation and a staff of 53 employees.

“I have to explain what we’re doing to my 81-year-old mother,” Smith said.

Smith shared his experience with Dave Vellante (@dvellante), host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE’s mobile live-streaming studio, during HPE Discover in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was joined by JR Fuller (pictured, left), global business development manager for IoT Edgeline at Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. They discussed how HPE and Texmark are working together on a shared vision of advanced refinery control systems and the technology behind it. (*Disclosure below.)

When Fuller met with Smith last year, the HPE executive heard what Texmark needed and then proposed that they collaborate on building a refinery of the future. “I don’t know what it is, but I love it,” was Smith’s reaction.

Vision involves Wi-Fi, mobile apps and beacons

Fuller’s vision was to install control systems that could gather data, perform analytics and connect the entire facility through a wireless network. This involved installing an Aruba (a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company) Wi-Fi network with a Meridian mobile app platform and beacons to gather data. The entire network was driven by two HPE Edgeline Converged Edge Systems.

With the shared goal to build the refinery of the future, Fuller worked to create a partnership with the chemical company. “It’s totally about people,” he said. “You have the mutual goal of how to solve this problem together.”

HPE is now engaged with Texmark to implement a series of Internet of Things-related projects. These include integrating sensor capability with video and connecting workers through location-based augmented reality.

“We’re swimming toward profitability in the chemical business. HPE is swimming in the lane of technology. And we’re both working together on this voyage of discovery,” Smith concluded.

Watch the complete interview below and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s independent editorial coverage of HPE Discover US 2017. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for HPE Discover US 2017. Neither Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. nor other sponsors have editorial control on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE