Partner Spotlight: MSI TEC on the Engineering Behind the R3Di® System

Eight years ago, e2 needed help with an emissions monitoring product it was trying to scale, and MSI TEC’s engineers eagerly took on the challenge.

Today, MSI TEC is celebrating its 25th year in business and builds the control panel inside every R3Di® System.

MSI TEC designs and builds automation and control systems, robotics, and networking systems for a wide range of industries.

They work primarily with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and are instrumental in machinery that does everything from atmospheric monitoring for rockets to polishing and slicing the semiconductor wafers that power data centers.

Their team of engineering consultants solves complex challenges and helps manufacturers go to market faster by selecting components and handling programming and assembly.

We recently sat down with Mike Barrett, Vice President of MSI TEC, to talk about how his team supports the R3Di® System and where both companies go from here.

A Natural Partner and Product Fit

After their initial success working together on a continuous particulate monitoring system, the e2 team called on MSI TEC to help build its R3Di® System.

The system combines a prime-rated natural gas generator and energy storage system in a self-contained, modular unit. It’s capable of smoothing out power quality issues and instantly picking up load during a utility outage.

It can also run independently to help companies reduce consumption and take advantage of utility incentive programs.

While MSI manufacturing partner Moxa builds the hardware for the R3Di, the MSI TEC team assembles the control panel, including an industrial computer, networking equipment, and programmable controller.

This is a significant time-savings for the e2 team, which would otherwise need to manage an entirely separate ordering and production process for a single component in an already complex system.

MSI TEC orders all the materials, wires them together, and assembles and tests the panels, drawing on decades of work with other energy customers in its approach .

"The LEGO blocks of what we use are usually all very similar," Barrett said. "It's just a matter of putting them together in the right way for the right application."

With MSI TEC focusing on the control hardware, the e2 team can manage other partnerships that make components of the R3Di, including working with Nuvation on the battery management system and Keyfive on the R3Di System’s energy management software, Grove365^Ⓡ.

Each company focuses on what it does best, giving customers a faster, more reliable deployment when they need on-site power to address persistent energy challenges or to make their existing renewable sources more reliable.

Assembling a similar system themselves would require sourcing more than 20 components and the design and engineering expertise to connect them. They would also need to work directly with public utilities to secure an interconnection agreement, a process that can take years.

Because the R3Di System already provides utility-grade power and meets compliance standards, including ETL-certified to UL 9540, the industry standard for energy storage systems and equipment, deployment can happen in months instead of years.

Expanding Its Capabilities and Commitment to Quality

Ongoing compliance and certifications are also essential for MSI Tec.

The company recently achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, an international standard for quality management systems. This reflects the work they’ve put into developing documented processes, quality control, and continuous improvement with measurable performance metrics. The company has also enhanced its ERP and MRP systems and added more strategic clients, which has helped with growth. Strategic partners like Moxa have been key to managing supply chain challenges.

Based in Centennial, Colo., with offices in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Utah, they’re currently hiring roles in engineering, quality control, and sales.

Enhancing industrial cybersecurity is also an important focus as they continue to grow.

This includes using secure routers built with strong firewalls and virtual private network (VPN) capabilities, making them ideal for remote monitoring.

What’s Next?

Ask Barrett why the partnership has lasted, and he points to the people at both companies.

MSI TEC works directly with e2Companies’ top executives, including co-owner and CEO James Richmond, VP of Service Chad Risinger, and VP of Product Development Scott Gall.

When a design question or a schedule change comes up, the right people on both sides already know each other.

"We have close ties at all of the different levels in the organization," Barrett said. "They're very open to our style of working. We mesh; I think we communicate well together."

He also credits e2 for continuing to innovate, evolving their mission and offerings from a focus on compliance and emissions monitoring to solving some of today’s biggest power challenges for companies like data centers and manufacturers.

As demand for on-site power continues to grow, e2's partnership with Hitachi Energy extends the R3Di® System's reach into hyperscale data center markets worldwide. MSI TEC’s job is to make sure control panel production scales right alongside it.

"We’re excited to continue to build on the existing R3Di®, helping bring those to market, and scaling production," Barrett said.

To learn what the R3Di® System can do for your facility, schedule a consultation with our team.