Eager to take up the challenge, the specialists from Rittal set about developing prototypes for a model that would be perfectly tuned to the extreme degree of precision required by the laboratory conditions. The experts in Campinas then compared the prototypes built by Rittal against alternatives from two Brazilian suppliers. The Rittal products came out on top. 

Besides the effective air circulation in the enclosures, Citadini also appreciates how easy the enclosure system is to assemble. The punched sections, for example, speed up the interior fit-out at the German manufacturer’s end as, instead of being awkwardly screw-fastened, they click into place in a practical arrangement. “When you’ve got around 200 enclosures with countless electronic parts, that saves you a great deal of time,” he says. The result of the joint development work is a collection of six different models with a consistent visual design. Rittal technicians built a prototype for each of these models in Campinas. In total, the laboratory uses around 200 large enclosures in the particle accelerator, with another 40 already in use in one of its two data centres. 

In future, up to 40 research stations for scientists from the world over will be set up at the Sirius facility. Every single one of them will require another eight to ten enclosures. “We expect demand to remain consistently high,” says Citadini, “and since we’re only using enclosures from Rittal, we’re above all benefiting from excellent quality.”

Project Sirius has been his life for years. “I must walk 20 kilometres up and down these halls every day! At the start, I oversaw the magnet group and now I’m coordinating the entire installation. I practically live here,” he says with a grin. “We celebrate every achievement. In March, we had an electron beam circulate here that was 50 times thinner than a strand of hair – that in itself is a great success.” Rittal products will also be needed in the future. Soon, Citadini plans to get together with a few members of his team to think about upgrades for Sirius. After all, although the world’s most advanced particle accelerator is only expected to be fully operational in 2020, the goal is to retain its world title for as long as possible.