IHI Corporation

Keeping power plants at peak operating efficiency, anywhere in the world

IHI Corporation is a world-leading provider of heavy-industry equipment, from aerospace systems to industrial machinery. Its power generation business supports the entire lifecycle of gas turbine power plants, ensuring efficiency and reliability from installation through decades of operation.

Because these facilities are often located in remote areas, IHI has been innovating in monitoring and support for decades. Its first remote monitoring system, launched in 1995, relied on secure, proprietary wireline connections to deliver one-way diagnostic data. These links provided a constant flow of information to IHI engineers for real-time turbine analysis and preventive maintenance.

As gas turbine installations expanded worldwide, IHI continued developing ways to enhance its remote monitoring services and meet the growing need for secure, responsive maintenance solutions.

The Connectivity Challenge: Ensuring a secure, two-way connection between IHI and customer systems

While remote monitoring could detect issues, on-site adjustments were still required when maintenance alerts were triggered. Sending teams of engineers to distant facilities introduced delays and raised costs, especially for sites in hard-to-reach locations.

To increase responsiveness and improve customer support, IHI wanted the ability to make secure, real-time adjustments remotely. Yet power plants represent critical infrastructure, and opening a pathway for external access over the public internet was considered too risky.

The challenge was clear: IHI needed a secure, reliable, and cost-efficient way to enable two-way connectivity with customer systems without exposing sensitive data or systems to external threats.

Solution: A secure, global wireless data channel

IHI turned to Soracom to create a connectivity solution that balanced flexibility and security. Using Soracom Air, gateways at each power plant can connect directly to IHI headquarters in Toyosu, Japan, regardless of where the facility is located.

When monitoring systems flag a maintenance requirement, IHI uses Soracom Gate to establish a secure, private networking channel between headquarters and the customer site. This on-demand connection enables real-time remote adjustments to turbine equipment, bypassing the public internet and minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.

Because adjustments are needed only occasionally, Soracom’s pay-as-you-go model proved to be a perfect fit. It eliminated the expense of full-time data connections while giving IHI the flexibility to spin up secure sessions only when necessary. With Soracom’s global SIMs, IHI also avoids negotiating local connectivity contracts, ensuring consistent service worldwide.

Why Soracom: Secure, centrally managed remote maintenance for facilities around the world

By integrating Soracom Air and Soracom Gate, IHI achieved a remote management solution that enhances customer satisfaction and lowers operating costs. Power plants can now remain at peak efficiency with minimal downtime, even in challenging or remote environments.

An in-house software application built on the Soracom API allows IHI engineers to make secure adjustments without requiring advanced technical knowledge. Routine fixes can be handled remotely, and urgent issues can be addressed immediately, even while teams are traveling to the site. This flexibility has reduced unnecessary site visits, accelerated response times, and improved plant reliability.

For IHI’s customers, the benefits are clear: enhanced performance, lower maintenance costs, and the assurance of secure, professional oversight at all times.

Future Plans: Operational support for global customers

Looking ahead, IHI plans to continue expanding its portfolio of gas turbine power plants worldwide, particularly in emerging markets. With installations increasingly located in remote or hard-to-reach regions, the ability to remotely monitor and manage facilities will be central to delivering long-term customer value.

IHI will continue to strengthen its service offerings across the full power plant lifecycle. Remote maintenance will increasingly complement real-time diagnostics, providing a seamless support system that helps customers maximize performance while minimizing operational risks.

With Soracom’s global connectivity and secure networking, IHI is well positioned to keep delivering advanced support services wherever its customers need them most.