GWMAN - you kid, I am sure, but really, how many tapes do they have to process (meaning extract data)? They give tapes in tonnage, but then say they have 18 machines and it takes 15 minutes for each tape, and each tape weighs 2kg.
50 tons = 100,000 pounds
1kg = 2.2 pounds
each tape = 4.4 pounds
100,000/4.4 = 22,727
22,727 tapes/18 machines = 1,262 tapes per machine
1,262 per machine/4 tapes per hour = 315 hours
divide by a normal 40-hour work week and it will take roughly 8 weeks to run all the tapes.
disclaimer: please check these numbers as I am severely mathematically challenged.
is this a viable long term business...not sure.
btw, I try to use the scientific method - that is, try to poke as many holes as possible and see if the structure still stands.