Product category:
Enterprise Resource Planning software (ERP)
News Release from: LAN 2 LAN | Subject: IT services
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 November 2006
Complete IT support services
LAN 2 LAN provides the complete spectrum of IT services and support for SPP
SPP Pumps has been manufacturing and supplying pumps and associated equipment for over 100 years The company has grown to become a recognised world leader in the design and production of centrifugal pumps and fluid handling systems for a variety of applications across a wide range of industries
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Nov 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Product applications include: fire protection and fire fighting; water supply, circulation and distribution; HVAC; dewatering, drainage and irrigation.
The Challenge was to remain competitive and SPP Pumps recognised that they would have to modernise their out-dated IT and telecoms infrastructure.
Historically, the leading pump manufacturer has been an IBM house running AS400 Servers and IBM PCs.
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Initially, the company considered upgrading its IBM Lotus Domino infrastructure from the unsupported 4.x to the newer 6.5.x.
However, the requirement has grown steadily from a single system installation, to the provision of strategic IT support and consultancy to modernise the entire IT infrastructure for its UK and Dubai offices and manufacturing facilities.
The relationship between SPP Pumps and LAN 2 LAN has developed into a long-term, trusted business relationship.
LAN 2 LAN was chosen to assist with the entire IT upgrade at SPP's Theale administration offices and Coleford manufacturing plant.
As a leading, independent networking specialist, LAN 2 LAN endeavours to understand business objectives and offers impartial advice about the best available solutions and hardware.
Over the past 5 years, LAN 2 LAN has helped SPP to upgrade its entire IT infrastructure.
This includes CAT5e, CAT6 and Fibre cabling infrastructure; switch and routing integration; IBM Domino upgrade and database development; Microsoft AD design; Security solutions (IPS); and a new Voice over IP solution for UK and Dubai locations.
The initial focus was to modernise SPP Pumps' IT infrastructure at its Theale office - from an old NetWare system to a new Windows-based environment.
This included the configuration and integration of new Hewlett Packard servers, IBM desktop computers and a new Cisco switching environment.
"During the pre-project stage, LAN 2 LAN helped us liaise with our third-party ISPs and vendors for security and firewall solutions, and to address connectivity issues".
"This saved us huge amounts of time as once LAN 2 LAN understood our business objectives, they researched the market for us," states Damian Hudson, IT Manager at SPP Pumps.
The next phase was to upgrade the SPP Pumps' IT systems at its manufacturing site at Coleford.
LAN 2 LAN sourced the whole project - including new UTP/Fibre cabling, file servers, PCs and VoIP system.
The partners discussed initial and future business objectives.
Key criteria included upgrading existing PCs and File Servers; replacing Type 1 cabling and switching to a new infrastructure that allowed resilience and bandwidth for up to 10 years.
A new Cat5e solution was installed throughout the main offices, as well as the plant area in the warehouse.
This extensive working area is filled with cranes and machinery limiting cable routes and causing potential EMI disturbance.
Satellite cabinet locations were supported using new and legacy fibre optics, whilst Cat5e cables were routed to avoid moving parts and motors.
To guarantee performance, shielded cable and coupled bonding conductors were included as a part of the system.
Starting in December 2005, cabling integration was conducted extremely quickly, and professionally, mostly over the weekends.
"We're a manufacturing company, so we could not allow the shop floor to be disturbed".
"The whole process took only four weeks and was finished by the end of January".
"The new servers and phone system were then installed by April, a three-month project in total - within time-scales and under budget," says Damian Hudson.
As part of the upgrade, SPP migrated its telephony to a resilient Voice over IP telephone system".
""LAN 2 LAN brought in a specialist telecom partner from the VoIP sector".
"We then discussed what we wanted from the new system including cost reduction and the ability to future-proof the technology, as our systems were old".
"Critically, VoIP gives us free calls between sites which is a major cost-saving," adds Damian Hudson.
To ensure optimum network security, LAN 2 LAN recommended TippingPoint Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) be installed to protect VoIP and other networking infrastructure.
The IPS unit provides fast, accurate, reliable protection from internal and external attacks.
It protects VoIP infrastructure, routers, switches, DNS and other critical systems from targeted attacks and traffic anomalies.
It also provides protection against security breaches that are exploited immediately after discovery (known as Zero Day Initiative).
LAN 2 LAN has helped SPP Pumps to improve its communication with its suppliers and customers.
The IT specialist's expertise in the mobile computing space has enabled SPP's management team to be better connected by utilising BlackBerry handheld devices.
LAN 2 LAN has also been invaluable assisting SPP Pumps with development of business critical applications in IBM Lotus Domino and JAVA, which will allow better business processes".
""We wanted a single IT supplier with all the necessary expertise under one roof".
"The partnership with LAN 2 LAN has grown over a number of years now".
"Everyone at LAN 2 LAN is professional and knowledgeable".
"We find they are an extremely relaxed company and easy to get on with".
"Having worked with them for a long-time, they all know our business really well," states Damian Hudson.
SPP Pumps has now modernised its entire IT infrastructure across its UK and international sites.
Utilising LAN 2 LAN's expertise, the company has been able to upgrade and standardise its systems.
The entire cabling integration at its manufacturing facility was completed in only four weeks and took place over weekends to minimise disruption.
The single IT infrastructure across all locations allows SPP Pumps IT support staff better management and quality of services to their users.
Business processes have improved with better servers, PC's, faster cabling and a high quality Voice over IP telephone system.
With more robust, uniform systems, on-going IT support and maintenance costs have been significantly reduced.
Managing the IT infrastructure is now less than one day per week for six sites.
Communication with customers has been improved by the adoption of BlackBerry hand-helds.
"All the key managers now have BlackBerrys and wouldn't live without them".
"Thanks to LAN 2 LAN's experience at deploying mobile solutions, we're gaining the benefits of improved communication with customers".
"Without their guidance, we probably wouldn't have adopted this technology so soon".
The next stage is the deployment of an application pushed to the BlackBerry devices for SPP Pumps' field engineers so that essential service information can be easily accessed on the move.
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