HP Networking

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Sofidel boosts productivity and efficiency with HP Networking “HP has helped us transform our business by standardising on one integrated networking solution. It has increased our productivity, streamlined the production cycle and allows us to bring new offices and factories online more quickly. Furthermore, the simple, intuitive management software gives us one central view of the entire infrastructure.” Michele Monticelli, network and systems manager, Sofidel Objective Provide employees with wireless connectivity to create a flexible working environment, regardless of office location, and enable the use of handheld barcode scanners to track inventory in production areas.

Approach Consulted longstanding HP Gold Partner, T.T. Tecnosistemi, to review its existing network infrastructure before choosing a wired and wireless solution.

IT improvements HP customer case study: Sofidel boosts productivity and cuts costs with its HP Networking solution

Industry: Manufacturing

• The wireless solution provides comprehensive coverage, even in challenging production and warehouse environments • Sofidel uses network management software to manage remote sites with encrypted communications and firewall traversal giving it increased management, security, choice and flexibility

Business benefits • Employees can log on and access their files, regardless of location, enabling them to work more effectively and be more productive • Real-time monitoring of the production process, via handheld barcode scanners, enables resources to be managed more efficiently, increasing output • By implementing energy efficient access points and switches and using network management software to shut-down idle devices, Sofidel is able to reduce its carbon footprint • The network infrastructure can scale easily to include new sites and offices, facilitating future growth or acquisitions

Sofidel is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of paper hygiene products. It was founded in 1966 and today boasts 19 production sites and 20 subsidiaries across Italy, Spain, UK, France, Croatia, Germany, Poland, Greece and Turkey. With over 3,100 employees and revenues of over €1 billion (2009), Sofidel is Europe’s second largest producer of tissue paper. With a network of offices and factories across Europe, communication is critical to Sofidel’s success. However, with each facility using different technology there was no central, integrated approach to networking solutions. This meant it was difficult to manage and administer the network and presented challenges for employees accessing the network securely from different locations.

Standardising the network infrastructure “We have built the company both organically and through acquisitions, which has led to a heterogeneous collection of networking solutions throughout the business,” explains Michele Monticelli, network and systems manager at Sofidel.

Customer solution at a glance Applications • Branch Office • Mobility • Network management

Hardware • HP E8200 zl Switch series • HP E5400 zl Switch series • HP E2910 al Switch series • HP E2610 Switch series • HP E-MSM 765 Integrated Controllers • HP E-MSM422 Access Points • HP E-MSM320 Access Points

Software • HP PCM+

“This makes it difficult for staff to log on outside of their own offices or for us to provide connectivity to partners and customers. We wanted to roll out a standardised solution that would enable simple, secure access within the office environments, as well as providing coverage in our warehouses and factories.” Sofidel has been an HP customer for many years and turned to HP partner T.T. Tecnosistemi for advice. Following its reseller’s recommendations, Sofidel piloted an HP wireless solution at its headquarters outside Lucca in Italy.

Deploying HP Networking for flexibility and productivity Sofidel selected HP MultiService Mobility (E-MSM)765 Integrated Controllers combined with several models of the HP E-MSM Access Points, including E-MSM422 and E-MSM320 to provide wireless connectivity. At the core of the network, high-speed HP E5400 switches deliver 1 Tbps capacity; HP E8200zl switches manage the wired/wireless interface at the access layer; at the edge, HP E2910 and 2610 switches bring high-speed communications to the desktop. The entire network is managed using HP PCM+ management software, a Microsoft® Windows-based network management platform that enables mapping, configuration, and monitoring. Network-wide management control allows Sofidel to securely add, customise, and restrict network management access, while offering a ‘single-pane’ management solution. The software can manage Sofidel’s remote sites with encrypted communications and firewall traversal, giving it increased management, security, choice and flexibility. The new network also helped Sofidel to reduce its carbon footprint. Not only are the access points and switches rated amongst the most energy efficient on the market, but HP PCM+ also enables the remote power management of end points. This means that Sofidel can use HP PCM+ to schedule the shut-down of idle devices when they are not in use, such as after working hours. The HP E8200zl and E5400zl switches also support the IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet standard which lowers power consumption in periods of low link usage. “HP was a natural choice for us as we have used HP technology for many years on the desktop and in the data centre. It was incredibly simple to deploy 20 access points and manage the network centrally for 100 users. It worked so well that we quickly moved onto the second stage of the pilot, which was focused on the Italian manufacturing plant,” adds Monticelli. “The manufacturing facilities present much more of a

problem because the warehouse areas are vast and the stockpiled paper interferes with coverage. However, working with HP and T.T. Tecnosistemi we were able to deploy 30 access points and provide comprehensive coverage.” Providing wireless communications to the warehouses and factories is particularly important because employees use handheld barcode scanners to track inventory during the production cycle. These scanners are linked via the wireless network to an SAP database. This simple, real-time process helps Sofidel monitor production and track inventory more accurately, making the operation more efficient. “Within a short period, we had wirelessly enabled our Italian operations, enabling employees to have rapid, secure access regardless of location and providing visibility of our stock across the entire production cycle,” says Monticelli. “Since then we have begun rolling the solution out to other countries, including France, Belgium, Germany and the UK. In some cases, we are using the wireless technology for even more transformative purposes. For example, in Germany, employees’ mobile phones connect to the network to make calls via Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Naturally, we expect this to make a big impact on our communications bill.”

Lifetime performance guaranteed Another key factor in Sofidel’s choice of HP Networking solutions is the lifetime warranty that came with the hardware purchased. “Previously, equipment from other suppliers has cost us much more than anticipated because of the need to replace faulty or outdated kit,” adds Monticelli. “With HP, we know that in the unlikely event of failure, our access points and switches will be replaced free of charge.” By the end of 2011, Sofidel plans to have standardised its entire European operations on HP Networking equipment, bringing flexibility, security and enhanced productivity to its 3,100-strong workforce. “HP Networking has helped us transform how we do business. Now our employees are not chained to their desks and can work easily in other locations. We can also provide access to customers and partners with a simple temporary pass. Inventory can be tracked more closely, making the production cycle more efficient and we are saving money because we have a standardised, centrally managed infrastructure that is robust and highperformance,” concludes Monticelli.

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