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brightsolid delivers seamless migration for CLYDEUNION Pumps

Leading independent Scottish engineering business CLYDEUNION Pumps has chosen IT services adviser brightsolid to consolidate its email for more than 1,400 users worldwide, following a complex takeover deal.

The requirement arose from Scottish entrepreneur Jim McColl’s decision to acquire Michigan-based Union Pump from its US owner, Textron, and merge it into his Clyde Pumps business.

As part of the deal, the newly named CLYDEUNION Pumps had to extract its IT operations from within those of Textron, and migrate more than 1,400 users to a new system. They chose brightsolid to undertake this complex project.

The one-year deal is underway and the initial work involving the migration has been completed.

"This has been a complex project, but very much the kind of thing that allows us to demonstrate brightsolid’s mastery of the technology involved, as well as our ability to manage projects on time and within budget," commented brightsolid chief executive officer Chris van der Kuyl.

The project, based on Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Fully Managed Hosting, involved more than 1,400 people in the UK, North America, France and Asia. The migration from the legacy system and full implementation, took four weeks. The users include those on networked PCs, remote working and Blackberry access.

"brightsolid have done exactly what they promised to do. They managed the whole process, including the migration, quite seamlessly." commented Murray Husband, General Manager IT, of CLYDEUNION Pumps.

"It was important for CLYDEUNION Pumps to have this entire migration of users completed within a set period of time, following the acquisition of Union Pump. It was an important part of the original deal with Textron, and brightsolid helped ensure that each milestone was met."

Michael Bayes, IT Director US of CLYDEUNION Pumps commented "The post-implementation support & service provided is exceptional."

CLYDEUNION Pumps has at its base the two companies Clyde Pumps and Union Pump. Both have a rich heritage and a combined history of almost 300 years.

Clyde Pumps

In 1871, two brothers, George and James Weir, founded the engineering firm of G. & J. Weir. From their Glasgow works, in Scotland's central belt, they quickly established a reputation for inventing pump and valve technologies that were utilised successfully on ship engines, oil pipelines, desalination plants and power stations across the world.

On Tuesday 8th May 2007, over 135 years after the Weir brothers founded their business, Jim McColl (chairman and chief executive of Clyde Blowers) announced the acquisition of the Weir Pumps (Glasgow) business from The Weir Group plc. As a result of this transaction, the diverse portfolio of technologies, process knowledge and expertise generated by Weir Pumps was incorporated into a newly created company, Clyde Pumps Ltd.

With the acquisition of Union Pump in November 2008, the two companies joined to form CLYDEUNION Pumps.

Union Pump

Union Pump has an equally interesting history, bringing together various heritage products and skills that are now fully incorporated into CLYDEUNION Pumps.

Since Union's inception in 1885 in Michigan, USA the company has been creating class leading pumps for industries around the globe. Union have incorporated the David Brown Pumps brand as well as its significant capabilities when their Annecy operation was acquired, and along with it the respected DB Guinard Pumps brand.