Newcastle IT solutions provider seals contract win with global creative and packaging firm

Opal, the Newcastle-based multi-platform IT solutions provider, has won a new contract with a global creative and packaging firm which provides designs for electronics giant Phillips, pharma specialist GSK and Oreo Biscuits.

Opal has worked with US-headquartered SGS for more than eight years but due to the latter’s continued expansion in Europe, Opal will now help SGS to deploy and manage its network of production systems.

The move allows Opal to build on several recent contract wins in the creative, education, legal and financial services sectors. The company will integrate new servers, storage and backup systems across SGS sites in Tamworth, Hull, Belfast, Birmingham and Amsterdam.

SGS, which employs more than 3,000 staff including 550 across its seven European sites, will then be able access and protect the thousands of files it uses to make the designs for each print.

Opal will also implement a multi-site disaster recovery solution to protect SGS against hardware and software failures and natural disasters such as a fire or flood.

Jonathan Hadley, IT and facilities manager at SGS, said: “As our business grows it’s vital that we have a more efficient, secure and robust IT infrastructure across our European sites and Opal is helping us to deliver this.

“They provide comprehensive support, which includes the supply, installation and integration of vital hardware and software.

“In our line of business we have to have flexible production and management information systems that are operational 24/7. It’s great that Opal will continue to deliver that for us.”

Andrew Metcalfe, managing director of Opal, added: “We’re thrilled to have secured further work which encompasses many of our key strengths, combining our knowledge of creative and production environments using the latest technology to provide a global client with the best technical solution across multiple sites.

“We work with many creative firms and as a result we have a deep knowledge of the industry and the way in which it operates.

“Given that SGS is a global organization spanning several continents, it’s vital that the company has a robust IT infrastructure which seamlessly connects each site and allows staff to access and share data.”