SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 6, 2012 —Manufacturing and construction companies often depend on the wide area network (WAN) to share design files and collaborate around the globe. However, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) or shared WANs can lack the performance and quality to support high-speed file transfers and Internet voice applications over the same connection. Schuff International, Inc. (OTC: SHFK), the largest steel fabrication company in the United States, overcame these challenges and avoided a costly infrastructure upgrade by using Silver Peak.
Schuff International was contending with multiple applications performing poorly over the WAN. This included third-party and custom developed applications, including Microsoft Lync (voice and video communications), 3D computer aided design (CAD) file transfers over FTP, antivirus, and email. Productivity had depleted due to slow file transfers between the remote sites and the data center, and the new Internet-based phone system could not be deployed because of poor network quality and packet loss issues inherent to the company’s MPLS network.
“We had evaluated various WAN optimization vendors, including Riverbed and Cisco WAAS, but Silver Peak delivered better performance and pricing options, so it was the logical solution for us,” said Mark McGrath, director of information systems at Schuff International. “Also, the fact that Silver Peak has the broadest range of software-based appliances fits well with our plans for virtualizing our IT environment.”
Through its close partnership with SHI, a global provider of information technology (IT) solutions, Schuff International found Silver Peak to be the best fit for the company’s near-term and long-term dynamic WAN optimization requirements. Specifically, Silver Peak’s Virtual Acceleration Open Architecture (VXOA) software automatically optimizes all applications and traffic traversing the WAN, regardless of protocol, application or application version.
3D CAD file transfers that had previously taken more than 30 minutes to move between offices now take just a few minutes. The connections between remote sites and data center now operate as if there is zero latency, and VoIP call quality is crystal clear with no impact from the other applications running on the same network.
“Silver Peak gives us more bang for our bandwidth dollar regardless of protocol or source,” concluded McGrath. “Silver Peak does what it says it will do—It’s rock solid.”
About Schuff International
Schuff International, Inc. and its family of steel companies is the largest steel fabrication and construction company in the United States. The company executes projects throughout the U.S. and internationally, providing single-source integrated steel construction services. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Schuff Steel has 18 locations with more than 1,500 employees worldwide, including nine fabrication plants located in Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Georgia, and Florida.
About Silver Peak Systems
Silver Peak software mobilizes data over distance. Leveraging its leadership in data center class wide area network (WAN) optimization, Silver Peak extends the boundaries of data in motion for faster replication to offsite locations, real-time access to data stores, and granular visibility into dispersed applications. Download Silver Peak today at www.silver-peak.com/marketplace or follow Silver Peak on Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn , and the WAN Speak Blog .