Enterprise IP network extends over global operations

Albany International is a global advanced textiles and materials processing company which is extending its reach globally and at the same time expanding into other industries with its advanced textiles and materials capabilities, most notably aerospace composites, non-wovens, building products and high-performance industrial doors.

Albany International has signed a $7.5 million renewal agreement with Orange Business Services for MPLS-based IP VPN and WAN optimisation services. Along with the renewal, Albany International will expand its network within the Americas and Eurasia to encompass a total of 41 company sites in more than 18 countries, including its Australian operation based in Gosford, NSW.

Albany’s past success with converged applications from Orange Business Services convinced it to not only renew with Orange but also significantly upgrade its communications infrastructure. With the added bandwidth, it can now leverage these applications across the wider enterprise landscape and magnify its cost savings.

“Orange Business Services has truly provided Albany International with a ‘world-class’ global network that achieves the required levels of functionality and performance for our business,” said Andrew Jause, Enterprise Infrastructure Manager for Albany International. “In addition, Orange has proven itself over these many years to be a true partner in every sense of the word, solidifying our very successful relationship.”

The network upgrade is part of Albany’s broader strategy to centralise services that support its entire global operations. Albany’s business criss-crosses numerous territories, partners and vertical industries. Its expanded network infrastructure will now eliminate latency between all these business points and ensure greater access to business applications, where these applications have already delivered significant cost savings.

“Our network plays a key role in systems consolidation and leveraging global growth for Albany International,” said Barry Duncan, VP, Information Technology at Albany International. “Orange Business Services was the only provider with the portfolio breadth and global reach to move our network to a larger international stage. Their converged services were already delivering unparalleled opportunities for several of our business lines, so it made perfect sense to stick with a sure thing and unleash these applications upon the greater network.”

“The network upgrade will exponentially drive convergence through Albany’s enterprise infrastructure,” said Tim Cavill, Managing Director - ANZ, Orange Business Services.