Automotive manufacturer, TriMas Corporation Pty Ltd (TriMas), selected Brocade switching solution to support two combined sites and implement a more robust core network design, resulting in a 40 percent network performance improvement.

TriMas deployed a highly robust and fully redundant network infrastructure to support more than 400 data points at the new location. The network has enabled a variety of benefits, including simplified infrastructure within a core design and streamlined network management, an issue that TriMas had been grappling with under its previous network design.

Additionally TriMas has introduced Unified Communications (UC) capabilities for simplified voice and data management. The company is leveraging Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities to each switch port, saving time and reducing management for the IT team.

"This network upgrade with Brocade has introduced a level of business and technology innovation that will see us expand Brocade technologies to seven other remote sites, including Perth in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and South Africa," said Scott Lancaster, IT manager at TriMas. "Brocade has provided a solution that is highly efficient and, from an operational perspective, it runs smoothly in the background with performance improvements in the vicinity of over 40 percent. From an investment perspective, it is great value for money."

A Brocade FastIron® SX 1600 Layer 2/3 switch has been deployed as the core of the new TriMas network, providing a highly resilient and scalable 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) foundation that connects the company's server farm and network access switches across the site. The access layer is comprised of Brocade FCX 648 Layer 2/3 switches that provide 1 GbE connectivity to workstations, IP telephones and factory equipment throughout the facility.