Machine and plant engineering company Binder+Co relies on ERP using Linux  
     
  Karlsruhe, September 28, 2005 – The runtime of a PPC system at Binder+Co in Gleisdorf was record-breaking: however, after 20 years, the change to a modern ERP system had become inevitable. After an intensive market sounding and tests, the company chose a provider that specializes in production companies as well as the use of Linux as a server system.  
     
  Binder+CoThe roots of the traditional metal constructor can be traced back to 1894. The company from Gleisdorf (Germany) produces machines and plants for the processing technology, environmental engineering and packaging technology. They are the market leaders in the optical processing of glass and paper. In order to see all important business resources at a glance, the company must depend on a reliable, modern and flexible ERP system. Moreover, the longevity of the machines and plants makes it necessary that all information from construction to disposal is always available. For this purpose, the data from the ERP system forms the basis of an efficient life cycle management. Therefore, Binder+Co moved from an old production planning and control system (PPC) to a modern ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) at the beginning of 2003.  
     
  Looking for a partner  
     
  “We already started to look for a suitable ERP system in 2001 and looked at a total of 13 ERP providers,” remembers Head of IT, Michael Kummer. This was followed by appointments with ERP providers and “short presentations” in order to carry out a preliminary selection. „We wanted to limit ourselves at most to four providers in order to test their products more intensively – these were ABAS, Proalpha, Bäurer and Psipenta. As the functionality of the systems were comparable, we placed great emphasis on the easy adaptability of the software, as well as its flexibility when meeting with the ERP sales people. Moreover, it was important for us that the ERP advisors understood our business,“ emphasizes Kummer. Here, the ERP specialists of the abas partner Nittmann & Pekoll from Vienna were able to score some extra points: “The speed at which these adjustments were implemented was stunning. Changes in the lead time which had been discussed were, for example, implemented during the coffee break,“ remembers Kummer. The presentation was so convincing that the people responsible for the project, as well as all 17 key users, unanimously voted for abas Business Software.  
     
  Decision for Linux  
     
  Alternatives to Microsoft were welcome as the old PPC system at Binder+Co was running on a Unix derivative. It was a plus that ABAS provided the use of Linux and already had experience with its use since 1995 and, therefore, was able to provide numerous references. The high stability, the performance and openness of the system, as well as, security aspects were also decisive factors. The efficient handling of the hardware resources and the intelligent memory management of Linux are advantages. The low priced procurement price is also an important argument, since no license costs are incurred. After extensive preparatory work, the final conversion and the “go live” took place in April 2003. Since then abas Business Software using Linux has been running reliably. A version of Red Hat is being used. A cluster solution is being used for security reasons. From the very beginning it was possible to recognize benefits, as well as saving potentials: “For the sale of spare parts we have considerably faster lead times, for example because everything takes place centrally by using one system. The simplified maintenance and reduction of the master files saves a lot of time and excludes potential sources of errors,” explains Kummer. According to Michael Kummer, optimizations can not be avoided, even if the ERP system is running in a reliable manner. “We have optimized quite a few things and will keep doing so over the next years. The processes should be constantly reviewed and optimized. In doing so, we like to fall back on the service and know-how of Nittmann & Pekoll.” In Gleisdorf the budget for this has been planned in advance as Binder+Co is convinced of the return on investment.  
     
     
 
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