HQW is a leading manufacturer and designer of precision ball bearings, with manufacturing operations in the UK and Germany. When the UK arm needed to separate from a group-wide IT setup and become fully independent (fast) the pressure was on to deliver continuity, security, and control without disruption.
At a glance
- Manufacturing organisation with operations in the UK and Germany
- Around 400 users across UK operations
- Urgent need to separate from group IT and operate independently
- Tight deadlines with no tolerance for downtime
The challenge
As part of a wider organisational change, HQW’s UK operations needed to rapidly establish an independent IT environment. Previously, IT services had been delivered via a shared, Germany-based function, and there was a firm deadline to decommission legacy systems while keeping the business running without interruption.
The scope was broad core systems, networks, and applications all needed to be migrated or replaced and the solution had to balance speed, resilience, and cost control.
The approach
Working closely with HQW, the team carried out on-site discovery and workshops to understand the existing estate, business priorities, and risks. Where possible, existing infrastructure was reused to reduce cost and complexity, while new platforms were introduced where they added clear value.
The resulting approach focused on:
- Implementing Nutanix hyperconverged infrastructure to support rapid deployment and long-term resilience
- Introducing new networking, firewalling, and wireless capabilities
- Phased testing to allow application transition ahead of final switchover
- Putting managed services in place, including monitoring, backup, and on-demand support
This ensured HQW could meet aggressive timelines while maintaining stability and control.
The outcome
- A fully independent IT environment delivered within strict deadlines
- Seamless continuation of UK operations throughout the transition
- Reduced infrastructure footprint and power consumption
- Cost savings through pragmatic reuse of existing hardware
- Greater confidence through managed support and service contracts
HQW is now equipped with an IT platform that supports long-term independence, operational resilience, and future growth.
Why this matters
- Separation and carve-out projects don’t have to mean disruption
- Pragmatic infrastructure choices can balance speed, cost, and resilience
- Strong discovery and phased execution reduce risk under pressure
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