More Than Migration: An IT Project with Global Reach

The NETZSCH Group is an international mechanical engineering company headquartered in Selb (Bavaria, Germany). It specializes in developing, manufacturing and selling high-precision technical solutions. The company is divided into three divisions: Analyzing & Testing, Grinding & Dispersing and Pumps & Systems. NETZSCH has remained in family hands since its foundation in 1873. 

The constantly growing necessity for a stable IT security structure—emphasized by a security leak in 2020—presented NETZSCH with major challenges. The mechanical engineer came up with a holistic and sophisticated solution. 

NETZSCH Business Services IT’s centralization and harmonization strategy provided the starting signal for a comprehensive migration project—migrating decentralized server landscapes to Active Directory, a consolidated, global IT directory service. The objectives: a sustainably improved security situation, simplified system management and improved efficiency of the global IT infrastructure.

The Beginning of a Partnership 

The complex migration project called for a partner who could provide much more than mere technology consulting. Not only did MHP demonstrate sound technical expertise, but also strategic depth, organizational strength, regional proximity and a proven nearshore model.

The project’s complexity soon became apparent. Users, clients and over 600 servers from different business areas had to be migrated to the new, central Active Directory in several waves. One particular challenge was that NETZSCH’s three business units had previously each worked in separate domains, with different security standards, authorization structures and IT processes.

The migration was intended to break down these historically grown silos and unify them in a common, modern Active Directory environment. The starting position was anything but easy. There was no standardized approach, many systems were incompletely classified and there were often dependencies on other, previously unknown projects.

Far more than just technical expertise was therefore needed to make the project successful. To begin with, MHP set up an interdisciplinary core team that combined technological and professional expertise with sound project and targeted communication management skills. This team formed the interface between the stakeholders and created the foundation for the coordinated implementation of all migrations. 

A standardized migration process was then established together with NETZSCH. This comprised several critical phases—all designed to ensure a smooth transition with the minimum of disruption. 

The vision was to create a robust and scalable Active Directory infrastructure that supports future growth, improves operational efficiency and maintains the highest standards of security and reliability.

The true added value of the project was not only shown in technical progress, but above all in the way the project team worked together across country borders. What began as a purely technological project quickly developed into a partnership of equals: where openness, trust and a common goal thrived. 

NETZSCH’s international structure in particular, with business units and requirements spanning several countries, made it imperative to act flexibly and in an interdisciplinary way. Different perspectives did not present themselves as an obstacle, but rather an enrichment—for a joint solution that met all stakeholder requirements.

This openness was also reflected in MHP’s way of working. The project was implemented in close cooperation between experts from Germany and Romania. While the German team coordinated the project framework, managed communication within the project and ensured the strategic direction, the Romanian team brought in-depth technical expertise and a precise understanding of the system landscape to the implementation process. 

What set MHP apart is not only the expertise at both locations, but also the way in which this results in a joint workflow. Processes interlocked, communication was direct and respectful, work packages were clear and understood as a shared responsibility. The team did not work alongside each other, but as a cohesive unit: with foresight, flexibility and the common goal of not only successfully completing the migration, but also creating real added value for NETZSCH. 

This created a solid foundation for teamwork that not only made this project successful, but moving forward, also forms a strong basis for future joint projects.