Newforma-Panzura Integration Enables Distributed Project Team Collaboration with Centralized Project Information Management

PS&S validates single Newforma Project Center server indexing all content on distributed Panzura file systems

Manchester, N.H., and Campbell, Calif., U.S.A.—24 April 2014—Newforma, a project information management (PIM) software company integrating people, projects and processes to transform building and infrastructure project delivery, and Panzura, the only provider of global locking file systems, today announced customer validation of their systems’ integration. Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor – PS&S – a single-source architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Warren, N.J., is using Panzura’s patented file locking technology to enable CAD and BIM collaboration among its five offices, while using a single Newforma Project Center server to index and manage live project data filed on Panzura Storage Controllers.

PS&S IT Manager Eric Davis said the integrated solution addresses numerous challenges for his firm. “We had a number of people in multiple office locations struggling to collaborate on the same CAD files and BIM models,” Davis said. “Panzura’s unique global file locking solved the latency problem inherent with cross-site collaboration, enabling distributed users to work as if they were in the same room. Our single Newforma Project Center server indexes all of the content from every Panzura Storage Controller, which makes it easy to find information quickly, manage email, collaborate on 3D models and streamline other everyday workflows. These two products are absolute ‘must haves’ for engineering companies.”

Panzura Chief Strategy Officer Rich Webber said the Newforma-Panzura integration offers customers a one-two punch for improved project delivery. “Panzura file locking technology radically reduces the latency between the application and the model,” Webber said. “This is the key element that solves the cross-site collaboration issues that have nagged the architectural, engineering and construction industry for years. Similarly, Newforma software enables users to get their hands on project information in seconds, wherever the information is filed and wherever the person is working. Together, they enable the application performance that AEC companies require while simultaneously centralizing all data to a single location.”

Newforma Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Development Dave Plunkett said the Newforma-Panzura integration conforms to Newforma’s policy of working in any environment that their customers store their project information. “This validation is an important part of our strategy that Newforma Project Center works with customer data in any environment. Depending on how the data is stored, as with PS&S, it may be possible for a company to manage project information with a single Newforma Project Center server. Customers using our products together see the benefit of a single consistent view of all project data in every office. Project files are easily shared between multiple offices, can be opened quickly, and can only be edited by a single user at a time.”