IBM and Sapa Expand Business Agreement

Sapa is the largest provider of aluminium profiles in the world, and part of the Norwegian industrial conglomerate Orkla.

In terms of the new agreement, signed in October 2008, IBM will provide infrastructure services and application maintenance services for an additional 2,500 PC users in the Sapa system, double the number of users as stated in the original contract which was signed in 2007.

The main focus of the overall agreement is on achieving cost efficiencies and improved quality of services. Several applications will be hosted by IBM, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). IBM will also host Sapa's e-mail and printing systems.

The agreement is part of the Shared Services Initiative across the entire Orkla Group.

“Sapa choose to expand their co-operation with IBM, because the initial part of the contract was delivered on time and on budget,” said Morten Thorkildsen, Country General Manager, IBM Norway.

“The IBM agreement is an important one for both parties. With the expanded contract, will we have in place a common infrastructure platform which will cover our IT needs in the joint ventures,” said Espen Falla, SVP of Shared Services in Sapa.