Velo IT Group

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the IT Manager of Harris Packaging Corporation & American Carton Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Harris Packaging Corporation is a family-owned custom corrugated box and display manufacturer founded in 1976, headquartered in Fort Worth, TX. We operate out of three facilities — Carson Street (HQ), Riverbend (manufacturing), and American Carton Company (ACC) in Mansfield, TX. I serve as IT Manager overseeing all technology operations across both companies, supporting 100+ users and managing 318+ hardware assets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Velo IT Group to accomplish?

• When we first engaged Velo, we were a growing manufacturing company with aging infrastructure, limited network resilience, and a rapidly expanding list of technology challenges that outpaced our internal capacity. We had legacy ASA firewalls with no intrusion prevention, zero internet redundancy, limited wireless coverage across our warehouse and production environments, aging Eaton UPS units protecting critical servers, and we were preparing for a major ERP transition. We needed a partner — not just a vendor — who could help us modernize every layer of our IT environment while keeping production running 24/7 across all three facilities.

SOLUTION

How did you find Velo IT Group?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Velo IT Group over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Velo IT Group has been deeply embedded in every major technology initiative across our organization. Their scope has included:

• Network Infrastructure (3 Full Overhauls): Velo designed and executed complete network rebuilds at all three facilities. At Carson Street alone, they installed 9 Cisco C9200L 48-port managed switches across our 1 MDF and 2 IDFs, built out full rack elevations, deployed UPS systems with environmental monitoring, created segmented VLANs for corporate, voice, guest, and security traffic, and established 3 site-to-site VPN tunnels connecting Carson Street, Riverbend, and ACC. Similar work was completed at Riverbend and ACC, including structured cabling drops, ISP demarcation coordination, and full documentation.
• Wireless Expansion: At Riverbend, Velo deployed a full wireless overhaul with heat map surveys and VLAN-segmented WiFi. As operations expanded, they returned to install 9 additional access points — running over 3,000 feet of new CAT6 cabling, suspending APs with conduit and j-boxes in warehouse environments, and re-validating coverage with comprehensive wireless heat maps to achieve 100% wireless coverage across all warehouse and production zones.
• Security Hardening: Velo replaced our legacy ASA firewalls with Cisco Firepower 1010 intrusion prevention systems across both HPC and ACC, deployed Cisco AnyConnect VPN with multi-factor authentication, and implemented Duo MFA for 100% of users — remote and on-premise. They also engineered and installed a redundant Spectrum backup internet circuit with full failover — voice, data, and VPN — tested after hours to avoid production impact and ensure zero-downtime transitions during ISP outages.
• ERP & Server Infrastructure: When we transitioned to the Amtech EnCore ERP system, Velo provisioned 4+ dedicated virtual servers — application, database, and web tiers — configured RDP environments, and coordinated directly with Amtech's implementation team. They later stood up a dedicated VM for our Advanced Planning Board (APB) module and cloned our production web server (WEB02 → WEB03) for redundancy and testing. They replaced our aging Eaton UPS fleet with new units and environmental monitoring to protect critical server infrastructure, and most recently procured new Lenovo SR630 V4 servers with 24×7×4-hour Premier Support response coverage.
• Communications & Paging: Velo's cabling partner, X-Connect, installed our enterprise SIP paging system at Carson Street — 24+ horns, ceiling speakers, 1 outdoor horn, and a CyberData SIP amplifier — with continued enhancements into 2026 including additional horn installations, repositioning, and volume tuning. A similar paging system was deployed at ACC. They also managed our phone system migration across both companies.
• Surveillance & Physical Security: Velo coordinated extensive CCTV camera cabling at Carson Street — running cables for 22+ new cameras, relocating existing units, and expanding our Reolink surveillance footprint across production floors, warehouses, exterior lots, and shipping docks.
• Warehouse Transformation & Inventory Tracking: Most recently, Velo helped us transform previously underutilized warehouse spaces into fully connected wireless environments, enabling 1D and 2D barcode-driven inventory tracking using rugged, forklift-mounted tablets with powered docking stations. This provides real-time visibility into inventory levels and supports best-practice operations for our customers. We now have 3 new machines operational with a 4th slated for installation in August — all supported by the infrastructure Velo built.

Results & Outcomes:

• 3 facilities fully networked with enterprise-grade Cisco infrastructure, segmented VLANs, and 3 site-to-site VPN tunnels
• 9 Cisco C9200L switches deployed across 1 MDF + 2 IDFs at Carson Street, with comparable builds at Riverbend and ACC
• 9 additional wireless APs and 3,000+ feet of CAT6 added at Riverbend to achieve full warehouse/production coverage
• 100% MFA adoption across all users via Duo Security Complete firewall replacement — legacy ASA → Cisco Firepower 1010 IPS at every site
• Redundant internet failover with validated zero-downtime switchover for voice, data, and VPN
• 4+ dedicated virtual servers provisioned for Amtech EnCore ERP with production web server cloning for redundancy
• New Lenovo SR630 V4 servers deployed with 24×7×4-hour Premier Support
• 24+ paging horns/speakers installed at Carson Street with CyberData SIP amplifier; similar system at ACC
• 42+ CCTV cameras cabled and operational across all Carson Street zones
• Real-time barcode-driven inventory tracking operational across warehouse environments
• 3 new production machines integrated, 4th in progress for August
• 100+ users and 318+ hardware assets under continuous managed services with monthly lifecycle reporting and executive summaries
• Zero unplanned extended outages during any major cutover or construction project

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• 3 facilities fully networked with enterprise-grade Cisco infrastructure, segmented VLANs, and 3 site-to-site VPN tunnels
• 9 Cisco C9200L switches deployed across 1 MDF + 2 IDFs at Carson Street, with comparable builds at Riverbend and ACC
• 9 additional wireless APs and 3,000+ feet of CAT6 added at Riverbend to achieve full warehouse/production coverage
• 100% MFA adoption across all users via Duo Security
• Complete firewall replacement — legacy ASA → Cisco Firepower 1010 IPS at every site
• Redundant internet failover with validated zero-downtime switchover for voice, data, and VPN
• 4+ dedicated virtual servers provisioned for Amtech EnCore ERP with production web server cloning for redundancy
• New Lenovo SR630 V4 servers deployed with 24×7×4-hour Premier Support
• 24+ paging horns/speakers installed at Carson Street with CyberData SIP amplifier; similar system at ACC
• 42+ CCTV cameras cabled and operational across all Carson Street zones
• Real-time barcode-driven inventory tracking operational across warehouse environments
• 3 new production machines integrated, 4th in progress for August
• 100+ users and 318+ hardware assets under continuous managed services with monthly lifecycle reporting and executive summaries
• Zero unplanned extended outages during any major cutover or construction project 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Exceptional. Every project — from a 9-switch network overhaul to a 3,000-foot cabling run — was scoped, documented, and executed with minimal disruption to our 24/7 operations. When challenges arose — supply chain shortages, third-party vendor delays, DHCP and connectivity issues during cutovers, out-of-warranty hardware failures — Velo was responsive, resourceful, and relentlessly focused on resolution. Their Strategy Engineer, Strength team, and Support Escalation engineers treat our business like their own.

What was your primary form of communication with Velo IT Group?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Velo doesn't just keep the lights on — they helped us reimagine what was possible. They took a manufacturing company with aging infrastructure and helped us build the backbone of a modern, competitive, and partially autonomous operation. From 9 enterprise switches to 42+ surveillance cameras to real-time barcode tracking on forklifts — every project has been executed with precision, documented thoroughly, and delivered on time. What we've built together is a testament to what happens when a client and their MSSP share a common vision.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Velo IT Group could have done differently?

Honestly, I struggle to find fault. If anything, I'd love to see them showcase this kind of work more publicly — because what we've accomplished together deserves to be seen by others considering a true technology partnership. Without hesitation, I would choose Velo ITG again. If you're a manufacturing company — or any growing business — looking for a managed services partner that operates as an extension of your team, Velo IT Group is the answer.