Worldwide, BW IT is making important contributions to the business every single day. Read more about your fellow IT team members and their wins, successes, and plans in this edition of IT Connect, the newsletter for BW IT team members!

Welcome to the March edition of IT Connect! 

In this issue: 

• We recognize the outstanding work of the cross-functional BW IT team that was formed to conduct the Integration Project for the JD Engineers office in the Netherlands — a full domain migration that brought a newly acquired BW Papersystems company into alignment with BW standards. 
• We explore how a security challenge at BWP Dongguan — rooted in the everyday resourcefulness of team members working around real connectivity constraints — became an opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient IT environment.
• And finally, we close with a look at how BW is investing in its people and setting the stage for a strong future — because the health of our organization starts with the growth and development of our team members.

Project Update

Successful Completion! 

The JD Engineers Integration Project 

In early 2025, Alliance Machine Systems International, a division of BW Papersystems, announced that they had acquired JD Engineers, a producer of high-quality specialty folder gluers, headquartered in Joure, the Netherlands.  

Before the year ended, our IT team reached a major milestone at the JD Engineers’ home office by successfully completing the final phase of the JD Engineers Integration Project. In November 2025, this effort culminated in a full on‑site domain migration.

This project brought together a highly skilled, cross‑functional group representing BW’s IT Service Desk, server operations team, and local IT from JD Engineers. Those involved were as follows (listed order matches the group photo in the collage below). 

Their collective work spanned several major components essential to aligning the Netherlands environment with BW standards. This included the migration of approximately 50 laptops and five servers; the integration of the existing Hyper‑V environment into the BWCINC network; the deployment of EPM; and targeted on‑site support following the cutover to ensure system stability and address early issues. The team also resolved key security and performance concerns discovered on site, such as upgrading a switch port from 1Gb to 10Gb and isolating a door access device to improve network security.

As with any largescale integration, the team encountered a few challenges along the way, but through strong collaboration, adaptability, and quick problem solving, they overcame obstacles and kept the project on track. Their efforts ensured a smooth transition for the Netherlands site and marked the official completion of the technical integration.

Securing Our Network

Strengthening Security at BWP Dongguan, China

When team members at BWP Dongguan encountered performance and connectivity challenges, they found workarounds to keep things moving — turning to personal laptops, alternative Wi-Fi equipment, and external tools like WeChat when corporate solutions felt slow or ineffective in the region. While well-intentioned, these workarounds created unforeseen security gaps that left the environment vulnerable.

Once the risk was identified in October 2025, members of the Information Security and Network Operations teams stepped in to address it. They replaced non-standard Wi-Fi with Meraki equipment, configured network equipment for Shanghai, and delivered on-site security awareness training to approximately 50 associates. The team also flagged outstanding issues with security camera 

networks and put forward recommendations for the road ahead, including increased regional IT support, regular site visits, culturally informed ongoing education, exploration of Zero Trust strategies, and wired Network Access Control to keep non-corporate devices off the network.

Martin Schluter, Security Operations Team Leader; Milen Getov, Engineer, IT Network III; Cloud Chu, IT Supervisor; and Willem Pretorius, Senior Manager, IT Network Operations at the BWP facility in Dongguan, China

By tackling both the technical vulnerabilities and the underlying reasons team members sought workarounds in the first place, the team turned a risk into an opportunity — building a more resilient environment that supports BW's continued global growth.

CIO Corner

Starting Strong: Investing in Our People and Our Future

By Frank Lanuto
Chief Information Officer, Barry‑Wehmiller

One of the most energizing parts of my role at Barry‑Wehmiller is the opportunity to connect directly with our people—and our recent, first-ever BW IT New Hire Town Hall was a perfect example of why. I walked away encouraged by the thoughtful questions, the curiosity, and the genuine desire to understand how each individual fits into something much bigger than a job description.

Getting new hires started on the right track is not accidental—it requires intention, clarity, and commitment. This town hall was an important step in reinforcing that commitment. It wasn’t just about answering questions; it was about offering perspective, building understanding, and making sure our newest team members understand how their work connects to our long‑term vision.

Alignment with Change the Game

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was alignment—how IT stays connected to Barry‑Wehmiller’s broader “Change the Game” initiatives and how feedback flows both ways. I shared that alignment begins early, with leadership reviewing and refining priorities at the start of each fiscal year. From there, IT establishes its goals to directly support those enterprise initiatives.

Building Something That Lasts

I was also asked what I hope to accomplish during my time at Barry‑Wehmiller. My answer was simple: to build something that lasts well beyond my tenure. When I joined BW, I made a commitment to our CEO, Kyle Chapman, to help lay a foundation that can support this organization for the next 10 to 20 years.

That foundation rests on three pillars: great talent, strong leadership, and the right technology. While short‑term wins are important, our real responsibility is to position Barry‑Wehmiller for sustained success. That means making thoughtful investments, developing people, and ensuring our systems and processes can scale with the business.

Staying Connected Across a Global Organization

With teams spread across many locations, intentional communication becomes critical. We discussed how tools like Viva Engage, the BW IT Global Meeting, and the IT Connect newsletter help keep everyone informed and engaged. But tools alone aren’t enough. The real objective is fostering a sense of community—helping people feel connected to the broader IT organization even when they don’t work side by side every day.

Moving Forward Together

The town hall reinforced why investing in our new hires matters so deeply. When people understand the “why,” feel supported in their growth, and see how their work contributes to a larger mission, they’re set up for success—and so is Barry‑Wehmiller.

This event was not a one‑off conversation, but part of an ongoing commitment to transparency, development, and connection. I’m grateful for the engagement and look forward to continuing these conversations as we build the future of IT at Barry‑Wehmiller—together.

Frank Lanuto, CIO

Thanks for being part of this journey — let’s stay connected!