Partner Article

From calculators to environmentalists

One of the region’s oldest IT firms - which started life selling electronic calculators in the 1970s - is planning to develop a multimillion-pound, eco-friendly data centre.

Sumlock was set up on Tyneside in 1976 and was the first firm in the North East to supply digital calculators and word processing units.

Today the company is focused on eco-friendly computer systems and, to facilitate planned growth at the firm, has moved into new 10,000 sq ft premises in Killingworth.

It aims to use the next generation of computers and advanced servers powered by Japanese empire NEC to create a new data storage centre that uses less power and takes up less room than conventional ones.

One floor of the company’s new headquarters will initially be developed into a data centre with the capacity to hold around 60 storage units, which are each worth around £600,000.

If the centre takes off, the firm believes there is room to build an additional data storage premises on land adjacent to its new home.

Meanwhile, the company has also recently won a 15-year, £4.2m deal to supply its technology to an unnamed Government department.

The company will hold two open days next week to show off its new site and to demonstrate its green technology.

Account manager Darren Towart – one of eight members of the same family involved in the firm – said: “There is a mezzanine floor which we need to develop into a data centre and there is also land adjacent to the new site.

“Everyone wants to have their things hosted externally and most of the data centres in the North East are almost full. It’s something we are seriously looking at.”

All the services offered by the company will be highlighted in their state-of-the-art suites which have been created at their new offices at Planet House, Northumbrian Way at Killingworth.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .