Liftra deploys PeerGFS to speed global file access

Liftra has deployed Peer Software's PeerGFS file synchronisation system across its global operations, allowing the Danish engineering company to avoid replacing parts of its storage infrastructure.

The rollout was intended to improve access to engineering files for teams across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. Liftra, which designs and manufactures lifting and transport equipment for the wind sector, had been struggling with delays in synchronising project data between sites under its previous Microsoft DFS Replication setup.

Those delays had become a problem for engineers handling large design files, including SolidWorks CAD data, across multiple locations. The previous environment also offered limited visibility into file activity and put added pressure on storage resources at remote sites.

Rather than carry out a broader infrastructure overhaul, Liftra integrated PeerGFS with its existing NetApp, Dell, Windows and Linux systems. The switch from DFS-R was completed without downtime, according to the companies.

The deployment introduced real-time file replication and synchronisation across the company's distributed environment. It also added edge caching at remote locations, keeping frequently used files available locally while synchronising changes across the wider network.

The aim was to address a persistent challenge for globally distributed engineering teams: ensuring staff in different regions are working from the most recent version of a file without waiting through long replication cycles. In sectors such as wind energy, where projects can involve large technical drawings and complex equipment specifications, delays in access can slow work across design, manufacturing and servicing teams.

Existing systems

Peer Software said the project extended the useful life of Liftra's existing storage estate by reducing the need for a hardware refresh. For companies facing tighter technology budgets and rising data volumes, that offers an alternative to replacing infrastructure when file access and synchronisation become bottlenecks.

Liftra has about 750 employees across eight global locations. Its business focuses on lifting and transportation technologies used in the installation of wind turbines and major component exchange work, making shared access to up-to-date project files important for engineering and operational teams.

The deployment also created a highly available architecture across key locations, according to the companies. The setup is designed to improve resilience while preserving local access to engineering data, which can be important when staff need fast file retrieval without relying on long-distance transfers for every request.

The case also reflects a wider issue for industrial and engineering businesses with global footprints. Many still rely on long-established file replication tools that can struggle with larger datasets, more dispersed teams and higher expectations around version control. Replacing those tools does not always require a full rebuild of storage and networking systems if newer software can be layered onto existing estates.

Daren Husk, Group IT Manager at Liftra, described the operational impact after the system went live.

"We went live with no downtime at all - in fact the only reason our teams knew there had been a change was because it was now quicker to download files, easier to collaborate and version control was more certain. After implementation, support from the Peer Software team has been spot on too, with great coverage and responsiveness," said Husk.

Jimmy Tam, Chief Executive Officer at Peer Software, linked the Liftra project to broader concerns around costs and data growth.

"As organisations face growing data demands and rising infrastructure costs, the ability to maximise existing storage investments is increasingly important. Liftra's deployment of PeerGFS demonstrates how businesses can overcome file replication challenges, improve global data access and avoid unnecessary infrastructure upgrades," said Tam.