KEY POINTS:
New Zealand tech company Thureon hopes a million-dollar contract to supply its unique "server room in a box" to schools in California will be its breakthrough into the lucrative US market.
The order of 200 units of its Armarac enclosure for computer networking and communications equipment is part of the US Department of Education's refurbishment programme for schools.
While the order will initially see Armaracs in just five school districts - the first unit is expected to be delivered next month - director Ross Vincent hopes the deal will lead to bigger things. His optimism is understandable - already there have been contacts with other school districts.
Armarac's space-saving advantage may be one key drawcard. Most workplaces with computer network infrastructure require a dedicated server room of at least 7.5sq m. Thureon's wall-mounted device occupies only about 0.3sq m.
"In high-rental areas like New York or Tokyo, that's a massive saving," said Vincent.
And in schools, it saves valuable space that could be used for other purposes.
Made mainly from polycarbonate and aluminium, the device also protects equipment from theft or tampering, but allows for easier access than conventional racks in server rooms.
Vincent said they were ideal in small offices and "sites where there isn't an IT guy on the ground". But just one of these "server rooms in a box" was enough for one company with 200 staff.
The device is also easily portable.
The idea behind the Armarac had its beginnings in late 2003, when Vincent and company co-founder Darren Smith were working as IT consultants.
One project required them to set up short-term IT infrastructure for Australasian project management company Lexicon Systems. The site was at a warehouse building on the outskirts of Melbourne.
"It was hot, it was dusty, it was dry. There was nowhere to put any computer equipment."
All that was needed was a small rack that would house the apparatus.
"We couldn't find anything. And with the deadline looming, in good Kiwi style, we built our own."
The device looked nothing like it does now - but the revelation was enough to convince them there was a business in this. The pair had lawyers scour the globe for any patents on a similar product. None was found.
The design and concept was refined and patented, and Thureon was founded in 2005.
Before the US school deal, the company had sold only 24 units. But these had largely been exploratory, having the potential for more orders once its worth was proven.
The latest deal has already seen the company move from short-run manufacturing in Australia to getting the units made in Auckland.
Vincent said the company was already working on refining the Armarac. One notable theme that has emerged from its US work: "We've been asked if we can get it bombproof or bulletproof."
