Case Study: Expert Integration and Outstanding Support Lead to Enduring Trust

Their Challenge                                                                                

North Wind Test LLC, a Minnesota-based aerospace and defense engineering company, specializes in applied R&D, ground test facilities, and flight test systems. The company’s engineering work supports both industry and government clients, with projects involving advanced aerodynamic modeling and high-speed propulsion research.
            By 2025, North Wind’s original high-performance computing (HPC) cluster—developed by Nor-Tech in 2017—had reached the end of its operational life. The system could no longer support the growing demand for high-fidelity simulations and complex computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models essential for designing and developing cutting-edge wind tunnels. As modeling demands increased, North Wind needed significantly more processing power and faster performance to maintain efficiency and reliability.
            After evaluating multiple options, including cloud computing solutions and bids from competitors, North Wind concluded that an on-premises replacement would deliver the best long-term value and usability. The ability to keep computing resources in-house ensures faster access, greater control, and cost savings over time.

            That’s when they contacted Nor-Tech Senior HPC Account Executive Bob Dreis who worked with North Wind on the original cluster. “Since the initial deployment, we’ve maintained a close working relationship—performing annual software updates, troubleshooting issues, and keeping their system optimized,” Bob explained. “Our goal has always been to make sure their cluster continues to perform at its best throughout its lifecycle.”

            North Wind’s Engineering Manager Monica Christiansen said, “Bob is excellent at following up on questions—we were having some meshing issues and he coordinated directly with Ansys to help resolve them. That kind of responsiveness stands out.”

            As with most organizations needing to upgrade HPC capabilities, cloud was a consideration. “We did look into moving to the cloud, but ultimately decided against it due to cost, Monica said. “We tend to get a lot of long-term use out of our systems, so keeping everything on-premises made more sense for us. Also, having the cluster onsite encourages everyone to use it more frequently and get the most out of it.”

            She added, “It just so happened that when we started looking for another cluster, we also had a few routine issues that needed to be addressed on our original system. Nor-Tech—especially Kyle—was incredibly responsive. Whenever problems arise, their engineers get to the root of the issue quickly and handle everything efficiently. It reinforced how much we value Nor-Tech support.”

Our Solution

Nor-Tech collaborated closely with North Wind to design and build a new HPC cluster tailored to their growing simulation requirements. The new system, scheduled for delivery in December 2025, will provide an 8x increase in performance over their previous configuration.
            Throughout the initial engagement, Nor-Tech’s engineers—Dom, Kyle, and Travis—provided exceptional support, ensuring seamless planning, setup, and issue resolution. Their hands-on approach allowed North Wind to maintain consistent operations and to quickly address performance bottlenecks.
            When a node malfunctioned, Nor-Tech repaired and returned it within a week, restoring full functionality and minimizing downtime. Their responsiveness and technical expertise saved North Wind both time and money, reinforcing Nor-Tech’s reputation for efficient, personal service.

Their Success

The new HPC cluster, which will fully replace the existing cluster, will dramatically improve North Wind’s capacity for advanced aerodynamic simulations. With faster processing speeds and scalable performance, the engineering team can now run more complex, high-fidelity models to support projects such as wind tunnel design and component testing.
            The strengthened partnership between North Wind and Nor-Tech—spanning over eight years—continues to deliver value. North Wind appreciates Nor-Tech’s quick response time, technical insight, and track record of exceeding expectations.

            “Their decision to partner with us again speaks volumes about their satisfaction with the original system and the level of support we’ve provided over the years,” Bob said. “North Wind’s engineering expertise makes them an outstanding partner. Monica and her team understand the technology, ask the right questions, and are always focused on achieving the best performance possible. It’s been a great collaboration from the start.”

            Monica added, “I haven’t had the opportunity to recommend them yet, but I wouldn’t hesitate. Our experience with Nor-Tech has been excellent.”

About Nor-Tech

Nor-Tech is on CRN’s list of the top 40 Data Center Infrastructure Providers along with IBM, Oracle, Dell and Supermicro and is also a member of Hyperion Research’s prestigious HPC Technical Computing Advisory Panel. The company is a complete high-performance computer solution provider for two Nobel Physics Award-contending/winning projects. Nor-Tech engineers average 20+ years of experience. This strong industry reputation and deep partner relationships also enable the company to be a leading supplier of cost-effective Lenovo desktops, laptops, tablets and Chromebooks to schools and enterprises. All of Nor-Tech’s high-performance technology is developed by Nor-Tech in Minnesota and supported by Nor-Tech around the world. The company is headquartered in Burnsville, Minn. just outside of Minneapolis. Contracts include: Minnesota State IT, University of Wisconsin System, and NASA SEWP V.

Sign up for a demo of the most powerful high-performance hardware and software, including next gen NVIDIA GPUs and AMD and Intel CPUs, at https://www.nor-tech.com/solutions/hpc/demo-cluster/.