How Softweb Modernized a Legacy Desktop Systeminto a Centralized Angular Web Application for a Global Heat Transfer Manufacturer
Our client, a global manufacturer of high-performance heat transfer solutions with more than 140 years of engineering expertise, relied on a legacy desktop application to manage core operations. They partnered with Softweb to transform the legacy system into a centralized, scalable web application that improved data control, collaboration, and long-term maintainability.
Industry: Mechanical / Industrial Engineering 
Business type: Enterprise - Services: Web application modernization
- Technology: Angular, .NET Core, Azure SQL
Client Profile
The company is a global leader in high-performance heat transfer solutions, with more than 140 years of industry experience. Supported by a broad network of manufacturing facilities, it serves customers across multiple regions and industries.
With more than 1,600 employees worldwide, the organization delivers custom engineered heat transfer systems designed to address complex industrial requirements. Their operational processes extend from design and manufacturing through testing and service. These long-standing practices reflect a structured approach focused on precision, accountability, and sustained performance.
Technical Challenges
Our client’s teams relied on a Java-based desktop application supported by distributed MS Access databases. As system usage increased across regions, the existing setup struggled to support scalability, structured maintenance, and centralized control. The following technical challenges required a structured architectural shift.
Java-Based Legacy Application
Built in 2004, the Java desktop system lacked flexibility and modern upgrade capability.
Decentralized Installations
Each user required local installation with a separate MS Access database copy.
High Storage Utilization
Multiple local database copies increased storage usage and system inefficiency.
Manual Upgrade Cycles
Updates required system-level changes on each machine, delaying rollouts.
Monolithic Code Structure
Tightly coupled logic made enhancements complex and increased risk.
Language Dependency Barrier
Code and database written in German limited maintainability and updates.
Our Solution
We rebuilt the legacy desktop application as a centralized web platform developed with Angular and .NET Core. The original business logic was retained, while the system architecture was reorganized to allow centralized deployment and easier administration.
Database structures and user management processes were consolidated during implementation. With browser-based access and centralized control in place, updates and operational adjustments were managed without system-level intervention.
Responsive Angular web application for centralized access
The desktop system was rebuilt as a browser-based Angular application that users access through standard web browsers. Local installations were no longer required, and system access became centrally managed. Core configuration workflows were retained during the transition to preserve operational continuity. The interface was refined to make navigation clearer for routine operational tasks.
Access through a single web interface reduced dependency on individual machines and minimized environment-specific inconsistencies. As a result, teams now work within a consistent system experience regardless of location or device configuration.
Controlled request routing through a centralized gateway
We designed and implemented a gateway layer to manage and route all incoming requests between the Angular interface and backend services. It standardized communication and established a controlled boundary between frontend interaction and core business logic.
Centralized request orchestration allowed backend services to evolve independently from the user interface. Governance also improved through controlled API exposure and structured traffic management.
Domain-driven .NET Core service design
The backend was restructured into focused .NET Core service modules covering User, Customer, Project, Quotation, Item, and Pricing Management. Each module contains its own processing logic and interacts with others through defined service boundaries.
Responsibilities are clearly separated across these modules, which keeps changes contained within specific functional areas. Enhancements were introduced without affecting unrelated parts of the system.
Repository-based SQL architecture
Distributed MS Access databases were consolidated into a centralized SQL Server environment supported by a repository pattern. Data access now flows through defined repository layers that connect application services to the database.
Records remain consistent across modules because validation and storage follow a controlled pathway. Reporting became more dependable once teams began working from a single consolidated dataset. Governance activities were easier to oversee within the unified database structure, supporting long-term maintainability.
Virtual machine–based centralized deployment
The application stack was deployed within a controlled virtual machine environment to centralize infrastructure management. Deployment within this hosted environment eliminated system-level dependencies tied to individual desktops.
Centralized infrastructure oversight improved performance stability and simplified maintenance cycles. It created a stable foundation for scaling as system usage increased.
Business Goals and Measurable Outcomes
| Business objective | Business benefit delivered |
|---|---|
| Streamline application upgrades | Updates deploy centrally, reducing IT effort and eliminating system-level manual installations |
| Improve data consistency | Centralized SQL storage removed duplication and strengthened cross-team reporting accuracy |
| Reduce infrastructure overhead | Browser-based access removed desktop installs and lowered storage and maintenance load |
| Improve quote turnaround time | Streamlined quotation workflows and integrated pricing logic reduced delays in quote generation |
| Reduce configuration errors | Automated validation and centralized data control improved product definition accuracy |
| Enable secure access control | Centralized role management improved permission governance and reduced access-related risks |
Tech Stack
- Source system
- Net Core 3.1,
- C#,
- Entity Framework,
- LINQ,
- Web API,
- AngularJs(10),
- Bootstrap,
- HTML5,
- Azure SQL Server,
- Azure Virtual Machines
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