Your operational platform has to keep running.
highgrove keeps it running — and moving forward.

35 years on IBM i. System support, RPG development, modernisation, and cross-platform integration — from the same team that was at the AS/400 launch in 1988.

Most IT companies work within a single modern platform. highgrove has spent 35 years making IBM i work alongside everything else — cloud, web, AI, hardware, third-party systems. The platform isn't going anywhere. Neither are we.

1988AS/400 launch
35+Years on platform
30+Years at Magna
Platform heritage

Whatever IBM called it,
we've always known it.

Tony Cantrill attended the AS/400 launch at the NEC in 1988. That's not a talking point — it's the depth of platform knowledge that highgrove brings to every project, every support call, every modernisation conversation.

Most clients still call it "the AS400". We know what they mean — and we know exactly what it's running.

AS/400 iSeries System i Power i IBM i — Power10
Talk to an IBM i specialist See the Magna story
Modernisation, not replacement

APIs. Cloud connectivity.
UI refresh. Modern tooling.

The IBM i platform is built for longevity. highgrove adds REST APIs, cloud integrations, modern front-ends and AI connectivity — extending what already works rather than replacing it.

We also run GitHub on IBM i, manage capacity planning and health checks, and keep your system current through every hardware and OS generation.

Capability

What we cover on IBM i

System administration & managed service

Day-to-day management, monitoring, patching and support. 1st–3rd line, UK-based.

RPG, ILE, COBOL & CL development

Bespoke application development, legacy code modification and feature addition in native IBM i languages.

Modernisation

REST APIs, cloud connectivity, modern UI refresh — extending IBM i investment rather than replacing it.

Document & output management

PrintBOS / PB Digital (UK distributor). Output management, CCM, omnichannel delivery from IBM i.

RFID, machine vision & I/O control

Factory-floor integration: RFID readers, barcode scanners, machine vision, doors, lights, sensors and relays.

Data integration

Connecting IBM i to cloud, web, third-party ERP and modern APIs. Cross-stack, not IBM-only.

EDI — native IBM i (IPLS)

TBT400 / TBT EDI — fully native, no front-end servers. EDIFACT, ANSI X12, TRADACOMS, XML. Deployed at Magna.

Health checks & audits

Capacity planning, performance reviews and security assessments for IBM i environments.

GitHub on IBM i

Modern source control for IBM i development — CI/CD pipelines and collaborative development.

30-year partnership

Magna Specialist Confectioners have relied on highgrove's IBM i expertise for over 30 years.

ERP (Mangrove), output management (PrintBOS / PB Digital) and live native-IBM i EDI (IPLS) — all running on highgrove-supported IBM i systems at the heart of Magna's operations.

Read the full story Talk to a specialist
ERP

Mangrove

Manufacturing ERP written and maintained by highgrove. IBM i native. Born at Triumph Motorcycles.

Output

PrintBOS / PB Digital

UK distributor and only UK technical support centre. Works with IBM i, SAP, Oracle and others.

EDI

IPLS TBT400 / TBT EDI

Fully native IBM i EDI. No front-end servers. All major EDI standards. Deployed live at Magna.

Common questions

Things IBM i specialists ask us

Is IBM i a dying platform?

No. IBM i runs some of the most critical operational systems in the world — manufacturing, banking, distribution. IBM continues to invest in the platform. highgrove's clients have been running production on IBM i for 20–30 years and continue to evolve alongside it.

Can you connect IBM i with our modern systems?

Yes. REST APIs, cloud integrations, modern front-ends and AI tooling are all deliverable alongside IBM i. highgrove has been building cross-platform integrations for 35 years.

Can you work alongside our existing IBM i team?

Yes. highgrove often operates as a specialist extension to in-house teams — adding depth on specific projects, providing cover, or handling capability the internal team doesn't have.

Where do we start?

With a conversation. highgrove will assess your current environment, understand what you need, and recommend a practical starting point — whether that's a health check, a specific project, or a managed service.

Talk to an IBM i specialist