IT systems and communications distributor Comztek has signed-on a new storage vendor, Imation, a global leader in several segments of the removable data storage media market. Comztek is now one of three distributors of the Imation product range in SA.
"Imation is constantly looking to expand our business opportunities in Africa," says Sergio Castillo, general manager for Imation Corporation in Africa. "We believe that Comztek, with its extended focus in the storage arena, national distribution grid and reach into southern and central Africa as a whole, is a perfect fit.
"The Imation team will be working closely with Comztek, assisting them to grow the storage media business into an integral part of their storage offering," he adds.
According to Heinz Stephan, products and technology director at Comztek, the relationship adds more value to Comztek`s current storage offering. "Storage is a focus area for us. The Imation product range enables us to offer an end to end storage solution to our resellers: from the physical tape drive and software to the media that goes into the tape drive.
"We looked at all the competitive brands and chose Imation, which is growing its market share at a rapid rate. In addition, their market strategy to grow the SMB market space and claim the media market is in line with ours," he says.
Spun-off from the 3M Corporation, Imation provides a full range of best of breed media, professional sales support, rebate opportunities, a Club-i membership (a partner rewards programme) and life time product warranties.
The company has 50 years of media manufacturing experience and global representation. It holds 200 technology patents. Some of the manufacturer`s proprietary technologies are:
* "Blackwatch coating" which gives threefold the protection of mission-critical data with static protection; improved archival storage - the coating protects the tape against the compressive forces within the tape pack; and substrate durability - resistant to scratching and virtually eliminates polyester debris that can threaten data.
* An LTO tape drive patented corner snap design which improves cartridge strength; a patented three piece tape spool aiding tape guidance; and a proprietary servo-writing method enabling tracking performance to deliver stronger data security.
Comztek will support Imation through the provision of training, sales support and technical services. Comztek will also hold stock for most of the run rate items and offer a seven working day delivery service on non-stocked items.
"Storage technology has reached a stage in its evolution where it complements networking, software and security solutions. Storage devices and services have become networkable technologies and we cannot consider them standalone technologies," says Stephan. "That is why Comztek is expanding its focus in this arena."
In line with its strategy to grow the storage division by offering total storage solutions, Comztek will hold a storage roadshow shortly, with all storage vendors including Imation, participating.
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