ITEC: Successfully building a South African brand

Document solutions company, Itec is making huge strides in their quest to build a truly South African brand within the industry.

Itec is the fastest growing document solutions company in southern Africa with an annual turnover of half a billion Rand. Their consistent 40%, year on year, increase in sales following the merge of Konica and Minolta two years ago, is a further testament to their success.

In a bid to increase market share and to capitalise on the professional reputation they have fostered within the market, Itec recently approached their main product supplier, Konica Minolta Business Technologies in Japan (KMBT), with the aim of securing an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement with the company.

The result is that as of 1 March 2005, Itec will be proud to offer their customer base Itec branded copiers and MFP`s (multi-functional products), along with the supply of their current product range including Konica Minolta printers.

"We have exciting plans for Itec`s future. Being one of a handful of companies worldwide to secure an OEM agreement with Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc. is a major achievement. It is also the fulfillment of one of the main goals for the company, to be the first document solutions company in South Africa to grow a local brand, which has the potential to succeed in foreign markets," said Jacques Duyver, CEO, Itec.

The development of the brand locally has the full backing of Konica Minolta, who have expressed their support by financially investing in Itec`s marketing campaign and other areas of the business. Itec is also committed to continue marketing the Konica Minolta name and strengthening a strong association between the two, while actively focusing on building their own brand

"Itec`s impressive sales record, as well as their professionalism, have motivated us to lend our support to their future growth," says Mr. Yoshikatsu Ota, President of Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc.