Minolco, wholly-owned by JSE Securities Exchange-listed Bidvest, has been appointed as the sole importer and distributor of MINOLTA-QMS laser printers, following the recent closure of the Minolta-QMS office in South Africa.
Minolco director Peter Enslin says the company has distributed MINOLTA-QMS monochrome and colour laser printers since the beginning of the year 2000, when Minolta Japan purchased a 51% stake in US company, QMS - a deal which combined Minolta`s leading edge expertise in printer engine manufacture, with QMS` international reputation in printer software.
Prior to this Minolco has had a 30 year relationship with Minolta, distributing their copiers, faxes and printer products.
"The appointment of Minolco by Dutch-based MINOLTA-QMS is indicative of the value we add to the after-sales and software support of the products," he says.
The MINOLTA-QMS South African branch served primarily as a marketing arm for the two distribution channels via Siltek Distribution Dynamics (SDD) through its network of computer dealers and Minolco via its infrastructure of branches, dealerships and a newly formed channel division, also selling through computer dealers.
"The consolidation of the two offices will provide a central focused, streamlined distribution channel for the products and will allow all dealers marketing the MINOLTA-QMS brand to take advantage of Minolco`s countrywide technical service and software support infrastructure."
"We believe that this new structure will ultimately increase market share in laser printer products" says Enslin.
The key personnel from MINOLTA-QMS have been retained, and the distribution channels will remain operational through Minolco.
"The only affect on current MINOLTA-QMS clients should be a positive one," says Enslin.
Minolco also extends an invitation to all dealers and value added resellers to include the MINOLTA-QMS products in their range.
"We are a major player in the distribution of laser printers and in fact MINOLTA-QMS is the top brand in the South African colour printer market, with a market share of 32%," says Enslin.
Minolco is also the principle importer and distributor of Minolta digital copiers, faxes and imaging systems, as well as the high volume range of Oc'e printing and copying systems and wide format engineering systems.
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