Pinteq, the services division of ICT distributor Pinnacle Micro - part of the JSE-listed Pinnacle Technology Holdings (PTH) group - has invested more than R1 million in setting up a new production line and configuration laboratory in order to offer nationwide support for the Lenovo product range.
This follows the acquisition by Pinnacle Micro of Tri-Continental - one of IBM's and Lenovo's biggest distributors in the region - for an undisclosed amount in December last year.
Mike McGee, general manager of Pinteq, said the company now operates as an authorised warranty service provider for Lenovo in SA, including carry-in warranty, on-site warranty and extended warranty.
"But, for the first time, Lenovo users now have access to nationwide support thanks to our national footprint. Lenovo is now fully represented at Pinnacle Micro branches throughout South Africa. Indeed, in terms of our mandate, we offer services and support to any Lenovo customer, not just to customers of Pinnacle Micro who have purchased Lenovo products."
He said that for the first time Lenovo now has "nationwide representation - including countries outside South Africa, such as Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia and Botswana".
"We are fully geared up to offer Lenovo products and services to the corporate world, to government, retail and individual clients. For the first time, Lenovo is making an entry into the government and retail market segments. There is a big push into government," said McGee.
As part of its goal to offer enhanced nationwide services for Lenovo products, Pinteq has acquired full certification for the entire Lenovo product range. This included the provision of in-depth training for more than 20 desktop and laptop regional engineers at its Midrand headquarters.
The company also expanded and "upskilled" its help-desk, including providing the capability to offer automated support for all customer service queries. A total of 30 help-desk staff now man the call centre in Johannesburg.
"This investment is part of the company's goal to significantly increase Lenovo sales in South Africa and Southern Africa, while, at the same time, ensuring that after-sales support is conducted at the highest level. The company also recently announced that it has expanded Lenovo sales into Namibia and Angola - and surpassed first quarter sales targets by a substantial amount."
PTH, said McGee, is also looking to spin Pinteq off as a separate entity in the "not too distant future".
"Pinteq, in its own right, would qualify as one of the country's biggest IT services companies. We offer services and support for a large number of companies and products - not just for Pinnacle Micro. Spinning Pinteq off as a separate company makes sense - although we will continue to operate under the PTH banner," said McGee.
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Pinnacle Micro is the engine room of the JSE-listed Pinnacle Technology Holdings (PTH) group and works in close synergy with other group companies, including Workgroup, Rentnet and Datanet and its recent acquisition Tricon.
The PTH Group is 30.4% owned by historically disadvantaged individuals, with 20% being held by Amabubesi - a black-owned investment company - and the rest by Pinnacle Micro staff and other small BEE investors.
It has an extensive distribution footprint in Southern Africa. With its headquarters and main branch in Midrand, Gauteng, the company offices in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban, East London, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Angola.
Renowned for its industry-leading Proline desktop and PC range, the company is also the distributor for more than 35 leading product lines, including Intel, Microsoft, Lenovo, IBM, Apacer, Canon, Dicota, Logitech, LG, Canon, Symbol and Western Digital.
For the six months ended 31 December 2007, the PTH group announced revenue increases of 33.7% to R974 million, of which 25.4% growth was organic and 8.3% was through the acquisition of DataNet, the networking infrastructure supply company. Operating profit increased by 39% to R71.2 million.
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