Elcom forms acquisitions into UK distribution arm

US giant reseller Elcom International has formally launched its UK distribution arm, resulting from the merger of the Lantec and Able Distribution businesses that it bought last year.

Elite Computer Distribution, launched last week, is the fusion of the two acquisitions Elcom made last year, Lantec, and Portable Computers along with its Able Distribution subsidiary (PC Dealer, 11 December 1996).

The distributor has also announced that it will make products available to its resellers online, using the Pecos proprietary electronic commerce system obtained from sister company Elcom Systems. Using Pecos resellers can link up with Elite?s inventory system to check product availability, have access to regular catalogue updates, order stock and track orders.

Pecos will be available free of charge to Elite?s customers, along with training.

Steve Bell, marketing and communications manager for Elcom UK, said: ?This is the first time that Pecos has been used for a trade audience, although we have been using it in other markets in the US and UK for some time?.

He added: ?We have been carrying out customer trials of the system over the past four to five months, but we were waiting for the renaming and official launch to bring it out into the open.?

Paul Rose, vice president for European Sales at Elcom Systems, said negotiations to license Pecos to rival distributors were taking place. He declined to name the firms, saying announcements would be made in a few months.

Parent company Elcom International posted its second quarter results to 30 June, with net profits at $2.06 million up 78 per cent from $1.2 million in the same period last year.