ECS steps up UK and Ireland drive
Taiwanese giant merges with UK distributor
Taiwanese computing giant Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) is expanding its drive into the UK and Irish markets by merging with its main UK distributor, Protac International Computer.
Effective from 1 October, the new company will be known as ECS UK and will operate as the main point of contact for channel and retail customers.
ECS is one of the world's largest motherboard manufacturers but has recently expanded into building notebooks, PCs, USB peripherals and graphics cards. In addition, as an OEM, ECS supplies unbranded notebooks to both Dixons and Time.
"ECS wants to play a more active role in supporting the UK and Irish markets," said Joseph Chang, general manager of ECS UK.
"ECS used to be more focused on components, but now we have a full range of products, including notebooks and PCs. Protac has been in the channel for 10 years. It has a solid technical and support team who knows what the channel needs.
"This merger will help enhance the brand image and recruit more partners from the channel. Without local support, channel partners find it difficult to sell."
Gareth Chapman, operations manager at Protac, said: "This is an extremely positive move. The company is now well positioned to provide more localised support to its customer base and the final result looks as if it will be good for both companies, the staff, customers and channel partners."
Having absorbed Protac, ECS is now looking to recruit three more distributors to help build a new, stronger, channel presence.
The company will hold a seminar next month to announce its new channel, products and sales strategy. Channel incentives the company is offering to existing and new partners will include co-operative marketing funds, preferred rate structures, in-house product training to channel sales staff and other incentives based on sales targets.