TOSHIBA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS EXPANDS OHIO MARKET POSITION WITH KEY DEALER ACQUISITION
Northcoast Business Systems and Northcoast Duplicating Join Toshiba to Further Solidify Key Cleveland and Akron Markets
IRVINE , California ( Feb 19, 2008 ) :
Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS) today announced that it has further increased its market influence in the greater Ohio metropolitan area with the acquisition of Northcoast Business Systems and Northcoast Duplicating, based in Cleveland. Prior to this acquisition, the companies were authorized Toshiba and Lanier dealers providing a wide range of document imaging products and solutions, as well as print management services to the northeast Ohio market, including health care, education and Fortune 500 corporations. This acquisition marks the 53rd dealer acquisition for TBS since the inception of the company’s business expansion plan. Northcoast will become the 17th core company for TBS.
“Toshiba and the Northcoast companies have had a long-standing relationship that extends back to the mid-1980s, and as such, it’s a great tactical move for us to bring the tremendous assets of the Northcoast companies in as the cornerstone of a new Toshiba subsidiary,” said Wayne Wilkinson, vice president/general manager, TBS. “Northcoast Business Systems and Northcoast Duplicating have an excellent reputation for quality and service, with strong ties to the business community throughout northeast Ohio. We are excited to incorporate their expertise into our Ohio group, and look forward to seeing them contribute to our overall strategy for growth in this key market.”
With more than two decades of experience in the document imaging market, Northcoast Business Systems has won numerous awards for growth and excellence, including being ranked as one of the Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Ohio six years running and earning 12 National Top 50 Dealer Awards. Previous owner Sonny Kumar will continue to serve as president of Northcoast Business Systems, a Toshiba company.
“Toshiba fits the business culture we’ve fostered over the years, and is a market leader that supports the tradition of excellence that Northcoast has come to represent in the Cleveland and Akron business markets,” said Kumar. “On behalf of our associates, we are excited to continue providing world-class service to all of our existing customers and expand our market presence with the resources that come with being a Toshiba subsidiary.”
About Northcoast Business Systems Inc. and Northcoast Duplicating Inc.
Northcoast Business Systems Inc. and Northcoast Duplicating Inc. are headquartered in Cleveland. Founded by Sonny Kumar in 1985, Northcoast Business Systems is the leading provider of integrated document workflow solutions for small- and mid-size companies, as well as Fortune 500 corporations, nonprofit associations, health care, education and government institutions across more than 40 percent of the state of Ohio. In 1993, Kumar created Northcoast Duplicating in order to service the growing demand for the large quantity/low cost printing needs of Ohio-based schools, churches, nonprofit business associations and commercial printers.
About Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc.
Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. (TABS) manages product planning, marketing, sales, service support and distribution of copiers, facsimiles, multifunction printing products, network controllers and toner products throughout the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TABS has four divisions: the Electronic Imaging Division; the Toner Products Division; the Document Solutions Engineering Division; and TOPAC U.S.A., Inc., dba Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of TABS, that operates a network of wholly owned office equipment dealers throughout the United States.
Named the most favored manufacturer eight times by the Business Technology Association (BTA), Toshiba’s entire product line, customer support and marketing distribution policies are markers for the industry. Among the many other awards garnered in recent years, Toshiba was named the “Manufacturer of the Year” seven times by Marketing Research Consultants (MRC), and has twice been named to the CIO 100 for being among the top 100 “bold” (2005) and “agile” (2004) companies in the world.
TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corporation, the seventh largest electronics/electrical equipment company and the world's 91st largest company in terms of sales. Ranked by Fortune magazine as the 10th Most Admired Electronics Company in the World, Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Fiscal year revenue in 2006 was approximately $60 billion.
For more information on Toshiba copier, facsimile, multifunction printing products, network controllers or toner products, or for a dealer in your area, call (800)-GO-TOSHIBA or visit the TABS Web site at www.copiers.toshiba.com.