INTECHRA, RETROBOX MERGE
Intechra Holding Corp. and RetroBox LLC have announced a merger agreement that the companies say creates the largest full-service information technology asset disposition company in the United States with annual revenues of approximately $40 million. The combined company operates as Intechra.
At completion of the merger, the terms of which were not disclosed, Intechra has processing centers in Columbus, Ohio, Dallas and Phoenix and sales offices in 10 cities. The company is headquartered in Dallas.
Cindy Brannon, who joined Intechra in late 2004, has been named COO. Prior to joining the company, she was with Compaq for 17 years and served as general manager for the company’s remarketing and remanufacturing division.
"Three geographically dispersed processing centers will give our customers significant savings on shipping and ensure their remarketed assets get to market faster," Brannon says.
Intechra is an IT asset disposition company with $22 million in revenue and more than 125 employees at its Dallas processing center. The company offers IT asset recycling, data destruction and remarketing services to corporate customers. It sells brand-name refurbished computer equipment through Outlet Computer and a network of domestic and international resellers.
RetroBox specialized in the retirement, redeployment, remarketing and recycling of desktop computers, notebooks, servers, networking equipment and associated peripherals.
Stampp Corbin, RetroBox’s founder and CEO, has become Intechra’s chief strategic officer. He says the companies complement each other in many ways. "Intechra and RetroBox have distinct sales channels and strong customer bases with little duplication," Corbin says. "While Intechra sells primarily through computer manufacturers and wholesalers, RetroBox for the most part sells directly to Fortune 1,000 companies."
DELL, GOODWILL LAUNCH RECYCLING SERVICE IN MICHIGAN
Goodwill Association of Michigan, based in Lansing, and Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, have introduced Reconnect Michigan, which they describe as "a comprehensive computer recovery, reuse and environmentally responsible recycling opportunity for Michigan consumers."
The pilot program offers consumers across the state free drop-off recycling and reuse options for unwanted computers and gives them the opportunity to support a local charity.
"Reconnect Michigan uses the donations infrastructure of a nonprofit and the experience and recycling resources of a technology company to offer a proactive, community-based solution designed for environmentally responsible computer disposal," according to a release from Dell.
The partnership’s goal is to divert at least 3.3 million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from landfills during one year and to provide education on the importance of proper computer disposal, while also creating job opportunities throughout Michigan for individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers.
Michigan residents can now call (866) 48-REUSE or visit www.ReconnectPartnership.com to learn about drop-off options for unwanted computers and computer equipment at Goodwill locations.
The 11 Goodwill members of the Goodwill Association of Michigan will accept donations of residential computer equipment of any brand. Goodwill will collect, sort and consolidate the unwanted computers, separating equipment with resale value, which will be entered into Dell’s Asset Recovery Services value-recovery processes. Proceeds from equipment recovery will be returned to the Goodwill Association of Michigan for re-investment in a variety of job-creation and other community programs.
Electronic Partners Corp. (ePC) will recycle equipment without resale value according to Dell’s guidelines. ePC is a part of Chasm Industries, a firm that specializes in electronic asset management and recycling services.
Consumers are responsible for removing data from their hard drives and other storage media before making their donation; neither Dell nor Goodwill will take any responsibility for this information, according to the companies.
Goodwill Industries of Central Texas and Goodwill Industries of San Francisco have partnered with Dell on similar pilot programs. The success of these pilots prompted Dell and Goodwill to implement a regional version of the program across Michigan.
CRA BECOMES ERA, EXPANDS
Computer Recyclers of America (CRA), a California-based electronics recycler, has changed its name to Electronic Recyclers of America (ERA).
The company’s President and CEO John S. Shegerian says, "Electronic Recyclers of America best reflects our true scope of capabilities, which is much greater than merely computers."
The company recently opened what it says is California’s largest obsolete electronics recycling facility in Fresno in November.
The ERA facility de-manufactures, recycles and crushes cathode ray tubes found in computer monitors, televisions and other video equipment. Its cathode ray tube crushers can process more than 1,500 units per hour, according to the company. The facility is capable of processing up to 5 million pounds of electronics per month.
ERA accepts computer monitors, televisions, AV equipment, outdated computers, peripherals, PDAs and RMAs, LCD monitors, LCD televisions, laptops, plasma screens, fax machines, copiers and other electronic items. It is approved by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Toxic Substance Control as an authorized electronics recycling outlet. ERA says that all activities within the plant are monitored by surveillance and security camera systems. All electronic components entering the facility are completely recycled, according to the company, and are traceable with the use of ERA’s bar coded reporting system.
ERA is headquartered in Visa, Calif., near San Diego.
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