Swedish mobile PC pioneer JLT expands in UK

14 May 2008, 1:18pm

JLT, the Swedish manufacturer of rugged portable PCs, has acquired its UK distributor CMC as part of a major investment in UK expansion. Ideal for mobile GIS and mapping JLT rugged computers were first developed for the Swedish military and now widely used in harsh outdoor and industrial environments, including by multi-nationals such as Fedex, Volvo and Rolls Royce.

JLT has pioneered many key advances in rugged computing and the range of devices is the most rugged of its type in the world. JLT will be working with existing application development partners and is looking to appoint resellers in key markets such as government, engineering, heavy industry, logistics and manufacturing. JLT plans to increase turnover five-fold within three years with investment in product development, support and channel sales development.

CMC was formed in 2004 to promote JLT in the UK and through Value Added Resellers has established a strong user base among the military, emergency services, manufacturing companies. Having acquired CMC, JLT will now be providing major investment for expanding across the UK and Ireland under the JLT banner. JLT has appointed Mark Muslek, CMC’s previous Managing Director to the spearhead the growth.

“CMC has been our UK partner for four years and the company has opened up some exciting new market opportunities for JLT products. Both parties realised the time was right for major investment and acquisition of CMC is the perfect scenario by providing JLT an inside track to the UK market. It also provides the ideal platform for building a strong international brand and business,” says Jan Olofsson, founder and CEO of JLT.

“We have ambitious plans for JLT in the UK and this is being backed with a six figure investment that will underpin establishment of strong channel sales and marketing capability. With the market for industrial automation set to grow quickly, the four year track record of activity in the UK means that we are ideally placed to establish JLT as the first choice in rugged industrial computers,” says Mark Muslek, Managing Director of JLT in the UK.

Photo shows Mark Muslek, Managing Director of JLT (on left) with Mark Dale-Lace, Director of CMC.

CONTACTS: Mark Muslek, +44 (0)870 165 1465, e: mark.muslek@cmc.org.uk

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