The Kalamazoo Software Services Ltd subsidiary of Birmingham-based Kalamazoo Plc, yesterday acquired the business and assets of software manufacturer E T Hi-Tec Ltd, part of Eliza Tinsley Group Plc, in a cash deal worth ?250,000. The acquisition was proposed by Eliza Tinsley Group Plc as it wishes to focus on its core business of manufacturing and distribution of chain and grass care products. For Kalamazoo, the acquisition adds two software products to its portfolio, enabling the company to extend its business in these markets: the first provides time and attendance recording that will be used to link into the payroll systems within Kalamazoo’s vertical markets as well as providing an opportunity for the Motor Trade division to develop a complementary package for motor dealerships that will link into its market-leading dealer management systems. The second product provides shop floor data capture and is aimed at enhancing Kalamazoo’s capability within the manufacturing market. The system is designed to link into payroll systems and provides for the capture of a range of data such as clocking in and out times, overtime and time spent on a job, allowing tighter control of labour costs, work in progress and costs against budgets. The E T Hi-Tec sales, support and development staff will transfer to Kalamazoo’s Birmingham base. In recent years Kalamazoo Plc has acquired CBA Nederland BV, a Dutch motor trade software systems house; European Systems Support and CWP; Datawork Computer Services and Visisytems, motor trade software manufacturers; The Beeches Management Centre, residential management training centre; NK Interface, fraud prevention printing technology; and Avenue, Baseline, Logic and McQueen user bases and hardware maintenance contracts, all widening Kalamazoo’s geographical presence ever further afield from its Birmingham headquarters and increasing its customer base. Kalamazoo already supplies software, hardware, maintenance services and technology training across vertical markets, which include manufacturing, accounting, construction and distribution.
