The Company decided to change how it refers to its security systems division from SSD to Burtek to take advantage of Burtek's positive brand recognition within the sound and security industries. Over the past 25 years the Burtek name has become synonymous with high quality products and technical support of commercial and residential audio, burglar and fire alarm, CCTV, Access Control and Data Communication products. In 1997, Richardson Electronics acquired Burtek Systems Corporation in Canada and allowed it to continue to operate under this name. Burtek is widely known and respected for its value added approach to distribution including a strong focus on customer and vendor partnerships centered on knowledge and support. The division has been adding network savvy sales and support resources to its branches to assist vendors in training dealers and integrators, as well as helping to define product requirements and provide troubleshooting during the installation process.
"This change will allow the division to present one unified sales and marketing approach throughout the US and Canada, and coincides with significant infrastructure investments that will improve support to all our partners. We now have 16 full service distribution outlets in North America to better support our vendors and our customers, many of whom are expanding rapidly both geographically and technologically," said Wendy Diddell, EVP and General Manager of the division. SSD locations in Europe and Latin America will continue to operate as the Security Systems Division of Richardson Electronics.