Brightpoint Acquires Touchstone Wireless

Brightpoint Inc., a provider of supply chain solutions to the wireless industry, has acquired Touchstone Wireless Repair and Logistics, which provides repair, remanufacture and reverse logistics services to the wireless industry, for $80 million in cash. Touchstone is a privately-held company based in Hatfield, Pa.

Touchstone Wireless LP was formed in 2005 with the merger of Image 1 Wireless Inc. of Bristol, Tenn., and Eastern Wireless Inc., a Pennsylvania-based company. Touchstone's core business is the repair, remanufacturing and logistical services of wireless products, involving forward and reverse logistics, warranty and out-of-warranty fulfillment, and refurbishment. The company also provides repair and reverse logistics solutions for wireless product insurance and handles asset management, which involves finding markets globally for refurbished, salvaged and recycled wireless products on behalf of customers and then selling the products in those markets. Touchstone's IT solutions enable customers to track and manage their inventories in real time.

Adding an in-house repair operation with more than 300 trained repair technicians will enable Brightpoint to offer end-to-end supply chain services, and provide the expertise and infrastructure for additional services, such as wireless device recycling and refurbishment, notes J. Mark Howell, president of Brightpoint Americas.

Source: http://logisticstoday.com/