S3i taken over by US giant Sims

A WEST coast firm that specialises in refurbishing electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets has been sold to US company Sims Recycling Solutions for an undisclosed sum.

S3 Interactive (S3i), which was set up in 2004 and employs about 70 people at its bases in Clydebank and Holland, takes electronic devices that are nearing the end of their life, overhauls them and re-sells them to overseas markets.

A spokesman for S3i last night insisted that, despite the takeover, it would be “very much business as usual” at the Scots firm and the new US parent had committed to maintaining jobs and keeping the existing management team in place.

Sims Recycling Solutions is the world’s biggest electronics recycling firm and is part of the Dow Jones-listed outfit Sims Metal Management.

S3i owner and chief executive Philip Johnston said: “S3i has achieved tremendous success on servicing our clients’ needs over the past seven years.

“We are now at a point that to continue to exceed our clients’ expectations and to grow the business further requires us to enter new markets and Sims provides the perfect platform to achieve this.”

Last year, S3i processed more than 600,000 items and generated a turnover of about £15 million.

Graham Davy, chief executive of Sims Recycling Solutions, said: “The acquisition of S3i will position Sims Recycling Solutions in the rapidly growing market of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet computers.”