MTR Group Ltd

MTR Group Ltd: comprehensive mobile device lifecycle management

MTR Group Ltd is a company based in Harlow (United Kingdom) that develops services and solutions to extend the useful life of mobile phones, wearable devices and tablets. Its activity ranges from stock sourcing and refurbishment to repair, distribution, value recovery and certified destruction of end-of-life equipment. The company states it has over 25 years of experience in the sector and more than 15 years in the service and repair network.

Device sourcing and distribution

MTR has a broad network of national and international suppliers, including distribution networks and manufacturers, which allows it to maintain stock for resale and distribution. Its offering ranges from new stock in sealed master cartons to refurbished devices with its own accreditation. All refurbished equipment goes through a testing programme before resale, with the aim that the device received is indistinguishable from new.

The company also buys stock, from new master cartons to 14-day devices and salvage recovered equipment (BER). For rapid disposal operations, it offers same-day payment through its purchasing team.

Refurbishment with Samsung accreditation

MTR has held Samsung accreditation within its group since 2005, which allows it to supply OEM refurbished devices. The company claims to have supplied more than 50,000 devices to the UK and European insurance sector in 2015. All Samsung devices are refurbished in-house by a team of accredited engineers and undergo testing and quality checks before leaving its facilities. Handsets are supplied with a return-to-base warranty and the company reports a documented fallout ratio of under 3%. It also offers fully boxed and kitted refurbished devices, with significant savings compared to new equipment.

Preparation, packaging and shipping services

The company manages picking, packing and despatch operations with capacity for more than 5,000 shipments per month. It offers service and delivery 7 days a week, late cut-off times and its own system called Halo, which enables integration with the customer's systems and the development of customisations. Features include processes that reduce device handling, custom branded packaging at competitive prices, rebranding and in-house configuration, real-time order processing with access to a remote portal 24/7, fixed pricing with no hidden fees, detailed returns management with reporting, integration with Amazon, eBay and white-label sales sites, and 24/7 support.

Multi-brand repair with OEM parts

MTR's core is repair and refurbishment. The company carries out repairs for all manufacturers and maintains relationships with manufacturers that allow it to use genuine new OEM parts. All repairs are documented and progress can be checked via remote access to Halo with real-time updates. It offers same-day repair quotes, full reconfiguration services at the time of repair and imagery for auditing purposes. Work is carried out by trained and accredited engineers.

Data protection and certified destruction

MTR works with BlackBelt Smartphone Defence to offer certified data erasure services for mobiles and tablets. The integration of its system with this service means that no device leaves its facilities without an erasure certificate, which the company presents as one of the most secure processes in the industry. Intelligent erasure also allows BER devices that would normally be destined for shredding to be given a second life. The company claims to have demonstrated in case studies a significant increase in value for its customers through salvage recovery programmes. Options include secure erasure after reprocessing, disassembly and recovery of parts and LCD screens to maximise return, fixed monthly prices for BER devices, sale and auction of LCDs through its own online platform with full transparency, and intelligent destruction of devices that do not pass secure erasure.

Recovery of BER and salvage equipment

MTR's BER and salvage recovery programme allows devices that are usually destined for destruction to be reconditioned. Equipment is returned to a power-on state and its data is securely destroyed, after which it can be resold or sent for refurbishment. The service can be tailored to the customer's needs. Devices that pass secure erasure can be resold complete, sent for refurbishment or disassembled to sell their parts. The company segregates devices that would be profitable after the process, disassembles and resells LCD screens through its auction to maximise return, applies a fixed monthly pricing matrix for the resale of eligible devices and offers full transparency through Halo and personalised access. Non-recoverable devices are disassembled to make use of their parts.

Resale through e-commerce

MTR also resells devices through its e-commerce site. Equipment that does not meet the aesthetic standard required for insurance channels but does not justify a full refurbishment is sold to the end consumer through this channel, providing additional return.

Secure destruction and WEEE directive compliance

The company carries out secure destruction of end-of-life devices with little or no resale value in-house, and issues a destruction certificate that certifies compliance with the WEEE directive.

Location and contact

Duke House, Perry Road, Harlow CM18 7ND, United Kingdom · Phone: 0800 456 1663 · Email: info@mtr.co.uk