BEN Johnson, the York-based office equipment specialist, has been awarded a dealership by Japanese electronics giant Panasonic.

The Clifton Moor company has met stringent criteria to take on the supply and service of the latest state-of-the-art digital photocopiers from Panasonic.

Jeremy Oxley, Ben Johnson's managing director, said: "Our achievement is great news for us and for our customers. The new Panasonic copiers are designed to make businesses more efficient and will raise the quality of their documentation presentation.

"Customers can also have confidence in the fact that our sales and technical staff have undergone thorough training on the Panasonic range, which adds to their comprehensive IT knowledge and will enable them to provide the best solution to each individual business."

David Morgan, northern sales manager for Panasonic, said: "We are delighted to welcome Ben Johnson as a business partner.

"We have known them for a long time and have admired their integrity and professionalism and the way they conduct their business with efficiency and humour.

"We look forward to working with them within the spirit of "kizuna" - Japanese for true partnership - and I know that this will be a long, happy and fruitful relationship for both of us."

Updated: 09:25 Tuesday, August 27, 2002