About Us

Actual Systems was set up in 1985, originally to serve the photo-finishing industry by developing a computer system to communicate with the large and expensive colour printing machines that were used extensively in the industry. Actual Systems provided both the hardware and software for this product, designing and controlling the production of all items, including custom-built circuit boards and interface assemblies. The specification of this equipment enabled the machines to be controlled at more than ten times the previous speed, yet still be manageable by semi-skilled operators. It was during this stage of Actual System's development that the importance to the customer of easy-to-use, intuitively usable software became obvious.

Since 1987, Actual Systems has been involved in consultancy with anyone requiring help in making decisions about computer systems. In this way, a local car dismantler in Scotland asked us to look at their requirements with a view to computerisation. They had already seen several systems mostly related to new parts stock control, but could see the shoe-horning required to use them in the dismantling industry was extensive and were unsure of the effectiveness of this route.

On examination of the proposals, we too agreed that there was nothing available that was anywhere near closely enough matched to their requirements to be useful, irrespective of the amount of money they were prepared to pay for a system. They then asked us to map out a specification and subsequently to write that for them. This was done rapidly with close liaison with the company, until a system was produced that matched directly their requirements.

It became obvious that other yards were in the same position as our initial dismantling customer and the system was then re-designed and re-written as a commercial package. It offered the full flexibility required to encompass different sizes of yards and different operating methods within those yards.

Within two years from the initial commissioning and eighteen months after the first successful operating software, BreakerSalvage and BreakerParts were commercially launched for the UK dismantling and salvage industries. The huge amount of development work that had taken place was belied by the easy and intuitive nature and operation of the packages. Encompassing features such as part tags, handheld devices and bar-coded pick-lists soon established us as the market leader in the UK industry, and we established a satisfied customer base all over mainland UK, Ireland and even into Africa.

An inevitable progression for Actual Systems was the development of the BreakerNet. Conceived in 1995, the BreakerNet was a national computer network, accessible through a modem, through which clients could identify parts available at each other's sites, without having to make expensive and time-consuming telephone calls. This was quite possibly the first computerised system developed to encourage intertrading between dismantling companies.

Pinnacle - A New Challenge

In the late 90's a new challenge reared it's head, and we began development on our next generation of dismantling software - Pinnacle. Initially being written for the USA market, Pinnacle quickly established itself as the system to beat in America, and with the help of a team of select yard owners and managers (the URG Computer Features Committee), we soon had a system that was rewriting the rulebook for dismantling systems worldwide. Clever timesaving tools such as Automatic Pricing, Salesmen Recommendations and Buying Priority Reports meant that managers of dismantling companies could start spending their time working ON the company, rather than IN the company.

Within a few years the number of installed Pinnacle systems in America was over 100, and our Denver office was handling all of the support and installation demands that that entails. Soon to sign up were the then Ford subsidiary, Greenleaf, and Pinnacle had to endure their rigorous evaluation process before being rolled out across all their locations in Northern America.

Once Pinnacle had established a firm foothold in USA, Actual Systems made the necessary changes to release Pinnacle into the UK, Holland and most recently Australia to establish a true multi national presence. In many countries we are still the only company to supply features such as fully supported Interchange, handheld inventory and barcode devices, integrated InterTrading (PinnacleNet), an eBay interface and full online e-commerce solutions. With nearly 300 Pinnacle installations under our belt now, including several multiple location facilities, there's not much we haven't seen or had to deal with and with full-time staff in 3 continents, you can be rest-assured that there is always somebody available should you have a query or a problem.

AutoPartsTrader and Pinnacle Professional the Future

One of the most recent additions to our range of products is the launch of our UK online part search, in conjunction with AutoTrader: www.autopartstrader.co.uk . This website offers users the opportunity to search through a database of over 400,000 used parts, utilising an Actual Systems developed part definition database called Pinnacle InterChange. The difference between this website and most others around the world is that the parts you find are REAL parts, that dismantling companies actually have in stock ready to buy. You're not just sending a part request, or looking up a catalogue of 'maybes', so the value of the service to both the buyer and the supplying yard is incredible.

This is just one example of how we are constantly stretching the boundaries for the dismantling industry, and the reason we are regarded as THE system to have in so many countries.

Following the successful launch of Pinnacle Professional in the United States, Canada and in the United Kindom in early 2007 , Actual Systems are this year launching Pinnacle Professional in Australia. May 5th 2008 saw the first Australian recycler go live on the all new Pinnacle package, and the staff and management are already enjoying the benefits of the most advanced yard management system available to the Australian market. With over 5 years of development from a team of 6+ programmers, Pinnacle Professional really is the ONLY option for any company serious about their dismantling business. Over 30 businesses around the globe are now running on the latest generation of Pinnacle, so you can be rest assured that the system is tried, tested and ready for any company - large or small.

Contact us now to find out what Pinnacle Professional can do for you.