Old computers get new lease on life

August 23, 1996
Web posted at: 5:00 p.m. EDT

From Correspondent Brian Nelson

PLEASANTON, California (CNN) -- At a time when computers help to define technology's cutting edge, Martin Plotkin operates an oddity - a nursing home for the digitally aged.

Said Plotkin, president of GD California: "We're the geriatric physicians of the industry."

Operating from a small warehouse outside San Francisco, GD is not about to emerge the next computer manufacturing powerhouse of Silicon Valley, but it has carved a unique and profitable niche in the high tech business.

GD California thrives on the margins of life, the edge of obsolescence itself. The company rebuilds old computers and circuit boards, giving them a new lease on life.

"If you're a company, for example, that's making jet engines, and you have developed a piece of test equipment with an embedded computer in it for testing your jet engines, you don't want to have to redesign that test stand," said Plotkin.

Not if you can get a new part for what in comparison is pocket change. So GD Computers is ready with its small scale production line.

"We're still building boards on an occasional basis for this product," said Plotkin. "We've probably got one customer left."

The engineers at GD California use a lot of old equipment, but that's not a problem, even for a business where machines have been known to become obsolete within months.

Said technician Ken Belt: "Even the testing equipment is old, but in some cases it's actually better than some of the newer test equipment."

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