Jon Lye, Managing Director, writes an open letter to both customers and suppliers after a year which has seen GSF adapt to global challenges.
I am writing this from a snowbound part of Wales where the UK factory is based, reflecting on the past year and looking at what challenges 2011 will bring. After spending most of the past 12 months putting GSF in good order, I rarely get the opportunity to sit down and reflect over what has actually been achieved.
Today we took the big step into Europe and launched our two websites in French, www.gsfslides.fr and www.gsf-promounts.fr for the first time French speaking customers can order stocked GSF product online whilst accessing the widest range of linear products available, anywhere. Whilst a free online delivery service is available, the next step is a Euro hub of stock where customers can benefit from local delivery.
During 2010 we decided to increase our product ranges to give the customer choice. The problem dealing with just one manufacturer is that they are probably very strong in just part of their range whilst the other elements may not suit the customer in terms of price or performance. GSF has now given the customer that choice and they can mix and match any combination of purchase.
So what have we to offer? I’ll bullet point with links so you can get a general feel of how we can offer a much wider service to the global manufacturer. We have broken our telescopic and linear slides into ranges which have various abilities and price points which cover every requirement in the market.
Professional Range:
This is our own manufactured range of heavy duty telescopic slides. Cold drawn and machined for ball track accuracy this range offers steel slides with loading up to 2,000kg in 50, 75, 100, 120, 150 and even 200% extensions. Developed for the emergency and special vehicle markets, these slides aren’t just robust and suited to high shock loading, they are very well priced. All follow the dependable ‘I’ beam format which enables a very high loading from a shallow profile. Very quick delivery times if not stocked.
Performance Range:
A full range of slides manufactured in Germany with very high precision without the high cost of hardened raceways. Mostly following the popular ‘C’ section format used throughout Europe on a range of applications from special vehicle through to defence. All options are available with these Performance slides, including common hole centres, fully locking and customer specified accessories. This range is also fully available in stainless steel. The sections are professionally extruded by Calvi and give an excellent ball cage movement reducing problems of migration seen in other cold drawn steel products.
Precision Hardened Range
From Italy and using Calvi hardened section this is the ultimate sliding system. Using bearings or self aligning rollers with self cleaning/ lubrication technology. These slides are suited to extreme applications such as train battery boxes, military hardware in the desert or very high frequency machine guarding. Guaranteed no more bearing migration and easy to pull out loads even up to 3,000 kg! This isn’t just an off the shelf cold drawn steel product which has been hardened and straightened afterwards. Also very good for economical corrosion resistance without the need for stainless steel.
Utility Range
An economical range of rolled steel slides which covers the basics. Loading up to 227kg with locking ability, these slides fill a very large demand in the market where budgets are more important than performance. Very smooth and quiet functioning, this is often the choice of product by many European vehicle builders. Stocked in lengths from 200mm to 1500mm and despatched to anywhere in the world on a same day purchase.
GSF also has two ranges of linear rails with the Ball Bearing Linear Range and the Precision Linear Range , Both ranges cover the entire linear rail market and deal with price and precision from a single source. A must for machine builders.
New for 2010 was the introduction of the Front Handle Drawer Lock
This very popular product is used on most special vehicles to lock the drawers firmly in place. Also adapted to lock out and in a variety of handle colours. The lock is completely non corrosive and offers two standard stainless steel bar lengths of 1500mm and 2000mm drawer widths. This is all about price and fast stocked deliveries along with the slides.
The handle compliments GSF’s very own lightweight polymer and aluminium Slide and Tilt System
Available again off the shelf cut to customers exact specifications. This drawer system compliments our professional range of slides into the global emergency vehicle market. We also have spare parts and complete systems for the aged steel slide and tilt developed by GSF 10 years ago. By sourcing the exact components in volume we are able to offer a 50% cost down to the previous prices.
Finally the Promount Tool and Equipment Mounting System from PAC enables the professional builder to add their tool mounting requirements to complete their stowage needs.
Made from a super tough polymer these brackets are well able to secure an assault rifle on a Hummer in the desert as well as keeping valuable cutting equipment stowed safely in a tilting drawer.
That’s what GSF has been doing in 2010. We launched our products at Interschutz in Leipzig earlier in the year to a very good reception and as a result GSF exports to over 50 countries. It’s now time to take stock, enjoy the Christmas break and then pick up again in 2011 when I hope market conditions will be more tolerable for us all.
So a taster of what’s in store for next year. GSF is developing complete drawer systems and pump carrier/generator carriers for use when builders require complete systems to just bolt in place. We are also looking at more dynamic slides in other materials to enhance our defence capabilities. This will mean tying in with specialist suppliers as business partners in other markets. The buy online facility in other languages is also on the agenda. GSF is a UK company with global reach and that’s something we’re all very proud of here.
So whether you are a customer, supplier or still undecided, I wish you all a very happy Christmas and thank you all for your support. Everyone here at GSF is proud of what we do and those we help. I hope you all have a very profitable 2011.
Jon Lye
Managing Director
December 2nd 2010 Wrexham UK
