Meet GSF Sliding Systems Staff

Gary, Warehouse Manager

Hi there Gary, how long have you been the warehouse manager?
I’ve been down here since June 2000, when I first arrived there was only 4 people working in one small unit, which grew to three small units until we finally moved to our current custom designed factory.

How was it custom designed?
Jon Lye worked with the architects to purpose build the offices as well as the warehouse itself. The bays have been laid for our forklift and work shops and our pallets were specially designed for the building allowing us to squeeze as much space out of the racking as possible.

In terms of products how has GSF Sliding Systems changed?
We’re constantly working with vehicles builders and defence contractors to help them configure their loads more effectively and to help us do that we’re always finding out ways of supporting our clients. Apart from new product ranges GSF’s attitude to materials helps us increase our products life span, for example the slide and tilt mechanisms were steel originally and now we supply aluminium and plastic.

What are the benefits of aluminium and plastic?
It is cheaper allowing us to pass on savings to our clients and its lighter, which reduces the weight on the vehicles whilst giving more strength, which is ultimately what brigades are aiming to achieve. The new slides have been extensively tested by an independent body called RAPRA, who have analysed the plastics we use and found them to be an excellent alternative in terms of durability and maintenance. We also run our own testing in house which means we can ensure that all GSF Sliding Systems products operate to stringent standards.

How’s this affected your role?
We do more manufacturing that we did before and my role is to make sure that products are overseen and that quality is always maintained.

GSF Sliding Systems have really been developing their product range recently, what’s the feedback from clients?
Yes that’s right, originally we were supplied Chambrelan slides but now we have extended our product line to include the Slide and Tilt draws, the brand new vertical sliding system called the Balance Box and of course our new Interferon product range. Our Promount range has had wide acclaim and is proving very popular across a wide range of applications and the feedback I am receiving is really positive.

Introducing new products in this climate might seem quite daring, do you think its made a difference?
Certainly, it’s given us a bigger range to sell and it fits in with our overall experience and expertise. The cross over from our core market and the new products we’re offering is very small and so we’re finding we can add different solutions to different parts of the build.

What’s been the biggest change in the last six months?
The downturn has affected everyone, but we've got a very strong product range and orders have spread across E1, John Dennis and Browns, who have taken up our slides across their vehicles. We’ve had some very promising orders from Marshalls SV and Anteon in the defence sectors, which we hope to capitalise on at the forthcoming D.S.E.I (Defence Systems and Equipment International) show in September, which we will be exhibiting at.

How’s business abroad doing?
The US market has really opened up for our slide and tilt mechanisms and a lot of orders come in from Europe and we’re slowly getting interest from the Middle East. In addition we’re finding larger more specialised vehicle builders in the UK, companies like Marshalls SV, General Dynamics and Dytechna have taken on our slide and tilt mechanisms or the Promount range and we hope to maintain those relationships.

In what ways has the recession affected GSF Sliding Systems?
It certainly has affected a lot of companies in terms of what companies are buying. Companies are ordering, but because they don’t want to hold stock they’re only ordering what they need when they need it. Even so, business is good and with our new Promount and Interfron product lines I believe we’re in a better position to weather the storm that many companies in our sector

Colleen, Office Sales Manager

Hi Colleen, I wouldd like to find out more about you and your role at GSF Sliding Systems.
I am the Office Sales Manager at GSF Sliding Systems and I tend to be the first point of contact for incoming enquiries.

And what areas do you cover?
I cover accounts in the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia and the US.

So how long have you been with GSF Sliding Systems

I’ve been with GSF Sliding Systems since 2003 and in that time I’ve got to know what my clients want. I’ve developed a relationship of trust and my clients know that they get what they ask for. In a lot of cases I know the customers so well that if they do make mistakes I can give them suggestions and recommendations to make sure they have the right product for their application.

Has a lot changed since you’ve been with GSF Sliding Systems?
We have developed and introduced a lot of our products over the last few years. The Slide and Tilt System has been totally re-developed. Instead of using steel we now use a combination of Aluminium and molded polymers. This new system ensures that maximum strength is still maintained, the cost is reduced and the weight is significantly lower making it an ideal storage solution for plastic body vehicles.

Last year we introduced a new tool mounting system called Promount. Already in standard use across in US, this product is coming on in leaps and bounds in the UK with lots more brigades seeing the benefits.

What do you most enjoy about your job?
I really enjoy the people part of my job, I’ve got a great bunch of clients who keep me busy and the team here are fantastic. It would be hard to see them all and I do miss the face to face contact, but we’ve got a good rapport. I think it’s very important to have that relationship with people, especially when they’re calling from all over the world.

So any sneaky previews on new products GSF Sliding Systems might be releasing?
Funny you should ask. We’ve had two new developments in the last week, but I can’t say any more, except to say, as with the rest of GSF Sliding Systems product range you can expect the best, other than that my lips are sealed.

Jon, Office Sales Manager

GSF Sliding Systems moves into 2011 after a year of major changes

Jon Lye, Managing Director, writes an open letter to both customers and suppliers after a year which has seen GSF Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems 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 Sliding Systems is proud of what we do and those we help. I hope you all have a very profitable 2011.

Jon Lye. Managing Director

Sabine, Marketing Manager

Having more than ten years experience within the industrial slide market, Sabine brings an excellent knowledge of web based marketing into the company.

GSF Sliding Systems products have has been enhanced to make the range the widest available..anywhere. Sabine says "whilst having our own manufactured telescopic slides, we have added further ranges covering Precision, Performance and Utility. We are in effect a one stop shop for linear motion".

GSF Sliding Systems can offer vehicle builders complete solutions with the award winning polymer tilting drawer system and the integrated front handle locking mechanism designed to lock the drawer in and out without the need to fit an expensive locking system on the slides. Added to this GSF Sliding Systems have the patented PAC Pro-Mounts tool mount system….a truly rugged super tough polymer bracket tested to stringent defence specifications. New for 2010 is our ability to take all of the products and supply bespoke drawers with a fit and forget philosophy.

In addition to supply quality and UK stocked product, customers benefit from dealing direct with GSF Sliding Systems because we can customise our products around their needs and we have the best quality, technical and customer support available from an ISO 9001 company.

“We are progressively building a large European client base and steadily getting where we want to be. We are always excited to gain a new market. One of my main targets is to provide French information to French speaking companies. GSF’s massive range is already used throughout France, Belgium, and Canada. Soon GSF Sliding Systems can support even more efficiently their French speaking customers, new and future prospects, thanks to the French website. Look for it in the coming weeks, You will be delighted.” Says Sabine.

Sabine also adds that “the next step for GSF Sliding Systems will be to have a German website, to cover the whole of Europe and beyond”.

The last, but not the least point is many products are available to purchase online through GSF’s E-commerce website www.gsf-promounts.com.

“The beauty is we can supply our customer all over the world, within 2 days in the UK and Europe. That means our customers can actually purchase from anywhere, when they want to and so make their buying decisions much quicker.