Based in Rugby, GYS Ltd is the UK subsidiary of the globally renowned French manufacturer GYS. The company has built an enviable reputation for manufacturing market leading welding equipment, battery maintenance products and automotive body repair equipment.
At it headquarters in France, the family-owned business has the capacity to produce an impressive 2,500 units per week and has recently expanded its R&D facility. This Innovation Centre houses over 100 experts, including a robotics centre and automation team. A new logistics facility was also added to support the global market and GYS now has over 1,200 skilled and knowledgeable staff across the globe.
Established in the UK in 2009, is expanding its 24,000 ft2 premises in Great Central Way, Rugby, by adding 4,700 ft2 of space across two storeys to increase its warehouse capacity and open a dedicated service centre. A new welding robotics training centre and state-of-the-art aftersales facility will also be created, along with the whole building receiving a ‘face-lift’.
The infrastructure investment is valued at over £1 million and is testament to the growth of the sales, technical and after sales support achieved by Managing Director, Neil Pulsford and his team. As Welding Manager, Neil Burton, recalls: “When GYS opened in the UK, there was just a few employees and a small warehouse. Under the auspices of Neil Pulsford we have grown to be currently 50 strong, turning over £9 million with a target for growth with new products being launched on an almost weekly schedule.”
New product development has certainly been high on the GYS agenda with ongoing rapid developments being notably since the company’s R&D centre was opened in 2014. With around 40% of its turnover reinvested into R&D its easy to see why the GYS product range has grown to be so comprehensive. In fact, the GYS developed product plan originally intended for 2025 has already been achieved.
As Neil Burton states: “When I joined GYS in 2016, industrial sales were under £100,000 now we are achieving £1.4 million. That growth in six years is due to the expansion of the product range and our interfacing with the distributors in this sector via our team of demonstrators going out and showing potential customers just how good the systems are. Quality is another key value and GYS products are 100% GYS. Every piece of equipment is tested at the end of the line to achieve the quality levels we expect, we make everything inhouse to be in full control of development and lead times.”
He continues: “With our knowledge our weld data could be more comprehensive, but it is not currently a requirement. In many ways what GYS can offer futureproofs the systems and it does form part of the ROI talks we have based on eco efficiency targets of 80% or better for compliance. We have designed our products within this framework and as a result they are 92% efficient.
“As a rule of thumb, a step voltage transformer will be around 60% efficient – 32% less efficient than our range – so, however you work it out running the same hours per day your electricity bill will be at least 30% less. Rolled out over the life of the investment it amounts to a significant saving.”
The leading edge product designs from GYS are also reflected in the company’s ethos when working with its partners. As Neil Burton points out: “We have focused on flexibility of the GYS welding solutions which makes us accessible to every robotic supplier or automation integrator when it comes to creating a customer-focused system.
“It has taken some time, because we invited all the robotic brands into GYS to talk openly with us regarding the problems they faced when systems are put together. So, we designed and developed an automation module that removed all the problems for them. It makes its far easier for them to work with GYS.”
www.gys-welding.com
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