Gaz Bains: The Ideas and Inspiration Behind G-Deck Products
The success of G-Deck is a team effort, with every individual on our team working together to deliver the very best products…
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Gaz Bains: The Ideas and Inspiration Behind G-Deck Products
The success of G-Deck is a team effort, with every individual on our team working together to deliver the very best products and service to our customers because we are all passionate about improving safety and providing cost-effective solutions for the construction sector.
But there is one person on the team who is the inspirational figure behind the innovative array of products in our portfolio. Gaz Bains, our managing director, created the first safety decking system commercially available in the UK and, determined to make the concept even better, he developed the first G-Deck system to improve on his previous design. He continues to be a constant source of ideas and inspiration within the company and across the construction industry, so we asked him to tell you his story.
Tell us about your early career
When I left school, I went straight into an apprenticeship as a trainee lift engineer, so I had mechanical and electrical engineering training in a lift manufacturing environment. I was always good at maths and my apprenticeship included five years of study at college and learning from really talented and experienced people at work. Everything had to be accurate within 0.2mm and the people I was learning from were old school, experienced engineers who took pride in what they did. It was a great way to learn and gave me really good foundations for developing quality products.
How did you get involved in product design?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making and fixing things. As a kid, growing up in Leicester, we didn’t have many toys and I used to make things like go-karts and bikes for us to play with. If I didn’t know how something worked, I’d take it apart and put it back together again. In fact, I could do a full service on a car by the time I was 13. The beginning of my product design career was really there, in my parents’ living room, moulding pieces of plastic together and enjoying creating.
Once I’d done my apprenticeship, I could see that there was scope to turn my love of making things and my aptitude for coming up with ideas into an actual business. I’ve not had any formal product design training; it’s intuitive for me, which is probably why I have such an eclectic portfolio and I’m so driven to make my ideas happen.
How did you come to set up your own company?
I was just 27 when I started my own company – 3G Metal Fabrications – in 1996, and the reasons I wanted to start the business were two-fold really. Firstly, I was buzzing with ideas for products I could make and secondly, I wanted to provide a positive work environment where people were valued.
I knew there was potential and opportunity in my ideas and I have always lived by the philosophy that you should treat people the way you want to be treated, so I set up the company to make products that people would find useful and to provide jobs that respect the talent and contribution of every individual. Blue collar talent isn’t always recognised but, having come from a blue collar background, I have always put those skills at the heart of our business because they underpin the quality of our products.
Have you always designed construction safety products?
Initially most of what I designed was shop fitting products but that gave me a good grounding in delivering solutions from concept to completed product very quickly.
How did you begin designing construction sector products?
I was installing a newspaper display unit when someone came to fix an awning and we got talking. They were looking for a safety system, explained what they wanted and I designed it. That product became the UK’s first construction safety decking system. The system launched in 2006 and by 2010 I was designing a new version, which built up on my earlier design. That improved system became our standard G-Deck 3-in-1 product and from there I’ve also designed G-Deck Lite, G-Deck Dual and our latest innovation in safety decking, G-Deck Multi Leg.
What other products have you designed for construction sites?
All the products in the G-Deck portfolio are my designs, including the Access Hatch, the Lift Shaft Gate and the Universal Stillages. The more time I spend with customers, the more I understand what they need and I can come up with ideas and develop designs from there.
For example, the G-Deck Access Hatch came about when a housebuilder briefed me on what they needed and I went away and thought about it, then spent the weekend in the workshop and had a prototype to show them within a couple of days.
What makes G-Deck different from other companies?
For lots of companies, product development is a long and arduous process, but I take a very intuitive can-do approach – there’s no over-thinking it on paper; I take the idea, fabricate it and tinker with it until it performs the way we need it to.
I also believe in looking for ways to make things better. The first safety decking system I designed back in 2006 was very good, but G-Deck is better. That’s what inspires me to keep designing new products really; the potential to keep improving on what we have and make sites safer.
How will you build on what you’ve done so far?
We provide products that make construction safer, and we’ll continue to put people and safety at the heart of everything we do. My goal is to provide high quality solutions that are commercially beneficial for companies while keeping people safer.
To do that, we’re investing in new technologies that give us enhanced manufacturing capabilities and capacity. It’s important to me that we design and manufacture in-house, because that joined-up approach guarantees quality assurance and supply chain accountability.
I have plenty more ideas up my sleeve, so watch this space!
G-Deck Develops New Safety Hatch in Partnership with Miller Homes
At G-Deck, developing innovative products that improve on the standard solutions available on the UK market is in our DNA. And now…
Read MoreG-Deck Develops New Safety Hatch in Partnership with Miller Homes
At G-Deck, developing innovative products that improve on the standard solutions available on the UK market is in our DNA. And now we’ve done it again, with our new G-Deck Safety Hatch, designed in partnership with leading housebuilder, Miller Homes.
Offering optimum safety and practicality at an attractive, value for money cost, the new G-Deck Safety Hatch combines separate access apertures for a ladder, materials and a person in a single unit. Providing the durability and robust construction found across the G-Deck range, the new Class 4 BSEN 12811-1 certified G-Deck Access Hatch has been designed to prioritise safety and has a standard 250mm x 750mm footprint, which can be tailored for specific requirements.
The unit fits quickly and securely between 600mm floor joists and accommodates any decking system. Providing a 300kg loading, it features integral ladder tie points, making it a practical and versatile solution for any busy construction or housebuilding site.
The G-Deck Access Hatch has a range of features to ensure safety for site personnel. The materials hatch eliminates drop-ins and there is no risk of the person hatch being left open inadvertently because it has been engineered as a self-closing unit, further avoiding the risk of drop-ins. The product also features a chequer plate anti-slip top to prevent slips and trips.
Featuring an identification batch plate and site-specific coded combination locks to eliminate wasted time looking for keys, the G-Deck Access Hatch is a practical solution that can be colour matched to the user’s brand and can be refurbished following wear and tear to extend the service life of the asset.
Miller Homes’ regional SHE advisor, Dave Bowden, said: “I was very impressed with how quickly G-Deck turned round a prototype and how willing they were to collaborate and take feedback on board to refine the design. Most of all, I’m delighted with the product: it’s not only got all the safety features we need, but it is also well-fabricated, with high quality components to give us a robust safety product that will withstand demanding site conditions and give us an extended service life.”
Following the initial trial with Miller Homes, the G-Deck Safety Hatch is now in full production at G-Deck’s in-house factories and available from stock.
G-DECK IS FASET APPROVED
***G-DECK IS FASET APPROVED ** We’re delighted to announce that LDS/G-DECK are now officially a FASET: Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training approved…
Read MoreG-DECK IS FASET APPROVED
***G-DECK IS FASET APPROVED **
We’re delighted to announce that LDS/G-DECK are now officially a FASET: Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training approved member.
We believe it’s important to ensure all our existing and future business partners not only have the best systems available, but now have the best training together with the ability to gain blue skilled CSCS cards for all trained on our systems.
Thanks to Tony Seddon and Becky Clutton for your support during the process.
Looking forward to getting this rolled out now and enhancing the proposition.
Press below to see our certificate
Distributor Deal Opens up Irish Market for G-Deck
G-Deck systems are set to boost safety and speed of installation in Ireland in the same way they have in the UK…
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Distributor Deal Opens up Irish Market for G-Deck
G-Deck systems are set to boost safety and speed of installation in Ireland in the same way they have in the UK thanks to our new distributor deal with Devine Scaffolding in Strabane, County Tyrone.
A successful scaffolding company with clients across Ireland, Devine Scaffolding recommended a switch to decking to a construction client. Having heard about G-Deck and bought some to see what it was like, managing director, Kiernan Devine, approached us about becoming our distributor for Ireland.
Kiernan explains: “There is nothing like the G-Deck system available in Ireland. It not only goes up quickly and easily, but it’s robust and really strong – which also means it’s safer. The standard G-Deck system has a loading capacity of 600kg/m2, so materials can be loaded straight onto the deck, and it provides effective fall arrest protection, as well as a working platform.
“We saw an opportunity straight away, both to improve safety for construction teams and to diversify our own business. And, because G-Deck costs more than 25% less than the plastic alternatives commonly available in Ireland, we expect to see a big uptake really quickly.”
Devine Scaffolding will be the exclusive G-Deck distributor in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The company will sell all three G-Deck decking systems; the standard G-Deck 3, G-Deck and G-Deck Lite, along with our wider portfolio of site safety products, including the Access Hatch and Lift Shaft Gate.
The partnership with Devine Scaffolding will enable us to scale up our activity in Ireland very quickly. The combination of our industry leading products, attractive pricing and Devine Scaffolding’s industry contacts will help us establish a strong presence and we are confident that the more companies use our system, the more it will become the system of choice.
It’s an ideal scenario, not only for G-Deck and Devine Scaffolding but for the Irish construction and housebuilding sectors, which will benefit from improved safety and reduced costs.
2021 Brochure released
We’ve just launched our G-DECK 2021 brochure. Download on link below G-DECK ranges 2021 brochure Each year we refresh it our…
Read More2021 Brochure released
We’ve just launched our G-DECK 2021 brochure.
Download on link below
Each year we refresh it our products keeps growing and due to the design are considered best of breed within their class.
3 different platforms systems
Stairwell hatch
Access hatch
Lift shaft gates
All built to the best quality possible and built by ourselves. We pride ourselves on manufacturing everything we sell, whether in Leicester for the UK or our colleagues in Poland manufacturing for Europe.
All our products are fully British & European tested and certified.
G-DECK can be your design & development partner as because we design and develop our products, each can be tailored to your specific needs. Also by manufacturing we can offer fantastic prices especially on group/division wide deals.
With new product launches planned in 2021, looks like it’s going to be a busy one.
New Factory and Equipment Builds on Production Capacity and Quality
We have successfully delivered a £1,000,000 investment plan to increase capacity, reduce lead times and underpin quality assurance as G-DECK continues to…
Read MoreNew Factory and Equipment Builds on Production Capacity and Quality
We have successfully delivered a £1,000,000 investment plan to increase capacity, reduce lead times and underpin quality assurance as G-DECK continues to grow.
We have experienced such high demand for our safety deck systems that we have invested in a second factory in Poland and a state-of-the-art laser fibre Kimla Power Cut machine. The investment programme will dramatically increase our output capacity, ensuring production remains cost-effective and lead times remain short as demand continues to increase.
Sales director, Ty Wilson, explains: “Demand for G-DECK, G-DECK Dual and G-DECK Lite is high because all three systems combine high safety standards with ease and speed of installation.
“We are committed to ensuring our customers receive the products they need on site on time so, as we continue to grow, we’re reinvesting in the business to keep that promise and maintain the quality standards that have made us first choice for so many construction contractors, housebuilders and scaffolding companies.”
The new factory brings our total manufacturing operations to 80,000 sq ft, along with 72,000 sq ft of office, fabrication and stockholding accommodation at our Leicester headquarters. The new Kimla Power Cut machine will enable precision cutting of metal G-Deck components up to ten times faster than before, enabling us to increase the volume of product produced, maintain short lead times and provide exacting standards of quality assurance.
“Having built a reputation for quality, service and innovation,” Ty adds, “we are now focused on how we maintain those standards while scaling up production to meet demand. The new factory and machine are now fully commissioned and we have an efficient logistics operation to bring the product to the UK market, enabling us to supply customers quickly and efficiently.”
G-DECK Business Partnership Opens up Opportunities for Scaffold Services Midlands
At G-DECK, our customers in the scaffolding sector are not just our customers; they are our business partners. We work with companies…
Read MoreG-DECK Business Partnership Opens up Opportunities for Scaffold Services Midlands
At G-DECK, our customers in the scaffolding sector are not just our customers; they are our business partners. We work with companies that want to invest in G-DECK systems as an alternative to birdcage and help them leverage maximum value from that investment by providing the highest possible service standards, training and project opportunities.
Scaffold Services Midlands are a great example of how we’re working with companies to help them win projects and add value to their business with our G-DECK systems. Established in 2017 by director, Rob Garbett, and his business partner, both experienced scaffolders, the company delivers scaffolding projects for both housebuilders and major contracts throughout the Midlands region.
Rob and the Scaffold Services Midlands team first came across the G-DECK system when trying to secure a project involving construction of assisted living apartments in Kidderminster.
Rob explains: “The client asked us whether we could use a decking system and suggested one of G-DECK’s competitors, but we were uncomfortable with the quality and safety the suggested system would provide. We could have opted to put forward birdcage, but the time and labour costs involved in that would have prevented our bid from being competitive. We looked around the marketplace for an alternative and came across G-DECK. We have never looked back since.”
Scaffold Services Midlands won the Kidderminster project and used the Government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Load (CBIL) scheme to help it invest in purchasing enough G-DECK product to create up to 1500m2 of construction safety deck. The company has acquired 50% G-DECK and 50% G-DECK Dual, enabling it to utilise its existing bird cage tubing with G-DECK’s trademark robust metal decks.
“The service we’ve received from G-DECK has been fantastic,” Rob continues. “They spent a whole day on site with us to train the team and have been back for four site visits since then to check that our scaffolders are comfortable with using the system and to verify that the safety decking has been correctly installed.
“We were taken aback by how quickly we were able to install the system and had to ask G-DECK to fast track our order ahead of schedule to keep pace with activity on site. They responded quickly and were able to help us. In fact, I’ve never known any supplier to be so willing to go the extra mile to provide whatever we need.”
Part of G-DECK’s commitment to our business partners in the scaffolding sector is that we help them generate new business opportunities in return for their investment in our product and commitment to training. We were able to offer Scaffold Services Midlands an opportunity to deploy their G-DECK systems at a care home project but the company is so busy it was unable to get involved.
“Although we couldn’t pursue the opportunity this time round,” Rob continues, “it’s fantastic to be working with a company that not only commits to offering new project leads but also delivers on that promise. We really do feel that G-DECK is a company that keeps its word and does everything possible to provide the service and product we need, when we need it.
“Becoming a G-DECK business partner was definitely a good decision for us and the product itself is fantastic, there is nothing else on the market that comes close for ease of installation, safety or versatility.”
A Year of Supporting Customers and Construction Safety Innovation
It goes without saying that 2020 was a year that none of us will ever forget. But, for G-DECK, it was also…
Read MoreA Year of Supporting Customers and Construction Safety Innovation
It goes without saying that 2020 was a year that none of us will ever forget. But, for G-DECK, it was also a year that we will always remember for all the right reasons too. This was the year that we were able to help construction companies, housebuilders and scaffolders to drive forward progress on projects, often when they had lost time to COVID restrictions and delays.
We began 2020 in a strong position. Our core G-DECK range and innovative G-DECK light system were already a popular choice with construction companies and housebuilders. With a load capacity of 600kg/m2, G-DECK provides the safest and strongest construction safety deck available, with ease of installation that allows rapid deployment and adaptability on site, along with strength that allows materials to be loaded out straight onto the deck. We continued to see high demand from both existing and new users for both of these systems during the course of 2020, and we’re looking forward to seeing continuing growth for these ranges in 2021.
Alongside the success of our established systems in 2020, we also achieved substantial success with new products. The launch of the G-DECK Dual hybrid system has generated considerable excitement in the scaffolding sector. Designed to utilise scaffolders’ existing birdcage tubing in combination with our robust G-DECK decks and patented brackets, the G-DECK Dual system enables scaffolders to benefit from the faster installation and improved flexibility of safety decking, while leveraging their existing assets.
So many scaffolding companies have found that G-DECK Dual offers them a best of both worlds approach by reducing their investment, while enhancing their productivity and helping them win work. We have been able to support G-DECK Dual business partners by connecting them with housebuilders and projects, helping them to achieve a rapid payback period on their investment in our system.
Meanwhile, the growth of our business partner network has also meant that we’ve been able to support housebuilders and construction companies with trusted and quality assured local supply and install providers across our G-DECK, G-DECK Lite and G-DECK Dual ranges.
We also launched the G-DECK Lift Shaft Gate in 2020, enhancing site safety even further and providing hire companies with a robust and feature-packed industry-leading solution at a price that cannot be beaten. With its stable door opening and extension wing, our fast and easy to install Lift Shaft Gate prevents falls into the lift shaft, while allowing operatives to access the shaft to work. At just £470 for the gate and the extension wing, it’s created quite a buzz amongst construction professionals, health and safety managers, hire firms and scaffolding companies.
We’ve had an extremely busy year helping customers across the construction supply chain to keep projects on track and catch up after lockdown. With so many companies now insisting on G-DECK’s safety-first products, we’re expecting this year to be just as busy. We’re looking forward to extending our customer base, continuing to support our existing customers and driving innovation in construction safety throughout 2021 and maximise the opportunities during the recovery.
G-DECK Coverage Expands
Our partner program grows from strength to strength and this years concentration has been recruiting businesses that can offer G-DECK on a…
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G-DECK Coverage Expands
Our partner program grows from strength to strength and this years concentration has been recruiting businesses that can offer G-DECK on a supply and install service.
Starting from the Scottish border and working down we’ve been delighted by the sheer amount of take up this year which has seen Northern and Midland territories filling up rapidly.
What this means to Developers is that they now have a choice of companies who can provide G-DECK within their region.
Start of next year we start our Southern campaign where we are looking for businesses to join our business partner network and offer G-DECK within their regions.
You’ll receive;
* The best systems in the market.
* Free training and on-going support.
* Restricted G-DECK competition.
* Assistance with marketing.
* Assistance with winning projects.
* Dedicated account manager.
* Brochures, marketing materials and more.
If we can make the South as much as a fortress like we have with the North and Midlands regions then 2021 is going to be a busy year!!
Interested? Get in touch for details.
Want to Win New Projects? Here’s How
We know the pandemic and the lockdown have hit construction trades hard, but G-DECK has a commercial opportunity for you that could…
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Want to Win New Projects? Here’s How
We know the pandemic and the lockdown have hit construction trades hard, but G-DECK has a commercial opportunity for you that could help you:
- drive revenue
- nurture new customer relationships
- diversify your services for business growth during the recovery
G-DECK is a market leader in construction load bearing systems and we have developed a unique business partnership model that allows us to introduce companies like yours to developers looking for a company to erect our systems on site. We introduce our customers in the scaffolding and construction trades to our network of housebuilders and developers, giving you a ready-made new business pipeline, alongside your own sales and business development.
We can offer you:
- Active promotion in your region to all our contacts, helping you get on the tender list and win jobs
- Preferential discounts on any G-DECK orders, no matter how big or small
- Negotiated payment terms to enable the G-DECK system to start paying for itself before full payment is due
- Free delivery, usually within 48 hours.
- Free training with a certificate of competency
- On-site support from a member of our team who can accompany you on your first installs to advise you if you need it
- Marketing support, including brochures, videos and case studies
We have a range of market-leading systems to choose from, G-DECK, G-DECK Lite and G-DECK Dual. They are all fully British & European Standards certified, enable rapid, tool-free installation by a two-man team and provide versatile access decking system designed to meet a variety of end user needs.
We’re building a national network of partners so that we can refer housebuilders and developers to a provider trained by us in their area. We’re actively looking for new partners in your area now but we restrict the number of partners per region to protect your return on investment and enable you to win business in your region without any competition from other G-DECK providers.
Sound like an opportunity that’s too good to miss? It is. Get in touch on 0116 251 0352 or email office@gdecking.com to find out more.