Company history

Many success stories of Polish companies that started their business during the times of the People's Republic of Poland (PRL) are based on the creativity and adaptability of the owner to the challenging environmental conditions in which they operate. This was also the case for Ryszard Stangricki and his professional journey, which laid the foundation for the Crystan brand, specializing in the production and regeneration of drive shafts.

 

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From the very beginning, the company focused on the automotive industry in its broadest sense. Ryszard Stangricki's knowledge and passion for cars and machines were already acquired during his school years, and upon graduating, he immediately took steps to establish his first business. He provided services in the field of transportation and automotive mechanics, repairing private and company cars, as well as construction and agricultural machinery. At that time, the company also expanded its operations to include handling and storage of pendulum weights, as well as repairs of specialized mechanized equipment necessary for the work performed. Wherever there was a niche in the local market, our owner appeared with his new business idea.

 

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From the very beginning of its operations, the main obstacles to the company's rapid development were the problems and shortages that plagued the Polish economy at that time. There was a lack of highly specialized machinery, parts, and, frankly speaking, often a lack of willingness among people in the industry to help young promising businesses grow and release production from state-owned companies into private hands.

 

Innovativeness and resourcefulness in problem solving were worth their weight in gold at that time. These qualities allowed the company to grow in strength, and the quality and durability of the work performed quickly resulted in a steady influx of customers.

 

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The company began to see immense potential in regeneration, which involves repairing and restoring vehicles and parts that others did not want or could not handle. One could say that the interest in the most difficult topics and issues that seemed impossible to repair became the direct beginning of the Crystan brand and its activities in the production and servicing of drive shafts.

 

The first machine for machining was created, with proprietary, or rather innovative solutions in the market. It improved existing work processes and optimized the costs of repairs and welding of parts. The initial focus of regeneration was on hubs and cylinder sleeves for heavy machinery, tractors, and trucks (including Kamaz vehicles).

 

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After a period of developing topics such as pistons and sleeves, the company wanted to venture into the field of timing belts, but once again market difficulties and lack of availability of specialized parts resulted in a shift towards manufacturing propeller drive shafts.

 

Cooperation with external engineers continued to develop, and efforts were made to manufacture new machines with unique capabilities. The Crystan brand shifted its focus towards niche and demanding markets, always striving to stay one step ahead of industry competition and national production possibilities.

 

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Drawing up designs and new machines, creating documentation, and spending hours on creative work with a sheet of paper were an integral part of Crystan's history from its early days.

For example, it was not possible to purchase balancers needed for regenerating propeller shafts in the Polish market. With the appropriate knowledge and enthusiasm, Ryszard Stangricki and his team decided to create such a machine themselves. This led to the creation of the first balancing machine, a measuring device that directed the company's focus towards propeller drive shafts.

Gaining market share and convincing customers to cooperate was a challenging process that gradually developed. Initially, one customer per week, then two customers every three days, and eventually three customers per day! The company established ongoing partnerships with business customers.

The next step in the company's development was the construction of a production facility in Toruń.

 

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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, businesses like Crystan faced more challenges than facilitations in conducting their operations. Obstacles included established practices and the monopoly of the existing manufacturer in the market. Some factories offering parts for propeller shafts and machines for propeller shaft production at that time preferred to scrap equipment rather than repairing, selling, or regenerating it.

However, for a passionate advocate of mechanization like Ryszard Stangricki, this was just another challenge. Once again, he focused on innovative solutions in the production of his own regeneration machines.

 

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Production of parts for propeller drive shafts began on a large scale, with forgings ordered from external factories (foundries). The company engaged in mass production of forgings, producing parts for all leading trucks and vans in the market (Jelcz, Star, Liaz, Kamaz, Kraz, Żuk). At this time, the workforce, including employees and apprentices, had grown to 30 people, and the products offered by the brand outperformed the competition by a wide margin.

 

The adopted machinery and work methodology resulted in the creation of parts that were better and more durable than similar new products. Up to that point, new propeller drive shafts available on the market lasted about 30,000 km, while those produced by Ryszard Stangricki were several times more durable, even referred to as trouble-free.

 

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The company has gone beyond the established norms, improving competitors' products by creating solutions that are better than the originals. And this was possible thanks to the owner's inherent opposition to the notion that something cannot be done. It can be done! If someone approaches the issue creatively enough. One of the innovative solutions implemented at that time was the elimination of clearances on multi-wedge. The company obtained its first patent for this technology.

 

The applied solutions were the most competitive in the domestic market and could confidently compete with foreign companies in the 1990s.

 

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The production facility expanded its operations, and the company had departments such as grinding, balancing, and even baking seals for bearings. They started producing cross-joints and patented machines for regeneration and production of finished shafts, such as a multifunctional machine for shaft construction and a machine for dismantling cardan joints, for which Ryszard Stangricki received numerous patents and awards for outstanding achievements in the design and production of unique devices and presses for shaft manufacturing and repairs (Kujawsko-Pomorskie Crystal Hit, Kujawsko-Pomorskie Ruby Hit, etc.).

 

The stage of machine production is also the latest and possibly the most innovative solution that has been implemented at Crystan. The new machine, designed for single clamping, is characterized by high-quality component parts. The RS7, which is being referred to, combines multiple operations during a single machining cycle, such as pressing joints into pipes, centering, welding and straightening, as well as balancing and welding. Its greatest advantages are shorter production and repair times, as well as the precision of multiple processes performed simultaneously.

The solutions introduced many years ago are still being used and improved to this day, and the Crystan brand successfully handles even the most complex and unconventional orders, including the production of personalized shafts according to specific technical specifications from customers.

 

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The Crystan brand was born out of creativity and the necessity of working in a challenging environment, overcoming obstacles, and inventing something that simply doesn't exist on the market.

From the very beginning, it has been a family-owned company, currently still being developed by Ryszard Stagricki and his sons, who together drive and steer its direction of growth.

Crystan has 5 branches: Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Gdynia, Pruszcz Gdański, and Boczów.

 

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The natural process that finalized the company's development was the comprehensive handling of the production and repairs of the entire shaft. In addition to regenerating shafts, components that connect to the shafts, such as gearbox output and rear axle, were also repaired, especially in older vehicle models, as often these components did not meet the standards either.

Taking responsibility for durability and strength involved bringing the shafts into completeness and installing them in vehicles or machinery. The production and repair of components necessary for installation ensured customers full satisfaction and reliability of shafts for up to 15 years of use.

 

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The early 2000s marked a period when Western solutions and parts began to dominate the market, and the company had to modernize and adapt its services to the new customer expectations. The focus shifted towards service-related topics in addition to production. Importantly, from the very beginning, the brand was a distributor and repairer in the Western style.

 

During this period, many other machines and inventions were created, which received their patents. They allowed for bypassing or improving the production of well-known leading foreign brands.

 

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Many machines and solutions are still successfully used to this day, 20 years later. Since then, forged parts for delivery vans, heavy machinery, and light vehicles have also been continuously produced as a desirable and exceptionally competitive part in the Polish market.

 

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The development of the Crystan brand also includes several regional branches such as Bydgoszcz, Boczów, and Tricity, of which 5 are still functioning. The branches in Gdynia, Pruszcz Gdański, and Boczów focus on service, the Bydgoszcz branch concentrates on production of parts for shafts, while Toruń is primarily for the production of new shafts for initial installation, and it also serves as the main warehousing facility. In the past, the company had historical locations such as Łódź, Giżycko, Tychy, or Koziegłowy, which were involved in the sale of finished shafts using older technology.

 

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The stage of machine production is also the latest and possibly the most innovative solution that has been implemented at Crystan. The new machine, designed for single clamping, is characterized by high-quality component parts. The RS7, which is being referred to, combines multiple operations during a single machining cycle, such as pressing joints into pipes, centering, welding and straightening, as well as balancing and welding. Its greatest advantages are shorter production and repair times, as well as the precision of multiple processes performed simultaneously.

The solutions introduced many years ago are still being used and improved to this day, and the Crystan brand successfully handles even the most complex and unconventional orders, including the production of personalized shafts according to specific technical specifications from customers.

 

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The Crystan brand was born out of creativity and the necessity of working in a challenging environment, overcoming obstacles, and inventing something that simply doesn't exist on the market.

From the very beginning, it has been a family-owned company, currently still being developed by Ryszard Stagricki and his sons, who together drive and steer its direction of growth.

Crystan has 5 branches: Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Gdynia, Pruszcz Gdański, and Boczów.