While the world of manufacturing often focuses on aesthetics like final components and the impressive modern CNC equipment, design software and interfaces used in the manufacturing processes of these components, few take the time to appreciate the intricate and highly specialised components that need to come together to produce these end result components.
Components like bearings and linear guides are often taken for granted and overlooked, but like the other highly specialised components that make up the modern CNC lathe or mill for example, they too suffer from wear and tear just like a tool does and any other component or fluid that keeps your machine running for that matter. From time to time, they need replacement parts.
DS Bearings’ (DSB) showroom and warehouse in Kya Sands Business Park exhibits some of the HIWIN products it markets and distributes
DS Bearings (DSB) is a Johannesburg-based company that specialises in supplying linear motion products and automation components. Established over 25 years ago, it has grown from a small garage operation into a company with a 1 000 m² warehouse located in Kya Sands Business Park.
DSB serves a variety of industrial clients by offering high-quality motion control solutions. The company is the exclusive distributor in Africa for renowned brands such as HIWIN and Chambrelan. DSB’s product range includes linear guides, ballscrews, telescopic slides (with various extension options), stepper motors and drives, and aluminium T-slot profiles.
These components are essential in precision engineering and automation environments. DSB also provides custom services such as aluminium profile cutting and other component sourcing to meet specific customer needs.
Dejan Stamenic, founder and owner of DSB, with his daughter Aleksandra Tarlton who is part of his succession plan
DSB’s owner, Dejan Stamenic, runs a shop floor that could resemble a medical facility’s warehouse it is that organised. Each and every component and its various product lines are carefully ordered, packaged and catalogued to ensure logistical efficiencies are met from order to despatch.
“We are the official and exclusive distributors for two very big companies – Taiwanese manufacturer HIWIN – the second biggest manufacturer of linear motion bearings and ballscrews in the world, and Chambrelan, a French company that is another world leader in the manufacture of drawer slides or telescopic slides and sliding rails.”
“We have been representing HIWIN for around 25 years and Chambrelan for approximately eight years. We keep stock of virtually every type of linear guide here from 5mm to 65mm. These guides also come in different lengths which we will then cut-to-size for our clients. We have been very lucky over the years as we have built up a loyal customer base that keeps returning to us.”
The DSB warehouse is well stocked with components and spares
“Most of the products that we distribute from here are supplied to OEM’s. We also service industries like the local food packaging manufacturers and the woodworking machinery manufacturers. Of course, we also supply many well-known OEM CNC machine users with their required components. And occasionally we will get orders from local CNC machine manufacturers, although that market is small.”
Succession
A business’s longevity is only as good as its products and its employees. It’s all good and well having a great product, but without the right people at the helm, a business cannot survive in a competitive environment. A customer-centric approach has always been something DSB takes seriously.
“My eldest daughter Aleksandra Tarlton, who has completed her MBA along with other studies, has joined me in the business and when I retire, she will take over the running of the business along with my other daughter Katarina who is going to complete her mechanical engineering degree soon.”
DSB markets the full range of HIWIN linear guides
“I have been working with my father on and off over the years as I have completed my various studies – the most recent of which was my MBA. But officially, I have been with DSB for the last four years,” explained Tarlton.
“We are a family run business and, in a way, you could compare that to our relationships we have built with our two suppliers HIWIN and Chambrelan. They trust us to put their customers first down here in Southern Africa and this sort of relationship gives them the confidence to keep trusting us to do just that.”
Launches sister company DS Transmission – online store for transmission wear parts
“We started DS Transmission (DST) one year ago. We had already been procuring some of the components for our existing client base but decided to make DST a standalone business from DSB,” says Stamenic.
DS Transmission now specialises in the power transmission component market supplying sprockets and chains, v-pulleys and belts, timing pulleys and belts, rack, pinion and gear components, taper bushes and various couplings, all in different product lines.
DSB markets the full range of HIWIN ballscrews
“We are in the process of creating our online store where customers will be able to order their DS Transmission components directly from there. The store will be active by the end of May 2025. These are fast moving consumable goods and an online store is perfect for these components. Many of these components are interchangeable between OEM setups so it made sense to us to be able to supply them too,” adds Tarlton. The online store can be accessed at https://dstransmission.shop/
“We have spent about two years doing our sourcing and making sure that the quality of components will be in line with that of which we already supply – no compromise on quality. It won’t just be an online shop though. Customers are still welcome to come and see components for themselves here at our premises and they will of course also be able to order through our internal sales department. These products are all our own branded products. Having spent the time that we did on sourcing and manufacturing, we are confident of their quality and that’s why we have branded them as our own – DS Transmission components.”
Sister company DS Transmission has recently been launched. The company markets sprockets and chains, v-pulleys and belts, timing pulleys and belts, taper bushes, rack and gears and couplings
“Additionally, to the 1 000m2 facility that we already have we will increase our storage capacity by a further 400m2 just around the corner from this location,” concludes Tarlton.
For further details contact DS Bearings on TEL: 011 222 0642 or visit https://www.dsbearings.co.za or DS Transmission on TEL: 011 222 0642 or visit https://dstransmission.co.za. DS Transmission’s online store can be accessed at https://dstransmission.shop
