FS Solutions, a trusted source for industrial cleaning contractors across the United States, celebrates 21 years in business this year.
In mid-1996, Federal Signal Corporation opened its first retail outlet in Pasadena, Texas, to service the large concentration of Guzzler vacuum truck customers in the greater Houston area. Known as “the Guzzler Store,” the small location, staffed by a manager and a mechanic, featured two service bays, a parts room and an office.
“That original retail outlet was established to provide industrial cleaning customers with prompt parts support and expert service,” said Craig Aspinall, general manager, FS Solutions. “Since then, FS Solutions has become known as the one-stop shop for repairs, rentals, used equipment, parts and accessories, and training,”
Retail outlets become FS Solutions centers
Following the opening of the Guzzler Store in 1996, seven additional locations were added in strategic locations across the United States and Canada. These locations provided customers with the technical expertise, service and parts support on a regional level.
In 2007, Federal Signal’s Environmental Solutions Group, which at the time included Guzzler, Jetstream and Vactor, opened retail outlets in Alabama, Illinois and Texas. A rental location was also opened in Ohio. Federal Signal designated all four outlets as FS Solutions centers.
By 2011, with seven FS Solutions centers in operation across the United States, the company initiated a business expansion strategy to continue to meet the needs of industrial cleaning contractors and other industry professionals. The strategy included new diagnostic software, broader inventory and expanded inspection services.
FS Solutions has continued to expand parts, service and rental offerings to meet the growing demands of customers. As extensions of the Environmental Solutions Group’s manufacturing centers, the FS Solutions service centers provide a level of expertise to meet customer needs for professional repair and rebuild services on their equipment. This work is performed by FS Solutions’ factory-trained technicians, with the full support of the Environmental Solutions Group’s engineering team. The company’s rental offerings include a wide variety of industrial vacuum trucks, waterblasters, vacuum excavators, DOT liquid vacuum trucks, vacuum trailers, combo vacs, tools and accessories for short- or long-term needs.
Today, FS Solutions offers a unique breadth of product lines and trusted brands for its customers. “The company combines the leading brand technologies of the Environmental Solutions Group with inventive, nimble engineering and manufacturing capabilities to offer customers such tailored solutions as a specially designed high-rail jetter for fire-fighting applications along rail lines and in rail yards, or a completely custom-built vacuum truck with an extended body length for a larger debris body and a redesigned sub-frame and fender system for maximum overhead clearance,” Aspinall said.
There are currently 12 FS Solutions centers, located in Leeds, Ala.; Long Beach, Calif.; Streator, Ill.; Highland, Ind.; Gonzales, La.; New Brunswick, N.J.; Williston, N.D.; Toledo, Ohio; Lexington, S.C.; La Porte and Midland, Texas; and Tacoma, Wash. Staffed with skilled technicians and industry experts, each FS Solutions location provides a range of services and product offerings.
State-of-the-art training support
FS Solutions also offers extensive online, classroom and hands-on training, performed by certified instructors, on subjects ranging from operator skill and safety to advanced classes on water blasting and industrial vacuum technologies for supervisors and managers. Hands-on training is conducted either on an FS Solutions simulator, on client-owned equipment or in classroom simulations as appropriate. FS Solutions’ state-of-the-art training program is managed by a certified instructional technologist and certified environmental, safety and health trainer (CET) with 25 years of experience in the industrial cleaning market.
“Our continued success and expansion is reflected by the many customers we are proud to support,” Aspinall said. “We thank all of our customers for contributing to our growth, and we thank our employees for their commitment and dedication.”
For more information about products and services available from the FS Solutions centers, or to find the nearest location, please visit www.fssolutionsgroup.com.
