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Q
& A with
Ed Grech, CEO of Krystal Enterprises
Krystal
Enterprises, located in Brea, Calif., is the
world’s largest manufacturer of limousine products.
Founded by a man who began his career in the
auto-repair industry, Krystal made the jump
into limousines more than 25 years ago—by accident
really—when Ed Grech jokingly suggested to employees
that a fire-damaged Cadillac be cut in half
and stretched into a limousine. When he came
back from lunch, the vehicle had been cut into
two. From that day on, Grech used his passion
for excellence to build Krystal into a multi-million
dollar company. Krystal was an original Qualified
Vehicle Modifier (QVM) for Ford and among the
first to obtain Cadillac Master Coachbuilder
(CMC) status.
Krystal boasts a product line that includes
SUVs, hybrid buses, funeral hearses, motor homes,
and is now introducing the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Grech, a true pioneer of the industry, granted
Limousine Digest a quick glimpse into his brain
to see where he will take Krystal next.
Q. In Krystal’s 25+ years of being an industry
leader, what accomplishment or vehicle are you
most proud of?
A. Being the first to crash test the 120" Lincoln
Town Car. We have since crash tested—and passed—the
1998 120" Town Car, 2006 120" Chrysler 300,
and the 2008 72" Town Car CNG vehicles, but
having the first 120" stretch complete that
type of safety testing speaks volumes of our
commitment to safety and product quality.
Q. What is your number one key to success in
business and how do you incorporate that into
your daily operations at Krystal?
A. The number one key to success is people.
We have always surrounded ourselves with a quality
team of production staff, salespeople, dealers,
and office and product support personnel.
Q. When you first
started stretching vehicles, did you have any
inkling that the industry would one day go in
the direction of more discreet and economical
options, including higher-capacity people movers?
A. We knew there were potential markets for
larger vehicles when we began producing the
longer stretches. But I don’t think the full
potential was realized until we started exploring
passenger and limousine buses in 1995. We produced
our first limobus in 1996 on the Ford E-450
[platform]. Shortly after, we knew we were on
to something and started on the F-550 and then
the International 3400 [platforms].
Q.
You seemed to know very early on the direction
the economy was heading in before it crashed.
How do you see it improving?
A. Little by little, our orders have been
coming back. Although we are still way down,
the fact that our numbers have been steadily
climbing since mid-August tells us the market
is moving in the right direction. Q. What
positive signs do you see out there? A. Our
production is up considerably from last year.
We have even developed a backlog of orders
and have cleared out all but a few of our
aged inventory.
Q. What’s your advice
to struggling operators who are trying to turn
the corner?
A. Diversify your fleet and don’t get caught
up in a single niche market. Many of our successful
clients are thriving on shuttle and charter
work, while others have expanded into funeral
services.
Q. As an industry pioneer
who has seen various vehicles come and go, what
are your thoughts on the Town Car and what valid
replacement there may be for the industry?
A. The Town Car has been a wonderful platform
for many years, and Ford/Lincoln have had a
great partnership with our industry. We will
have to see what platforms Lincoln and Cadillac
decide to offer QVM and CMC builders.
Q. What vehicles
won’t we see in the Krystal lineup in the future?
A. We have discontinued our 100” Town Car because
the market has declined for that vehicle in
recent years.
Q. Why did Krystal
decide to add the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to
its product line? What does this vehicle bring
to the market that is unique?
A. We first looked at the Sprinter for our motor
home conversion division. The Sprinter offers
superior fuel economy and is recognized around
the world for its style and branding.
Q. One of Krystal’s
most recent ventures was with CNG vehicles for
CityCenter in Las Vegas. What has the response
been from Vegas and those using the vehicles?
A. The 72" CNG Town Cars have been well received
by CityCenter. They’re operating all 26 daily
and are very pleased with their performance.
Q. Do you think
other resort towns and/or markets will follow
this trend?
A. There is tremendous pressure on most operators
and localities to “go green.” In some areas,
the infrastructure is lagging behind, but we
strongly believe in the future of alternative
fuels in our industry.
Q. Does Krystal
plan to introduce CNG options for any other
of its products?
A. We currently offer CNG options in our E-450
and International Shuttles, as well as the 72"
Town Car. We have offered a flex-fuel conversion
on the Town Car, and secondary conversions for
LPG are available. Our diesel-electric hybrid
International series has been a hit, and we
currently have 35 in production. The new Ford
buses will offer flex-fuel options, and the
new 6.7L diesel on the F-550 [platform] is approved
for 20 percent bio-diesel. LD |
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