Spotlight on... JDS Metaltech

We started out building rock ‘n’ roll-style beds around 14 years ago. We’re a family-run company and, combined, we have over 80 years of experience in welding and upholstery. Besides supplying self-builders and campervan converters across the UK, we also ship to Europe, Australia and the USA.

Q2: What sets you apart from the crowd?

Our bespoke service – we build all the frames in-house and around 90% of the upholstery is done at our premises, too. This gives us a lot of flexibility and allows us to tailor to customers’ requirements.

After nearly 14 years in business, we still get a lot of satisfaction seeing the seats installed in the finished conversions. When you’ve gone the extra mile to design something individual to the customer, it’s always rewarding to see the end result.

Q4: How would you sum up the company’s ethos and values?

Never promise what you cannot deliver! Seriously, though, good customer service is really important to us, and we always offer our honest advice when people come to us to discuss bespoke options for their self-build campervans.

Q5: Who are your main customers?

The majority of our customers are people who are building their own campervans and, therefore, come to us for a rock ‘n’ roll bed and seat system – which we can install for them, if required, too. However, we do also supply over 30 campervan conversion companies with various frame types.

Q6: What products do you offer and what’s your bestseller?

We offer M1-tested rock ‘n’ roll beds in assorted sizes, fixed double seat frames for motorhomes, and we also build bespoke frames. Then we offer upholstery options in a wide range of fabrics and designs, and most customers opt for bespoke upholstery. Because of the wide range of M1 frames and upholstery options that we offer, our bespoke stuff is always a bestseller.

Q7: Have you got any exciting new developments in the pipeline?

Despite having been in the industry for 14 years, we’re constantly innovating, and we’re always working on new frame designs. As we offer custom designs, we’re frequently working on something new in order to meet the various layouts that our customers may have designed themselves.

Q8: What advice would you give to someone thinking about converting a campervan?

From a seating point of view, I would advise not to leave it until the very end of the build to get in touch. Even if it’s just to run through the layout and any initial ideas you may have, the installation of seats or a rock ‘n’ roll bed system is quite integral. So, for example, there may be a better seating solution we can offer and, sometimes, little tweaks to the design can have a massive effect on how the conversion turns out.

Q9: What’s the most unusual question you’ve ever been asked by a customer?

We once had a phone call from a customer in Portugal asking if we offered an installation service; I said, yes, at our workshop in Sheffield and the installation would take around an hour. The customer booked in and paid and we set a date. On the day of the installation, the customer arrived. We found out he had driven all the way from Portugal and, as soon as the bed was installed, he drove straight back again!

Q10: What’s the best campervan trip you’ve personally undertaken?

Although we have been in the campervan and motorhome trade for nearly 14 years, I have never had a fully converted van of my own! I have had day vans – VW T4 and Ford Transit Custom – and, when I go camping with my family, we normally take a tent. We are, however, in the planning stage of designing our first motorhome and, if everything goes to plan, we are going on a road trip around Europe for six weeks next year.

The JDS Metaltech range

As a company specialising in rock ‘n’ roll bench/bed frames and fixed seating, there’s a wide range to choose from, including bespoke options, and myriad upholstery choices, too...

Rock ‘n’ roll frames

Upholstery

Contact JDS Metaltech