The GSI Group roots date back to the 1930's. As the Great Depression ravaged the economies of the world, agriculture provided the basic means of survival for many Americans.

In the heartland of the United States, the small farm family of Rolla and Lena Sloan was no exception. They learned from hard experience the value of agricultural production to the well-being of themselves and their neighbors, as well as the value of pulling together, "as a family and as a community" for the common good.

In 1931, Rolla became a local representative for the John Deere agricultural implement company providing his neighbors access to much needed farm machinery. Sloan Implement helped the community weather the hard times making the latest tractors, combines and tilling technology available to hard pressed, hardworking local farmers.

By 1946, the Great Depression and the Great War, in which Rolla's son Rollin served in the US Navy, were both over... but the lessons about the value and satisfactions of genuine family and community commitment were not forgotten. Rollin Sloan joined his father in the implement business and went on to become General Manager in 1952. In 1957, Rollin was in turn joined by his brother Larry and the dealership expanded to six outlets in central Illinois. By the mid 60's Sloan Implement had grown to one of the largest John Deere Dealerships in the United States, but it held tenaciously to its small town roots and deep-seated, personal commitment to its famly, friends, and loyal customers.

In 1967 however, personal tragedy struck the family when Rollin was killed in a private airplane crash over northern Illinois. In the wake of the disaster, Rollin's brother Larry took over as General Manager of Sloan Implement and was joined in the early 70's by Rollin's three sons, Tom, Craig and Jim, all just out of college.

Within a year, a young Craig Sloan, like his father and grandfather before him, began to recognize a need for reliable, affordable storage for the grain they were so successfully producing with the equipment Sloan Implement was selling.

In 1972, in a 5,000 square foot garage, Craig helped establish Grain Systems, Inc., and began manufacturing a wide variety of corrugated steel, bulk grain storage bins. GSI grew from being the smallest of the nations 26 storage bin manufacturers, to the largest in the world by 1988.

The establishment of Cumberland in 1985, and Agri-Plastics (renamed Automated Production Systems) in 1989, allowed the company to expand, beyond grain storage, drying and handling systems, into the poultry and swine production markets manufacturing a variety of feeders, waterers, feed storage and delivery, heating equipment, ventilation systems, and more.

Avemarau Equipamentos Agricolas Ltda., South America's largest manufacturer and supplier of poultry feeding and swine equipment was acquired in mid 1998. The acquisition of Avemarau, renamed Agromarau, expanded the company's international presence which includes manufacturing facilities in Europe, China, South Africa, Asia, and Mexico.

In addition, the acquirement of David Manufacturing Co. in 1997 and Farm Fans Corp./Zimmerman in 2001, further supplemented GSI's "complete" line of grain storage, drying and material handling systems with trusted names and innovative products known throughout the ag industry.

All of these manufacturing divisions make up what is known as GSI Group, your "Complete" systems manufacturer.

Today, GSI Group markets it's products to over 75 countries worldwide through a network of independent dealers to grain/protein producers and large commercial businesses. Craig Sloan has since retired and in May 2005 placed the GSI Group in the capable hands of Charlesbank Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm with more than $1.5 billion in assets. As of August 2007, Centerbridge Partners, L.P. became the majority interest holder of GSI Group while Charlesbank continues to hold a significant stake in GSI. Centerbridge Partners, L.P., the largest first-time private equity fund ever raised, is a $3.2 billion multi-strategy private investment fund. The firm is dedicated to partnering with world class management teams to invest across multiple stages of a Company's life cycle and to employ various strategies to help companies achieve their operating and financial objectives. Centerbridge's limited partners include many of the world's most prominent financial institutions, university endowments, pension funds, and charitable trusts.

The GSI Group continues to offer the same reliable equipment and service customers of the Sloan family have grown accustomed to over the years. A commitment to identifying and serving the needs of communities near or far, and excellence in the quality and selection of products we manufacture, and services we offer, will continue to be the blueprint by which we operate the business. We look forward to serving the future equipment needs of each and every customer and invite you to browse our division websites for more information on our complete line of quality products.