Exclusive Interview 2025 with Chris Bartram
by Meghan Mudge, Head of Marketing
We had the opportunity to speak with Chris Bartram, the Managing Director, CEO, and founder of Crystal Display Systems Limited (CDS). In this interview, Chris shares insights into CDS’s challenges and solutions in the industrial and many other industries, highlights the company’s greatest assets and customers, and discusses his personal career background and future visions.
What is your background?
I began my career working for several display and multinational distribution companies in various capacities, including sales management, product management, and Supplier Business Management across Europe, the USA, and the Far East. Before establishing CDS, I set up Display Technology Limited, the UK office, for a multinational German group as a minority shareholder. After significant growth from 2002 to 2009, I sold my shareholding back to the German parent company, which provided the funds to establish CDS as a customer-focused company with excellent technical support and customer care.
What’s the company’s background?
CDS was founded in 2010 with a management team experienced in the flat panel market since the mid-1990s. Initially, we operated from a modest two-chair, one-room office in Dartford. Over the years, we’ve expanded our product range to include audiovisual screens, industrial displays, touch screens, digital signage, and panel PC interactive touchscreen products. Many blue-chip organisations have specified bus on numerous projects globally for some of the world’s leading brands.
https://crystal-display.com/products/small-format-tft-lcds/
What is your vision for the company?
Our vision is to continue growing as a leading global supplier of industrial display solutions, bringing new innovations to our clients so they can lead the way in their respective industries. We aim to transform visual technology through innovation and excellence, providing our customers with the highest-quality display solutions that enhance their visual experience and drive their success. We will have the best products, promoted by the best marketing and supported by the best support and after-sales service team.
https://crystal-display.com/products/open-frame-tft-lcd-industrial-monitors/
What challenges does a display company face in the industrial sectors and the other markets you support?
In the industrial sectors, we face many challenges and often encounter clients who need to modernise legacy systems with open and backwards-compatible technology. We also manage complex logistics chains for our customers to make their lives easier so they can focus on what they do best. That is where we can offer actual value. Balancing the integration of cutting-edge solutions with existing infrastructures requires a deep understanding of systems’ current advancements and our gestational constraints systems to ensure we supply the optimum solutions every time.
https://crystal-display.com/products/industrial-panel-pcs/
How does CDS respond to this challenge?
To address these challenges, we’ve developed the best product range currently available, backed up by the best team in the industry, who are the most adaptable to specific project and customer requirements. Our agile design team excels at extending these modules as needed, ensuring that we meet and exceed client expectations while maintaining compatibility with existing systems wherever required.
What are the greatest assets in CDS?
Without a doubt, our greatest assets are our people. The innovative contributions of our experienced team members continually enhance their experience in design, manufacturing, process, and after-sales service, supported by the contributions of our new team members. This blend of seasoned expertise and fresh perspectives drives our ongoing success, and we are constantly in a state of continuous improvement, so the aim for perfection never ends at CDS.
https://crystal-display.com/products/low-cost-gaming-and-casino-monitors-and-touchscreen-products/
What is the main USP for CDS?
Our primary unique selling point is our ability to design quickly and effectively or find the optimum display solution for each customer project. Tried and tested sources and practices can swiftly develop solutions tailored to specific project requirements by utilising them while adhering to the stringent standards demanded in many industrial environments.
https://crystal-display.com/cds-blog-page/
Who are CDS’s customers?
Our clientele is based in many industries and markets, including transportation, automotive, kiosk/ATM manufacture, process control, medical, instrumentation, Gaming/Casino, and outdoor applications, to name but a few. Depending on the projects, we supply end users, subcontractors, and system integrators/retailers worldwide. These partnerships reflect our commitment to delivering high-quality, customised display solutions that meet the diverse needs of these industries and applications.
Meet Our Management Team
The CDS management team comprises industry experts with decades of experience in display technology. Their vision and leadership drive our continuous innovation and commitment to quality. Our team’s expertise ensures that we stay at the forefront of the display industry, delivering cutting-edge solutions to our clients.
At CDS, we believe in sharing our knowledge and expertise to help you achieve your goals. Explore our vault of knowledge today and discover how our unique products, bespoke solutions, and unwavering commitment to quality can benefit your business. Whether you are looking for detailed product information, real-world application examples, or custom solutions, CDS is your trusted partner in display technology.
We will continue to grow by developing our product range and strengthening the team where we see fit. So we can grow organically but are also looking at acquisitions to help speed up that growth. We acquired and integrated Craft Data Limited last year and are now working on a couple of other acquisitions that we hope to finalise very soon. But if any related companies are looking to sell or merge, they should contact us to discuss and see if we can find some common ground to add value and create a win-win scenario for the teams, suppliers and customers.
Do you have any final words?
CDS would like to wish everyone a successful and profitable 2025 and beyond, whether competitors, suppliers, or competitors and their families.
Need More Information?
CALL US +44 (0)1634 791600
