The Brandlines story spans three generations of business success

Sil Luksich started Brandlines in 1986. In those days, many auto parts were manufactured in Australia for both locally produced vehicles and for the aftermarket.
The business was separated into two distinct sectors, which were often referred to as ‘Genuine’ and ‘Brand Lines.’
Sil was convinced that the latter two words formed an ideal name for his company: Brandlines Pty Ltd.
Having accumulated extensive experience in the corporate landscape of the auto parts aftermarket working for Smiths Industries, Bars Leaks, and Quinton Hazell, an opportunity emerged for Brandlines to serve as the representative for the USA-based manufacturers of Gabriel Shock Absorbers in the Australian market.
The intense competition in the local market for shock absorbers created an opportunity for certain wholesale distributors to import Gabriel Shock Absorbers.
The brand rapidly acquired a significant market share, and the representation also led to the supply of an additional private brand shock absorber to new customers.
In subsequent years, Brandlines also expanded and represented the USA brand Autolite Spark Plugs within Australia.
All this built Brandlines into a recognised and respected company in the Australian auto parts aftermarket and also in some export countries.
Moving ahead, Brandlines introduced Gas Struts to its portfolio with its own EziLift brand.
Throughout all this, Brandlines’ primary responsibility was and continues to be maintaining the extensive range of its products to cater for the great variety of motor vehicles which can be found in the Australian market.
Following Sil’s well-deserved retirement some years ago, his sons, Maurice and Mark, today diligently continue the operations of Brandlines, ensuring its continued prominence in the aftermarket scene.
Their recent accomplishments include successfully expanding the representation of Brandlines’ products in several export markets, such as Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
In testament to what Sil has built, having started Brandlines just shy of 40 years ago, now a third generation is joining the company to help take it into the future and beyond, with Maurice’s son Dexter and Mark’s son Cameron now learning the ropes of the industry, while Sil still keeps his fingers on the pulse of the company.

Gabriel shock absorbers: how it all began
Brandlines is best known for its product range, sourcing, distribution and Agency work in Australia around shock absorber brand, Gabriel.
Gabriel has a long and successful history in the automotive marketplace, particularly in its native United States.
It all began in 1900, when an entrepreneur named Claud H Foster decided to combine his two greatest passions, tinkering with automobiles and playing the trombone.
Claud invented a multi-tone automobile horn using the concept of a trombone, calling it ‘Gabriel’s Horn.’
Taking the name from that invention, he then founded Gabriel – a company that many say would go on to revolutionise US automobile suspension systems.
In 1907, Claud created his most acclaimed invention, ‘the Snubber’, a direct acting shock absorber for automobiles and the first of its kind – an achievement that throughout the years would become commonly associated with the Gabriel name.
The company continued to prosper and went on to sell direct acting shock absorbers to both OEM and replacement markets.
With the same pioneering attitude that founded the company, Gabriel’s continual advancements in technology and innovation lead to it becoming a company of ‘firsts.’
It claims it created the first hydraulic shock absorber in the USA, the first adjustable shock absorber, the first air-adjustable shock absorber, the first Positive Sensitive Technology, and the first US-produced twin tube shock absorber.
Struts were added to the product line in the early 1980s, and the company extended its activities in other countries for both the passenger and commercial vehicle markets as well as specialty, industrial, and recreational vehicle OEM markets.
In 2007, Gabriel celebrated its 100th anniversary and from humble beginnings to a trusted aftermarket and original equipment manufacturer, Gabriel still remains the same groundbreaking company.

Gabriel shock absorbers in Australia today
Gabriel has a long-established presence in the Australian aftermarket, having been exporting Down Under for more than 50 years.
Represented in Australia by Brandlines, Gabriel offers an expansive variety of product options covering all types of vehicles – from sedans, SUVs and 4WDs to light and Heavy Duty trucks – and continues to broaden its product range while endlessly looking to improve its high standards of quality, testing and product validation.
Today, Brandlines says Gabriel continues to be one of the country’s most trusted aftermarket manufacturers of ride-control products for passenger and OE OES commercial vehicles.
Brandlines says Gabriel prides itself on engineering and designing its products to tight tolerances and precision specifications, with specific products available for vehicles manufactured and imported from several countries.
For example, Gabriel and Brandlines list a wide range of part numbers for European vehicle applications in Australia.
Because the suspensions of most European vehicles are typically somewhat firmer than those from other parts of the world, Gabriel engineers its shock absorbers and struts to deliver great vehicle agility and responsiveness at low and high speeds when driven on varying terrains.
This is the result of the brand’s Ultra shock-absorber technology, which incorporates several unique Gabriel features and is designed to provide the ultimate in safety and performance, along with what is described as “unbeatable handling and response.”
Brandlines says Gabriel’s dedication to vehicle-specific products can be seen in its UltraPlus 4 x 4 shock absorbers, which are specifically designed for 4WDs and utes and to cope with Australia’s on and off-road conditions and the extra equipment and cargo typically carried by these vehicles.
Gabriel reportedly goes to great lengths to ensure all of its shock absorber and strut designs are extensively tested to provide vehicle owners with high quality, long-lasting performance, and easy installation.
Brandlines says Gabriel’s 100 percent fit-and-ride test ensures all new shock and strut designs are extensively tested for proper fit, ride and durability, and it continues to fit-and-ride test every new light-vehicle design – on the specific vehicle application it was designed for – for both US and export-market roads.
AAD, Austral Distributing, and CoolDrive Auto Parts all nationally distribute Gabriel shock absorbers and struts.

Gabriel Strut Mounts
The strut mount acts as an additional shock-absorbing device to help eliminate unwanted suspension travel.
It connects the strut to the vehicle body and usually consists of two steel plates separated by a rubber insulator.
The strut is mounted through the steel plate and a bearing is used in many strut mounts to provide a smooth steering response.
It assists in keeping the vehicle on a straight and level path under hard braking and acceleration while helping to eliminate body sway when cornering.
Gabriel offers a comprehensive range of replacement strut mounts in Australia, with its range of strut-mount part numbers totaling more than 200 and continuing to grow.
The brand’s ever-growing range of strut-mounts reflects the popularity of 4WD utes in this country, with products for the new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, GWM Cannon, and more.
The brand has also expanded its applications for European brands such as BMW, Audi, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz, including light commercials such as the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Vito.
All Gabriel strut mounts are designed to meet or exceed OE manufacturer specifications. They are put through specific vehicle tests and designed and manufactured to the brand’s tight tolerances and precision specifications.

Gabriel Bump Stops
Bump stops, also known as strut cushions, are designed to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the strut top and the mount, with the gaiter (bellows) protecting the strut piston rod from dirt and moisture.
Brandlines says Gabriel bolsters it extensive range of shock absorber and strut products with a range of strut cushions to cover most vehicles, designed to deliver OE quality and style.

To learn more about Gabriel products, visit www.gabrielshocks.com.au

For more information about Brandlines, visit www.brandlines.com.au