Power Manufacturing would stay busy if it only produced replacement body parts for the right rear portions of motorcoaches, said Tim Ott, company co-owner.
“It’s always the right rear side of the coach. When the tail swings on a turn, the driver loses sight of the right rear. If we had to focus all of our efforts on one area, it would be down the right side,” Ott said.
However, the 23 employees of Power Manufacturing do manufacture and distribute a variety of parts for all makes and models of motorcoaches.
“We are an aftermarket parts supplier that covers the U.S. and Canada. We have in-house manufacturing capabilities and also distribute for several mechanical component manufacturers, although the primary product line revolves around body parts,” Ott said.
Power has a manufacturing facility and warehouse in Elkhart, Indiana, and another warehouse and distribution facility in Orlando. It is in the process of opening a warehouse in the Los Angeles area in the near future.
Power primarily focuses on replacement parts for MCI, Van Hool and Prevost, Ott said. “We make our own tooling patterns and, when necessary, produce parts within three days. We have several long-term people in the manufacturing facility who have a tremendous amount of skills and expertise related to motorcoach components.”
The company was started in 2007 by Ott and Mark Roberts.
“Mark and I started the company in my garage with a primary focus of offering reverse-engineered body parts as an alternative to the OEMs,” Ott said. “I don’t know of another company that offers the operators such a wide range of alternative body parts.
“We offer coach operators an alternative to original equipment at an impressive percentage below the OE retail price. That is our competitive advantage. Also, if the volume warrants, we can custom-produce parts to the customer’s color scheme, reducing costs by eliminating painting and returning the coach to revenue.”
Power acquired Coach Transit Components to enhance its range of aftermarket product offerings. These additional products include mechanical parts, heating and air conditioning components, flooring, adhesives, primers, cleaners, alternators, belts, belt tensioners and pulleys, electrical items, lighting, engine parts, mirrors and wiper components. The company has approximately 10,000 parts available for shipment on a daily basis.
“Our fill rate averages 90 to 95 percent on same-day shipments,” Ott said. “Understanding the coach business from the operator’s standpoint, when a coach is down there is no revenue. Because we are a small, agile company we can change direction to help an operator in a time of need. That is the bottom line.”
Power currently has in its customer base some of the largest motorcoach companies in the U.S and Canada, according to Ott.
