Thomas Built honors top suppliers

HIGH POINT, N.C.  — Thomas Built Buses recently recognized its best suppliers and presented the company’s Supplier of the Year award at an annual two-day event focused on quality manufacturing and building the best buses possible.

Accuride Wheels of Evansville, Ind., was named Thomas Built Buses’ 2012 Supplier of the Year. Thomas Built President and CEO Kelley Platt presented the award to Danny Bullock, quality director, Dan DeBord, director of sales, and Mike Brothers, eastern region director of sales.

Accuride Wheels, which has been a Thomas Built supplier for more than a decade, manufactures steel and forged aluminum wheels for heavy- and medium-duty trucks and commercial trailers, and for buses.

Each supplier recognized by Thomas Built is rated on engineering, quality, logistics, warranty and purchasing. Accuride Wheels was recognized for the best cross-functional performance.

Bergaflex, a global provider of hose and tube assemblies, of Holly, Mich., was named Most Improved Supplier. Numerous gold and silver awards were announced as well.

“This event offers an opportunity to express our appreciation for the invaluable contributions of our suppliers, as well as a forum for discussing the challenges we face together in the coming year,” Platt said. “Fostering an open dialogue at events like this helps us to provide the best quality product and deliver maximum value for our customers, as well as ensure our mutual success.”

More than 200 representatives of Thomas Built’s 100 largest suppliers attended the event.

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