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

Parker Warren, purchasing manager of Thomas Built Buses, presented the 2013 Supplier of the Year award to John Julian, owner of Julian Electric, which has been a Thomas Built supplier for more than seven years.

Julian Electric manufactures battery cables for Thomas Built's buses and rated the highest on engineering, quality, logistics, warranty and purchasing.

Truck-Lite, a global provider of visibility systems, 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," said Kelley Platt, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. "Fostering an open dialog at events like this helps us provide the best quality product and deliver maximum value for our customers as well as ensure our mutual success."

More than 147 representatives of Thomas Built’s 100 largest suppliers attended the annual supplier event, held this month at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro, N.C.

Award winners included:

Silver Suppliers
AFP Industries
CSi’s Consolidated Metals Products
East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc.
BASF
Creative F.R.P Inc.
Eberhard Manufacturing Co.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
DANA Holding Corp.
Elixir Industries
Blachford Inc.
Douglas Autotec Corp.
ETM Manufacturing
Carling Technologies
Detroit Tools Metal Products
Freedman Seating Co.
Dynetek Industries Ltd.
Gates Corp.
Gexpro
Industrial Fabricators Inc.
Prestolite Electric Inc.
Goldshield Fiberglass Inc.
Liberty Steel Products Inc.
RJF International Corp.
Guardian Industries
Meritor WABCO
Rosco Inc.
Gunite Corp.
Metalsa
Spectal Industries Inc.
Hendrickson
Nexans
Sperry & Rice Manufacturing Co.
Hydraulics Tubes & Fittings LLC
Porter’s Fabrications
TRW Automotive

Gold Suppliers
Accuride Corp.
Elmhirst Industries Inc.
New Standard Corp.
Bemis Co. Inc.
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.
Reflexite Corp.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
BurgaFlex
South Star Corp.
IMMI
Cable Assembly LLC
Julian Electric Inc.
Core Molding Technologies Inc.
Michelin Manufacturing Co.
St. Clair Technologies
D&B Concepts Inc.
National Seating
Vomela