A proven character trait since its early relationship with Alcoa,
Phoenix USA’s ability to work together with OEMs has given
the company a chance to develop products at a record pace.
However, those relationships extend well beyond business-to-
business meetings.
“On the second front, our focused teams attend more than twenty
industry related vehicle and equipment trade shows annually
- generating pages of notes and photos. Our leading customer
service group takes more than 26,000 product related calls every
year,” Bella continues. “All of this keeps us very much in tune with
customer wants and needs.”
After these avenues have determined a product need, a team
of Phoenix USA designers and engineers with more than fifty
combined years of manufacturing and global logistics experience,
develops specifications to provide to global suppliers. With tools
such as AutoCAD, 3-D modeling for in-house prototyping and
inspection abilities, the team works to hone in on and create the
envisioned product.
Cherokee Furniture Manufacturing Company began in 1960 and
operated for nearly a quarter century in Cookeville, Tennessee.
The company’s fleet of fifteen trailers and eight power rig units
were equipped with “hot-forged”, aluminum wheels bought
directly from aluminum pioneer Alcoa. In 1984, the company met
a devastating end when a fire destroyed its facility. Thankfully,
the company’s strong relationship with Alcoa, along with valuable
experience in the transportation industry, led to the creation of a
new, opportunistic endeavor – Phoenix USA.
No longer manufacturing furniture, Phoenix USA developed into
a leading manufacturer of value-added enhancement accessories,
including wheel trim and storage products, for numerous
segments of the automotive
and transportation vehicle
industries. These accessories
tend to be “the fashion
industry” of the automotive
world – as such, they can
quickly change and evolve into
the latest trends. So how is a
manufacturer to keep up or
anticipate demand?
One of Phoenix USA’s products
to complete this process is the
NF14 – a D.O.T.Liner® for
the 2WD Ford 16”, 6-lug, dual
wheel transit van. Phoenix USA
worked closely with the OEM
to ensure the optional wheel
liner was available to customers,
through Ford or Phoenix USA,
when the new van model was
unveiled.
Throughout Phoenix USA’s thirty-three-year history, its process
of working closely with other companies has produced more than
twenty patents, eleven trademarks and decorative wheel trim
for more than 95% of trucks on the road today, not to mention
numerous other aftermarket accessories.
Phoenix USA is proving to set an example as a company looking
to meet needs rather than simply make products. According to
them, including customers in the product development process
only helps to ensure a sales-viable product and satisfaction for all
involved.
According to John Bella, Phoenix USA’s Director of Technical
Services, it requires attention on two fronts by everyone on the
Phoenix USA team.
“Some of the most viable industries we work with include towing
and recovery, trailer manufacturing, the automotive aftermarket,
emergency service vehicles, motor coach and construction/utility
equipment,” Bella says. “We work closely with the major OEMs
in these industries to create products directly for them. We’re
working on standard and optional accessories at the same time
the equipment manufacturer is working on an upcoming market
need or model.”
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To learn more about Phoenix USA or for a full line of product
offerings, visit www.phoenixusa.com.
NATDA Magazine www.natda.org