Contact: tracy.darchini@daimler.com

Julian Electric Named Thomas Built’s Supplier of the Year

High Point, N.C. – Dec. 2013 – 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, who has been a Thomas Built supplier for more than seven years. Julian Electric manufactures battery cables for Thomas Built 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.

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 Company
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
DANA Holding Corporation
Elixir Industries
Blachford Incorporated
Douglas Autotec Corp.
ETM Manufacturing
Carling Technologies
Detroit Tools Metal Products
Freedman Seating Company
Dynetek Industries Ltd.
Gates Corporation
Gexpro
Industrial Fabricators, Inc.
Prestolite Electric Inc.
Goldshield Fiberglass, Inc.
Liberty Steel Products, Inc.
RJF International Corporation
Guardian Industries
Meritor WABCO
Rosco, Inc.
Gunite Corporation
Metalsa
SpectAL Industries, Inc.
Hendrickson
Nexans
Sperry & Rice Manufacturing Company
Hydraulics Tubes & Fittings, LLC
Porter’s Fabrications
TRW Automotive

Gold Suppliers

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

“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. 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,” explained Kelley Platt, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses.

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.

About Thomas Built Buses
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at www.thomasbus.com or at http://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, N.C., is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.