The smallest part can bring a semi-truck to a complete standstill if it fails. That is why using high-quality electrical parts is really about failure prevention and saving you money.
Recently we interviewed Rob Phillips, CEO of Phillips Industries
The History of a Family Business
Phillips Industries was started in 1928 by Hugh W. Phillips. The company was built on a single product when a reflective signal arm patent was awarded to Phillips.
The company began manufacturing the reflective signal arm two years later, and this single product became the foundation on which the company’s success was built. The company is still being operated by the Phillips family today.
What is it like to be responsible for a legacy business like that?
Rob Phillips, CEO of Phillips Industries mentioned that working alongside every department for the last 25-years, he has developed a very deep love for the business. Rob added, “if you are passionate about the business, you will enjoy contributing to the legacy.”
High-Quality Innovative Products
Over the years, Phillips has created many high-quality products including glad-hands, coiled air hoses, electrical cables, and much more. They are continuing to produce really innovative products. During their 90th anniversary celebration in 2018, the company detailed historical milestones and cultural principles important to the formation and development of the company into the premier innovator of commercial vehicle electrical and air brake components and global supplier that it is today.
Rob Phillips emphasized that “throughout our history, Phillips Industries has focused on listening – to our customers as well as to our employees because both are critical to our success. We’re a 4th generation family business that strives for quality in absolutely everything we do – it’s the only way we’ve gotten to where we are today.”
Rob mentioned in his interview on The Heavy-Duty Parts Report, “we stay really close to our customers… We work very closely with them, to talk about what their problems and headaches are. Having this relationship allows them to pick up the phone and call us… A lot of our products get started by talking to our customers and finding out where things are failing.”
STA-DRY S7
In the mid-90s there was magnesium chloride being put on the highways to prevent accidents from snow and ice.
However, this speeds up the corrosion effects. STA-DRY was developed to keep those salts out of their products, acting as a protective barrier.
In the case of the STA-DRY S7 with its durable weather-resistant housing, and sealed wiring in the interior, it can better combat corrosion from chemicals and extreme weather. Also, included in the S7, is their award-winning QCS2® (Quick-Change Socket), for fast and easy socket replacement. Furthermore, the S7 swivel socket is a huge money saver for many fleets dealing with damaged lines from jack-knifing.
QWIK-CHECK
Rob Phillips explained, “QWIK-CHECK is a product that allows any user to see the condition of each of their wires.
So, the idea is, if you have a light out, you can find out if it’s the light or the circuit. It is an easy way to find out where a problem lies, so you can do the right troubleshooting.”
With QWIK_CHECK, it is so quick and easy to see if there is power within the connection between the tractor and the trailer. Furthermore, with the LED indicator built-in, you can easily identify which circuit is not receiving power. To make things even easier, it is also designed for integration into the electrical system into the nose box.
3-in-1-Kits
Keeping your cables organized between the truck and trailer is much easier with Phillips Industries 3-in-1 kits, which are two rubber airlines, and one electrical line, which helps keep everything organized, and protected. Not only does it give everything a nice clean and organized look, but the material has outstanding kink and abrasion resistance. With the large grips as well, it makes for easy coupling and uncoupling.
X-TEND
X-TEND is easy to install, it just snaps on, no tools needed. It keeps your cables from swinging and banging against the back of the cab by extending cables out an additional 8” from the tracker bar.
This solution can benefit a fleet in many areas. From avoiding costly repairs to decreasing the distractions caused by the banging cables, this product is a must.
Improved Delivery of These Products
Everything that Phillips Industries manufactures is designed to be easier and faster to repair in the field, while also being able to last longer. But you need to be able to get access to the products to be able to benefit from them and even though we have been living through some tough times lately, there is a big opportunity to make a shift to be able to deliver smaller shipments of products at a much faster rate.
Phillips Industries have been taking steps to improve the delivery of their products through their distribution channel and into the hands of the people who use them. Fleets and owner-operators are now able to get all Phillips Industries heavy-duty parts faster than ever before.
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