Conveyor Manufacturing
Featured Partner: Talos Engineered Products
Automated parcel handling system: Integration by SilMan Industries with powered conveyors provided by supplier-partner Talos Engineered Products (Photo Credit: Ray Hawkins for SilMan Industries).
Integrator-Supplier Relationships are Key to Success
Just as an orchestra conductor relies on the quality of his instrumentalists to achieve his best work, system integrators turn to conveyor manufacturing partners and other equipment providers to deliver optimum results for end-users.
However, there is much more to these relationships than simply a purchase order.
Material handling systems are highly complex creations. In turn, successful design and integration require tight coordination of technical and logistical elements. As the scope and purpose of a project take shape, the integrator looks to their network of collaborators for the perfect fit in each category: conveyor, sortation, controls, cameras, scanners, printers, and scales.
Furthermore, throughout the life of the project, the health of each partner relationship is critical to providing optimal delivery, reliable performance, and the best pricing.
“Partnership is about give-and-take, and what we can do to make each other better.”
- Matt Harvey, Talos EP
Teams from Talos Engineered Products and SilMan Industries at Modex 2022 in Atlanta (Photo credit: Steve Emahiser for SilMan Industries).
Talos Engineered Products
It is a bit surreal that from the peaceful hills and meadows of Middle Tennessee comes a marquee manufacturer that has deeply impacted the supply chain sector.
Talos Engineered Products is a renowned conveyor manufacturer, headquartered in Lewisburg, Tennessee.
The fact is, you probably have an existing relationship with the company. Thanks to their deep presence in the parcel industry, some of your recent purchases probably rolled across their product on their way to your home.
Talos Engineered Products, also known as Talos EP or simply “Talos,” is a leading material handling supplier.
The company’s dedication to quality and service is reflected in its continued growth, evidenced by its new production facility in Lewisburg which opened in November 2021.
They also uphold a passionate commitment to their community and the well-being of their team members. For example, Talos is noted as one of the best-paying companies in their area.
The team at Talos applies this same community sense to their operations: focus on what is important to their customers and partners.
Matt Harvey, EVP of Products and Services put it this way, “our engineering innovations are our competitive advantage. The ICHOR3D package provides shorter lead times – even in the post-Covid supply chain environment – quicker order finalization, and a focus on the people who actually put this equipment into action: the installers!”
Engineered Solutions
Parcel Handling System: The Talos-SilMan Partnership in Action
(Photo Credit: Ray Hawkins for SilMan Industries).
Material Handling Equipment Supplier
Talos has several product offerings:
- Parcel Handling Conveyor
- Baggage Handling Conveyor
- Chutes
- Platforms
- Caster Decks
Parcel
Talos was an early innovator in the parcel space, creating conveyors uniquely tooled for the parcel sector. In fact, they were one of the first to design bolt-up conveyors for major parcel companies.
Additional related products include powered or static components, caster decks, gravity conveyors, and platforms.
Chutes
Talos has revolutionized gravity chutes with their patented UHMW chutes.
UHMW is low friction, self-lubricated, high abrasion resistant, non-magnetic sliding surface. Learn more about UHMW.
In addition to their performance, the Talos chute design is flexible and modular making their solution easily applicable to a wide variety of applications and providing rapid turnaround from their manufacturing facility.
Stainless and galvanized units are also available.
Baggage Handling
The company’s expertise with UHMW chutes and conveyor design makes BHS a natural fit for Talos. Their bolted transport and queue conveyors are BNP approved.
Conveyor Manufacturing Operations
In addition to the main headquarters and production facilities in Lewisburg, Talos has also added a plant in Lavergne, Tenn. in recent years.
The Lewisburg operation (100k sqft.) produces conveyor, while chutes are fabricated in LaVergne (269k sqft.).
The combined facilities contain all assembly, fabrication, shipping, engineering, and administrative services for the company.
Their process includes:
- Laser Cutting
- Brake Press
- Robotic Welding
- Manual Welding
- Sawcut
- Powder Coating
- Assembly
- Kitting
Engineered Conveyor Solutions
Integrator-Manufacturer Focus on End-User Results
David Rebata leads SilMan’s system integration team. He offered this insight into his relationship with Talos:
“Above and beyond providing a quality product, their engineering support and application knowledge are outstanding.
For us, Talos is effectively an extension of our own engineering group. This ten-year alliance makes it easy to pick up the phone and get instant support when needed.”
We asked Matt Harvey what they are doing to receive such a compliment:
“SilMan is designing and building a system for a customer.
To support this, Talos provides precise guidance and instructions for the implementation of our hardware into the build plan. In addition, our Configurator is a powerful tool. Just input the details of the installation, and the Configurators do all the work. And removes human error.
This means SilMan can build systems much faster than our competitors are able to do.”
This proprietary solution is known as ICHOR 3D, which Mr. Harvey refers to as “the blood that runs through our veins.”
Another interesting perspective of the engineering team at Talos is their focus on the installer’s experience with their equipment.
Mr. Harvey explains the Talos approach to installation teams this way: “Not all integrators have in-house installation teams like SilMan. They use 3rd party subcontractors. In the end, these teams are our customers. They are the ones who will offer “user reviews” that influence prospective customers and partners.”
Once again, the savviness of Talos’ modular approach and detailed process provides added value to all stakeholders, clients, and partners.
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Company Culture and Mission
Talos and SilMan: Beyond the Bottom Line
SilMan and Talos have worked together for many years. While the day-to-day relationships between our engineering and design teams are a visible sign of cooperation, it is interesting to note the internal intentions of both companies.
Both are committed to authentic interactions: within our Teams, in the Community, and bringing something to the world beyond a product.
Here are two diagrams that map the convictions of leadership at each company. In both cases, we see the close alignment of business purpose and the well-being of team members, clients, partners, and the community.
(click image to see full-screen)
Talos in the Community
As a visitor to the Talos website, one can’t help but notice this phrase popping throughout your visit:
- “If you want to see how business can improve lives, give Talos a call!”
As graphically demonstrated above, Talos sustains a high view of their purpose in the community.
When you dive into this “Five Lens” view, you see a company that is reaching out to help those in need, as well as making an overt effort to make sure that their suppliers are profitable. Even their investors have committed to a portion of their return to be sowed into the community.
Reliability and Performance
Rebata is at the forefront of the company-to-company association with Talos. He summarized the partnership with this:
“The success of the SilMan team in the parcel world is dependent on our partner relationships and the consistency in which these partners can deliver. SilMan has relied on the Talos team since 2014 and whether it be the people at Talos, the engineering support delivered, or the quality of their products, Talos’ ongoing stability throughout the years has helped SilMan Industries succeed in supporting our parcel client base with successful projects.”
About SilMan
SilMan Industries (previously SilMan Construction) is based in San Leandro, California.
Founded in 2008, the firm operates nationwide in three divisions – Construction, Material Handling and Site Services – and partners with “best in class” companies in the Industrial, Manufacturing, Distribution, and Public Works sectors.
For more information, please visit www.silmanindustries.com/about.
