Goodyear Conveying Star Status to More Distributors
PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Sept. 18 -- Pluto's demotion decreased our solar system's planet count by one, but Goodyear Engineered Products promises to uncover a galaxy of new "stars" in the near future.
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Goodyear won't need a telescope to find terrestrial prospects - qualified conveyor belt distributors - for a network designed to ensure product and service uniformity.
Goodyear's Star network designates locations that boast expertly-trained personnel, advanced-technology service tools, minimum equipment requirements and e-commerce capabilities to serve end-users.
The sky's the limit for an end-user's need for speed, productivity and dependability, which places more demand on conveyor systems and belt service providers, according to Mike Braucher, marketing manager for Goodyear's North America conveyor belt products.
Braucher spoke to a group of belt distributors at a convention in Palm Springs, conducted by NIBA-The Belting Association.
"Customers expect the right belt, installed at the right time," he said, "and they need immediate access to services that keep systems up and running."
After a Goodyear Authorized Distributor applies for Star status, a third- party audit verifies that it is equipped to provide the same products, services, and training found at any other Star network location.
For uniformity, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), an independent testing and certification organization, verifies that each Star distributor meets stringent criteria.
"Star is a new horizon for our conveyor belt distributors," said Braucher, adding that it helps quantify value-added benefits delivered to end users.
He said Star members will have access to Goodyear Value Trakker software, which documents a conveyor system's performance and proves true savings delivered to a customer. Trakker tracks the life of a conveyor belt from fabrication and installation to scheduled maintenance and replacement.
Star was introduced two years ago to Goodyear industrial hose distributors and quickly became one of the fastest growing U.S. distributor networks, helping to ensure uniform hose assemblies in the petrochemical industry. Now, conveyor belt users can look for Star members that consistently meet their product and service needs.
Star distributors will complete introductory, basic and advanced Goodyear training. Each location must have at least a 72-inch slitter, minimum 10,000- pound lifting capacity, sufficient inventory and around-the-clock service.
In addition to the Value Trakker software, the distributor will be equipped with survey tools, ultrasonic gauges and Goodyear Minuteman software, designed to determine required belt specifications, provide cost-per-ton- conveyed data, and help plan maintenance and replacement of belts.
Goodyear Engineered Products also manufactures and markets industrial power transmission belts and hydraulics. To apply for Goodyear Star status, register at star.goodyear.com.
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