Posted: 3/30/2005 (updated: 3/30/2005), DocID: 101443
Crysteel Manufacturing (Lake Crystal, MN) recently partnered with Silent Drive (Orange City, IA) in the development of its new ProMax Super Dump. Like most relationships, the two companies saw the positive attributes the other had to offer and came together to fill a need in the industry. However, what makes this success story different is that both parties say the collaboration happened through their experience with the NTEA Young Executives Network (YEN).
Joe Paulsen, Crysteel’s national sales manager and Reese Kelch, Silent Drive’s sales manager, served on the YEN Steering Committee in the late 1990s. By working together on the Committee, Paulsen and Kelch gained an understanding of each other’s businesses and how their products come to market, and built a trust level with each other.
“I’m often asked about my experience with the YEN by members who are eager to learn the value they could derive from the program. The networking offered by the YEN provides a tremendous benefit to learn about other companies and opens doors to new opportunities that might not otherwise come about without those connections,” said Paulsen.
According to Kelch, the YEN organization is doing exactly what it was created to do — allowing young executives to get together and discuss innovative ideas.
“Things grew and matured from two separate ideas into a joint venture. It’s been very successful and it all stemmed from networking through the YEN,” said Kelch.
Paulsen said Crysteel and Silent Drive are continuing their work on product design and engineering, branding and marketing aspects to take the concept to a national level. The ProMax is designed to haul more than 20 yds. of capacity in most states. The concept evolved from the cement industry, but required various engineering changes since the 1990s to perfect retrofit issues and other engineering concerns.
“Reese approached us with their concept and it made a lot of sense. At the time, the market wasn’t necessarily ready for a new concept and we knew we were taking a risk. Through our relationship on the YEN Committee, we went from a vendor-supplier relationship to a partnership,” said Paulsen.
The ProMax Super Dump was one of two products awarded the 2005 Editor’s Choice Award for New Product Innovation at The Work Truck Show® 2005. Crysteel and Silent Drive are marketing this new product exclusively through newly acquired ProMax Super Dump distributors.