Ring Power Corporation News

Ring Power Utility Equipment Division recently entered into an agreement with Vac-Con to become the newest dealer in Vac-Con’s construction and utility dealer network. 

"We are very excited about the opportunity to partner with Vac-Con on their hydro-excavation product line,” said Mike Beauregard, Vice President of Ring Power Utility Equipment Division. “Vac-Con is a well-respected manufacturer providing unparalleled quality backed by a best in class service team. We are always looking for products that will expand our opportunity as a complete solutions provider to our customers. Hydro excavation is becoming a necessity in many area of the U.S. and we will have the right tools for the job when our customers call."

As a Vac-Con dealer, Ring Power Utility Equipment will provide contractor end-users with the rental and sales of the Vac•Con hydro-excavation product line for primary use in the construction industry.

“Ring Power has an upstanding reputation in the construction industry, which is primed and ready for hydro-excavation machines,” said Todd Masley, Executive Vice President, Vac-Con. “Our dealer partnership with Ring Power is a strong foot forward into this sector, in which the importance of safe, non-destructive digging is becoming a resounding factor. Our hydro-excavation machines, both truck and trailer-mounted, are designed to function as either individual machines or in tandem with traditional methods of digging often seen on the job site. Ultimately, we see this opportunity with Ring Power propelling us into a new market with confident optimism of the results to follow.”

The hydro-excavation portfolio includes the X-Cavator™ and Mudslinger™ machines. The X-Cavator from Vac-Con is a truck-mounted hydro-excavation machine designed to handle tough jobs but with the utmost precision including trenching, potholing, daylighting, exposing underground utilities, oil and gas distribution lines, and much more.

Ring Power Lift Trucks is pleased to announce the promotion of Benjamin Bond Herhold to the position of Narrow Aisle Warehouse Specialist. Ben, who has been with Ring Power Lift Trucks since 2015, most recently served as a Territory Account Manager. In his new role, Ben will assist customers throughout Florida in optimizing warehouse space utilization. With the use of industry-leading warehouse and narrow aisle forklift technology, he will provide customers with solutions that maximize warehouse space and efficiency, while increasing productivity. 

“Ben is a proven leader whose strong work ethic, technical expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction makes him the ideal candidate for this role,” said Ring Power Lift Truck’s Vice President & Sales Manager Joe DeJohn. Customers can depend on him to find the right solutions for their warehouse needs.” 

Several dozen customers gathered in a tent on the back lot of Ring Power’s corporate headquarters in St. Augustine May 24. They had just attended a series of interactive presentations on the features and benefits of the Next Generation Cat Excavators, and were eager to see the groundbreaking machines in action. 

As AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” began blasting on the speakers, the attendees eagerly turned their attention to the mound of dirt in front of them. Suddenly, a Cat 730C Articulated Truck made a swift loop around the edge of the dirt mound, and three Next Generation Cat Excavators began to emerge in unison from behind the mound as they ascended to the top. (Checkout the video at the bottom of this post) 

The dramatic entrance and ensuing presentation was carefully choreographed and performed by Ring Power’s elite team of Machine Demo Specialists.

Comprised of Blake Conwell, Bryce McGuire, Mike Oster and — until recently — led by Curt Loucks (now retired), the machine demo team plays a vital role in supporting our business.  

“We really have the best team in the country — guys who are dedicated and work hard every day,” said Field Operations Manager Blake Conwell.

As demo operators, each team member wears many hats.  

They support our sales team by introducing customers to new products and technologies, and communicating the benefits of Cat machines over competitive offerings.  Sometimes, they do this at branch demo days and open houses; other times, they take the machine directly to a customer’s jobsite to demonstrate its capabilities in a real world environment.

When a customer takes delivery of a new piece of equipment, the machine demo specialists train the personnel that will be operating the equipment on a daily basis. They instruct customer operators on new features, demonstrate how those features work and ensure that operators know how to use the machine safely and efficiently.

Machine demo specialists also support our customers by performing on-site production studies to improve jobsite operations. A scale truck and/or onboard weighing systems are utilized to measure payloads and study cycle times. Any operation that involves digging, loading or hauling weight or volume over a measured distance can be analyzed to ensure maximum productivity.

The skills and technique of on-site equipment operators also can be examined to gauge their efficiency. If the demo operator specialist sees anything that could cut a few seconds off cycle times, that information is shared with the customer and/or operator. Whether it be adjusting tire pressure on a wheel loader in different underfoot conditions, or changing the spacing of on-site trucks, the demo operator specialist is able to make informed recommendations that save customers time and money. 

This ability requires extensive knowledge and continuous education in the quickly evolving field of machine technology. Each demo operator specialist attends the annual Certified Dealer Instructor Conference to stay abreast of the latest technology, and get an overview of machines that will soon hit the market. The conference is also an opportunity to share equipment successes and concerns directly with Caterpillar.

“There is a lot coming out and it is important for us to stay ahead of the game,” Blake said. “The more we know the more successful each demo will be.”

Kudos to the entire Machine Demo Specialists team. Your knowledge and expertise are instrumental to the success of our customers’ businesses … and ours!

 Check out the Demo Day entrance below. 

Ring Power’s largest group to ever complete the ThinkBIG Technician Scholarship program walked across the stage to claim their diplomas, May 8 at South Georgia Technical College in Americus, Ga. 

Keeping with tradition, a dinner in honor of the graduates was hosted by Ring Power and other sponsoring Cat® dealers prior to the commencement ceremony. In attendance were: Pat O’Brien (SVP, Director of Product Support), Chris Tomkinson (VP, PSD Service Operations Manager), Ken Potts (PSD General Service Manager), Rick Howard (St. Augustine PSD Branch Service Manager), Jason Bickerstaff (St. Augustine HE Main Shop Service Manager), Hector Feliciano (Tallahassee HE Branch Service Manager), Mark Dunlap (Tallahassee PSD Branch Service Manager), and Teri Brown (St. Augustine Customer Training/ThinkBig Manager). Families and friends of the graduating students also attended the dinner to share in their accomplishments.

With 10 students, this was Ring Power’s largest ThinkBIG group to date. This was also the first group to have students graduate from the Electric Power Generation (EPG) track, since it was launched as part of the ThinkBIG program two years ago.

Two of Ring Power’s graduating students, Logan Boyd and Jason Dillard, were recognized for highest overall marks in the entire program!

The 2018 ThinkBIG graduates are: 

Blair Revels - St. Augustine – Heavy Equipment

Jason Amador - St. Augustine - Electric Power Generation

Logan Lauk - Palm Bay - Electric Power Generation

Logan Boyd -Tallahassee – Electric Power Generation

Ricky Long - St. Augustine - Heavy Equipment

Jason Dillard - St. Augustine - Heavy Equipment

Sean Evans - Tallahassee Heavy Equipment

Chad Lower - Tampa - Heavy Equipment

John Arp - St. Augustine - Heavy Equipment

Garrett Wells - Ocala - Heavy Equipment 

Congratulations to all of the 2018 ThinkBIG graduates! Kudos on all of your hard-work and dedication! We wish you much success in your Ring Power careers!

For more information on Ring Power's Technician Scholarship program, visit www.ringpower.com/thinkbig

Ring Power, one of two dedicated regional dragline dealers, has been awarded the extended territory for dragline product support coverage that includes all of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. 

The extended coverage was awarded to Ring Power because of its high level of industry expertise with Marion, Bucyrus and Caterpillar draglines. Ring Power will continue to build its capabilities by recruiting additional specialists in the newly acquired territories. This will establish a workforce in those areas that will deliver aftermarket solutions to U.S. dragline customers consistent with the level of service Ring Power customers have come to know and love. 

Combined with Ring Power’s original coverage area in Central and North Florida, the expanded territories will operate in four states as a newly-formed division of Ring Power under the name Dragline Mining Specialists.

Current openings at Ring Power for these newly acquired territories include:

Technical Sales Representative (TSR)

Job Foreman/Service Advisor

Certified Boom Welder

Certified Structural Welder

Mechanical Technician

Assistant Parts Manager

** Apply at: http://ringpower.com//careers.aspx

Ring Power® Corporation is an equal employment opportunity employer. We are dedicated to equal opportunity in employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran or disabled status, or any other protected class. Reasonable accommodation will be made as appropriate to enable any employee or applicant for employment to safely and properly perform the job applied for as requested and as appropriate.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please call 1-855-266-8325. Reasonable accommodation requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Ring Power Lift Trucks, Florida's premier forklift and material handling equipment dealer, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the MCFA & Promatch® Parts Dealer of the Year award for 2017, awarded by Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc.

This annual award recognizes Ring Power Lift Trucks for overall accomplishment and exceptional forklift parts performance.

“We’re honored to be one of only ten dealerships in the country to receive this prestigious award. It solidifies our reputation as Florida’s premier material handling and forklift dealer, and our commitment to customers before, during and after the sale,” said Ring Power Lift Truck’s Vice President & General Manager Robert Burkhead.

Ring Power Lift Trucks is the forklift and material handling division of Ring Power Corporation, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Additional offices service Pompano Beach, Miami, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Ocala and Tallahassee. For more information on Ring Power Lift Trucks, visit our forklift website. 

In the 1960s, Caterpillar initiated a unique service program, Custom Track Service. The specialists who provided this service, originally known as track men, were trained to measure undercarriage wear periodically and keep track of the data in order to substantiate service recommendations to equipment owners.

Over the years, the role of the track man has evolved and expanded significantly into that of Heavy Equipment Product Support Sales Representative (HE PSSR). Today’s PSSRs  do much more than monitor and evaluate the condition of the undercarriage on track machines―they also monitor and make recommendations for all manner of equipment, components, systems and maintenance products we sell, including hydraulics; machine work, powertrain and component rebuilds; preventative maintenance programs; customer support agreements; telematics and more.

 “The differentiator in our world today is product support,” said Randy Harper, VP Product Support Sales Manager – North.  “It is the deciding factor in the majority of equipment purchases and it’s what sets us apart from the competition.”

Currently there are 14 heavy equipment PSSRs serving customers throughout Ring Power’s Florida territory, each responsible for approximately 70 customers. Those customers depend on their PSSRs to minimize machine downtime and maximize their profits.

“We want our customers to feel like their PSSR is their very own fleet manager, working for them as a consultant, providing them repair options that best meet their needs,” Randy said.

To achieve this, our PSSRs serve as the first line of contact for their customers. They work as a “go-between” with the parts, service and condition monitoring departments to help customers achieve the maximum value for their equipment by increasing productivity and lowering operating costs.

In addition to PSSRs, Ring Power has two HE ISRs (inside sales reps) who are, essentially, PSSRs without a truck. They are responsible for helping customers with smaller equipment fleets achieve the same goal of maximizing profits and lowering operating costs.

Perhaps the most exciting heavy equipment industry development over the past several years has been the rapidly expanding field of telematics. To assist PSSRs in selling the benefits of having connected equipment, a technology sales rep (TSR) has been added to the product support team. The TSR often accompanies PSSRs on customer calls to provide onsite demos of this rapidly expanding and evolving technology.

Telematics technology such as Product Link and VisionLink enhances the PSSRs’ ability to manage their customers’ fleets and make informed maintenance and service recommendations. For example, if a machine relays a code indicating that a part needs replacing, the PSSR can coordinate with the parts department to make sure the field service tech has the part when he goes to the customer’s job site the first time; reducing machine downtime and field service callouts.

The role of the track men may have expanded and transformed over the years, but the goal remains the same―partnering with customers to provide them with the knowledge and support that will help ensure their success.

At its January meeting, Ring Power Corporation’s Board of Directors appointed Hubert Norris to the Board and promoted him to Senior Vice President, Director of Parts Operations.

Norris began his career with Ring Power in 1995 as a manager trainee at the Tallahassee branch and accepted the position of Tallahassee Branch Parts Manager in 1996. He was then promoted to Heavy Equipment Parts Manager and transferred to the main offices in Jacksonville in 1999, where he was named Parts Operations Manager in 2001 and subsequently, General Parts Manager in 2004 and Vice President of Parts Operations in 2006. When RPC, Inc. acquired the assets of SITECH North & Central Florida in 2015, Norris assumed oversight for that company’s operations as well.

“We welcome Hubert to the Board,” said Ring Power Chairman and President Randal L Ringhaver. “His proven leadership within our organization and the experience and guidance he has to offer will be valuable to our Board and customers.”

About Ring Power Corporation

Ring Power Corporation, North and Central Florida’s Cat® dealer, is headquartered in St. Augustine, Florida. Ring Power is comprised of eight divisions and has more than 55 years of experience servicing and supporting Cat® products and allied equipment. For more information, visit www.ringpower.com

Florida Governor Rick Scott has announced the reappointment of Ring Power VP Wayne Veitch, Transportation and Vehicle Procurement, to the state’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board (CMBRV) for a term that began Nov. 17, 2017 and will end Sept. 30, 2019.

The CMVRB is a panel comprised of the Secretary of Transportation, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Transportation, Commissioner of Agriculture, and four additional members: one representing the road construction industry, one representing the trucking industry and one with a business or legal background. The Secretary of Agriculture appoints one to represent the agriculture industry.

The panel meets once a month to review appeals and grant or deny relief to those who are fined for vehicle violations relating to weights, vehicle/trailer axles, special fuel, fuel tax compliance, vehicle registrations or DOT safety regulations.

“I am honored that Governor Scott has elected me to serve another term on the Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board,” Wayne said.

Wayne has served in a variety of management roles during his 27-year Ring Power career, overseeing purchasing and facility operations, environmental protection compliance and security. In 2010, he was promoted to Vice President and Transportation Division General Manager and earlier this year was put in charge of transportation and vehicle procurement operations. He served his first term on the CMVRB from August 5, 2016 to September 30, 2017.

You’ve probably heard that undercarriage typically accounts for 20 percent of the purchase price of a track machine. But did you also know that it accounts for 75 percent or more of the machine’s lifetime repair tab?

Because it both supports and propels track-type machines, the undercarriage is subjected continuously to the relentless forces of wear and tear, day in and day out. Everything, from the conditions of the work environment to the way a machine is operated and the surface on which it is driven, affects the longevity and performance of these components.

Performing routine maintenance and timely service on undercarriage helps not only to maximize a machine’s power, stability, and safety, but also to minimize operating costs over the course of its life.

Ring Power is fortunate to have four, full service undercarriage (U/C) shops ― in St. Augustine, Tampa, Orlando and Ocala ― equipped and staffed to keep up with customer demand and strategically located to serve customers throughout North and Central Florida. All promise 12-hour turnaround and are prepared to do whatever it takes to deliver on that promise.

Undercarriage work is physically demanding, requiring a level of cooperation and teamwork unmatched by our other service departments. Whether a machine needs new pins and bushings installed or old ones turned; idlers and rollers replaced or reconditioned; track shoes replaced or rail repaired ― it all starts on the wash rack. There, compacted dirt must first be dislodged (sometimes with air-powered needle chippers!) and washed away so that the track groups can be removed and taken to the track press. Once exposed, the individual components can also be removed and either reconditioned or replaced, before the reassembly process begins.

So, how do our U/C shops manage to turn every undercarriage job around, day after day, in 12 hours? U/C shop foremen, Matt Harden (Tampa), Daryl Gandy (WCC), Brian Phelps (Orlando) and Jody Peavy (Ocala) agree. “Communication is the key,” they maintain.

Internally, each foreman meets at least once a month (and, depending on the workload, as often as once a week) with his branch service manager and holds toolbox meetings twice a month with his techs and service advisors to discuss best practices, review procedures and recommend ways to improve safety.

Our product support sales reps also play a huge role. By continuously monitoring the condition of the undercarriage on their customers’ track machines, they know when service will be needed and can even prepare work orders in advance. This allows the foremen to pre-order the necessary parts so that work can begin as soon as the machine arrives.