Cities across the globe are powered by GE gas turbines, massive pieces of equipment that combine fuel and air to create efficient energy. To keep these literal powerhouses running smoothly, turbine repairs need to be accessible and affordable, and that means the supply chain for getting replacement parts to power plants must be on point.
For 50 years, POWMAT Ltd has been a distributor of GE certified gas turbine parts, serving an international customer base from its headquarters in Upstate New York. We caught up with POWMAT’s traffic manager, Rick Albanese, and Dan Muth in the shipping department, to discuss the importance of steady service and reliable energy logistics in a demanding industry.
Know, Like, and Trust
As an independent supplier in a competitive industry, POWMAT stands apart from its competition by focusing on cost management and putting the customer first.
“When you know, like, and trust somebody, you’re more likely to do business with them,” Rick Albanese said. “Happy customers always come back.”
It’s no small thing to supply power plants with critical turbine repair parts. Rick and his team navigate international communications, inventory and project planning, vendor quality control, and time-sensitive transportation needs on a daily basis.
“We look at vendors and carriers as an extension of our company, and we know we’re only as good as our partners,” Rick said. A reliable distributor needs a reliable logistics provider to support their operations.
An Adaptable Logistics Partner
Whether it’s arranging transportation for meticulously planned trade shows, last-minute emergency expedites, or cost-effective LTL options, Shaker has been helping POWMAT deliver critical parts to power plants for nearly 30 years.
One of POWMAT’s clients urgently needed a replacement part to their power plant in Louisiana. Time was of the essence, because every minute the gas turbine was out of commission was another minute that the plant couldn’t generate power for the surrounding communities.
Shaker Customer Success Manager Justin Brown spearheaded the effort to deliver the turbine part on time, and said, “We make it a point to learn our customers’ business so we can understand how best to serve them. When an urgent request from POWMAT comes through, it’s all hands on deck to make the delivery as soon as possible.”
After analyzing the request, Shaker determined that flying the part via air cargo was the only way to get it to the consignee on time. Within hours, Shaker booked an air carrier and an agent in Louisiana to handle the last leg of the shipment. Matt Janeski, Shaker’s Director of Logistics Services, is a TSA-Certified driver and delivered the turbine part to the airport himself. The Shaker team stayed up through the night, providing real time tracking updates to POWMAT until the piece was delivered at midnight.
Reflecting on this shipment, Rick said, “It’s a niche shipment, so it was set up for Shaker to handle it well. It went flawlessly.”
In addition to mission-critical replacement part deliveries, Shaker steps in to meet POWMAT’s other logistics challenges, like trade show shipping and LTL.
“We do 5 tradeshows a year now, and Shaker’s tradeshow logistics have always been seamless,” Dan Muth said. For events across the country, Shaker moves POWMAT’s show booths between venues while adhering to each venue’s tight schedule and transportation requirements. Shaker’s team makes sure Powmat never misses an opportunity to connect with its customer base.
POWMAT also benefits from Shaker’s online LTL portal that allows Rick, Dan, and the team to set up LTL shipments, view rates, and book trucks quickly and seamlessly, taking advantage of Shakers LTL carrier partner network.
“I love it,” said Dan. “I’ve been using Shaker’s LTL portal a lot, it’s so easy. It tells us accessorial charges up front, tracks the shipment, and sends proof of delivery. The truck shows up every time and we’ve had no issues with billing. The rates are very competitive too, and Shaker often beats out our other providers in price.”
A Partnership that Powers the Globe
When a shipper, like POWMAT, has high-profile customers, it’s critical that their logistics partner can deliver. Shaker’s partnership with POWMAT demonstrates the ways that we alter our service to fit our customers’ needs, growing and changing with them through the years.
“Our relationship with Shaker has been pretty solid, to say the least,” said Rick. “They’re our go-to for tradeshows, and we’re using their LTL platform more and more. I think it can only get better from here.”
Emergency shipments, delicate tradeshow logistics, or affordable LTL services – whatever you need, our team has you covered. Reach out to Shaker Logistics today for custom solutions to your unique transportation needs.