Volume 27 | Issue 2
Click here to read the complete illustrated article or continue below to read the text article.
Back in 2019, Super Products first broke ground on a $15 million, 170,000 square feet (with room for an additional 70,000 square feet expansion) in the village of Mukwonago, Wis., in one of the strongest supply bases in industrial manufacturing and fabrication. The objective for this manufacturer of high-quality, easy-to-operate truck-mounted vacuum equipment was to achieve economies of scale by consolidating manufacturing and customer support operations under one roof. In addition, making it the best environment for employees to work was consistent with the company’s longstanding commitment to safety.
An Alamo Group company, Super Products has implemented renewable energy processes and automatic manufacturing workflows, as well as bringing previously outsourced operations in-house with a state-of-the-art ICAFe paint booth system to improve production of their five different truck lines.
The company engineers and manufactures the industry’s most efficient and progressive vacuum excavators, combination sewer cleaners, industrial vacuum loaders, truck-mounted jetters, and liquid vacuum trucks on the market today. The five truck mounted vacuum product lines address specific applications that encompass hydro and air excavation, industrial vacuum cleaning, hazardous and non-hazardous waste cleanup and catch basin and sewer cleaning:
Built to withstand the harshest environments, each model can be customized with multiple features for a variety of applications, projects, and jobsite conditions. Equally important is attention to ergonomics, not just to make drivers more comfortable, but more aware of their surroundings with features such as back-up cameras and safety alarms.
Each of its five product models has a dedicated production line for a progressive build beginning with the truck’s underlying chassis. Some basic inventory is maintained that can be quickly customized, but in general production lead times are ordinarily four to six weeks.
As an example of Super Products engineering innovation, the Mud Dog offers an ejection system that pushes out debris more quickly and more efficiently. Decreased likelihood of system clogs results in fewer work stoppages.
As another example, the Camel Combination Sewer Cleaner is the most versatile combo unit in the industry, enabling operators to tackle various applications with jetting, vacuuming and excavating. An optional pusher axle allows for increased payload capacity. All three Camel 1200 models come standard with a high dump subframe to eliminate the need to back up a ramp for debris removal.
The company has two different marketing channels, municipal government and private contractors. Government sales in the U.S. are handled by a nationwide network of dealers; private customers are handled by a dedicated sales staff. Super Products also markets internationally to Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America and Russia.
In addition to manufacturing new vacuum trucks, Super Products also operates nine rental facilities nationwide. It also has an inventory of used vacuum trucks, and a well-stocked parts department. Each used unit is in great condition with low miles and hours maintained with all of the recommended service checks and updates to ensure a high-quality piece of vac truck equipment.
Superstores located in seven states offer one-stop shopping for new and used equipment, weekly and monthly rentals, parts and accessories, maintenance and support if needed. While most fleet owners perform their own maintenance, Super Products technicians are available by phone and can also be dispatched on-site if needed. There’s also an online Learning and Resource Center that provides a range of documents and videos providing product information, maintenance tips and product demonstrations.
Over the past 50 years, Super Products has grown from a small manufacturing company to a nationally recognized supplier of vacuum trucks. Originally founded at the end of 1972, the first Supersucker® Industrial Vacuum Loader was manufactured in 1973, followed by the Camel® Combination Sewer Cleaner in 1976. The company was acquired by the Alamo Group in 2014. Super Products currently employs over 180 nationwide.
The company continues to be well positioned to offer the highest quality in safety, efficiency, versatility and reliability to their network of contractors, dealers, and rental facilities. Whatever a customer needs for truck mounted vacuum equipment, Super Products can supply it in the way that best fits each customer’s particular needs and situation.
Patti Jo Rosenthal chats about her role as Manager of K-12 STEM Education Programs at ASME where she drives nationally scaled STEM education initiatives, building pathways that foster equitable access to engineering education assets and fosters curiosity vital to “thinking like an engineer.”