HICKORY, N.C. – HSM Transportation & Specialty Manufacturing Company (“HSM Transportation”), a division of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company (“HSM”), and leading supplier of seating solutions for recreational, school bus and commercial bus seating and Foam Rubber Products, LLC (“FRP”), an industry leader for value-engineered foam products for the school, transit and furniture seating industries, have agreed to combine operations to service the aftermarket bus seating market. As a result, HSM Transportation will open a new aftermarket distribution center located in High Point, North Carolina to establish a scalable and more efficient operation to better serve its customers, with a planned commencement in October.
The new distribution center will service the transportation industry with rebond seat cushioning for the school bus and golf cart markets and expand the HSM Transportation product offering to provide customers with the most comprehensive aftermarket bus seating product line in the industry. These operational changes are expected to create several new jobs in High Point.
HSM Transportation is making the move so the 25,000 square-foot facility can combine the expertise of its Triad Fabco brand with FRP’s product line to provide customers with both molded and fabricated seating options for a wider variety of transportation applications. The newly combined product offering – called HSM Aftermarket Quick Ship – offers a complete line of foam, vinyl and portable restraints for virtually every bus on the road.
“Our new distribution center and HSM Aftermarket Quick Ship product line create a convenient ‘one-stop-shop’ for our customers to order all aftermarket bus seat covers, foam and restraint systems. Customers will save on freight and reduce the number of purchase orders issued across locations,” said Scott Dahl, vice president and general manager of HSM transportation. “Combining the customer service and molding expertise from both Triad Fabco and FRP, this initiative will further strengthen our ability to provide the school bus aftermarket industry with the most advanced manufacturing capabilities, a continued focus on best-in-class quality and the best lead times in the industry.”
To support the new distribution center, some transportation-related equipment and production will be shifted from FRP’s facility in New Castle, Indiana to High Point, North Carolina. Other operations within the New Castle facility will continue, including foam fabrication processes that serve the furniture industry.
“Expanding and centralizing our transportation product line at Triad Fabco will allow us to better serve our customers by taking advantage of more advanced production processes to improve cost, quality and delivery performance,” said David Murphy, who was recently appointed general manager of the new HSM Aftermarket Quick Ship program. “We are excited about the grand opening of our new distribution center and I want to assure our customers they will continue to receive the same high quality of service and products that they have come to expect from HSM Transportation and FRP, with the added benefits of streamlined ordering, reduced freight expense and a broader selection to meet all their bus seat maintenance needs.”
About HSM
HSM is a privately held company based in Hickory, North Carolina, with more than 30 manufacturing plants in 14 states. In addition to its core furniture and bedding markets, HSM serves a range of customers in the transportation, packaging, healthcare, apparel and other industries. For more information, visit hsmsolutions.com.
