Tow Professional Podcast
Tow Professional Podcast
What Does “Made In USA” Really Buy You On The Roadside
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Most towing incidents don’t turn scary because you don’t have lights, they turn scary because the scene gets unmanaged fast. We sit down with Chris Anderson, Executive VP of Towmate Industries, to talk about what real roadside safety looks like when you stop thinking about a single flashing bar and start thinking about an entire lighting system, from arrival to recovery to getting back on the road.
Chris shares what Towmate has been building lately, including the revamped Towmate.com experience with easier reordering, a dealer locator, and more useful troubleshooting content. He also takes us to the Japan truck show with Tesoro Japan and explains what surprised him about the towing and heavy truck market overseas, how tight city traffic changes the way you approach warning and perimeter lighting, and why Japan’s high engineering expectations can push Towmate to tighten designs for everyone.
We dig into the Towmate Advantage wireless tow light and the features that matter in the real world: sequential amber turns for clearer signals, strobes and area lighting for scene awareness, stronger magnets, and lithium power that delivers long runtime and better service life. Then we go deeper on Towmate’s lighting ecosystem, including cone lights for advanced warning and HINV lighting that makes high-vis gear pop without blinding the worker. Chris also breaks down Infinitra and the PowerLink 2.0 warning light platform, built for fast response, flexible configuration, and the reality of different state lighting codes.
We wrap with why Towmate still manufactures in Rogers, Arkansas, how automation and rapid prototyping speed up quality improvements, and what they’re excited about next. If you’re headed to the San Antonio Tow Show, stop by Towmate at booth 1000. Subscribe, share this with a tower who cares about safety, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.
Welcome And Why Lighting Matters
SPEAKER_05Welcome, one and all. You are here with Toe Professional on the Go podcast. You are there. We are here in the studio. This is a Toe Professional podcast. Remember, this is your podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know, that are on the go, and it's truly the voice of the towing and recovery industry. And guys, you know me, I love lighting. Uh, we've got one of our sponsors on here that has been a friend for 15 years in industry. When I came into industry, met him and his father in the museum, talked with them, told them what I was doing. They said, man, hey, let's take a look at it. And we've been doing business since, and it's grown from just a business relationship to a friendship. Great guys, and they care about this industry. And more all, they care about your safety and you going home to your family. Anyone got a guess who it is? Chris Anderson, executive VP of Towmade Industries. And let me tell you guys, they they are always putting out new products, digging deeper. They're not satisfied with anything they do, they're always looking to turn the corner to provide you with the most reliable product and the one that's going to keep you safe out there. So, man, I am excited about this one as always. So uh Chris, welcome to the podcast again, brother. How are you?
SPEAKER_00I'm doing well. Thanks for having me, Darren. Always always a pleasure. And uh yeah, I appreciate all the years we've worked together and uh indeed the friendship that is has come from it as well. So thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_05Man, you're welcome, brother. Well, I'm I'm gonna tell you, we're probably gonna rapid fire this thing today because I know you've had a a lot going on. We got a lot to dig in here, and I know my listeners are waiting to hear what's the latest um over there. So uh you know uh toe mate has the the the Willy Wonka factory. So uh whereas Willy Wonka handled everything in chocolate, man, they got everything in lighting that's there. And if you say it, man, if they don't have it, they're designing it and working on it. So let's start there. So uh so that's where I want to start from, Chris, is what's been keeping you and the Tomate team busy recently?
Towmate.com Upgrades For Faster Support
SPEAKER_00Well, never a dull moment, as you know. Um, you know, uh, I'd say to break it down recently, you know, we we launched a new website. So, you know, tomate.com has gotten a facelift. Uh, you know, now you can uh set up your account, uh, see your previous order history. So, you know, easy to easy to reorder. Of course, we've got our dealer map on there. So, you know, if you're in a pinch and you need uh and you need something quickly, uh, you can find the closest dealer to you and uh and you know, uh oftentimes get parts or service or new product that very same day. Uh, and more customer resources on the site. So, you know, the idea is really to build out uh a lot of content, not just fluff, but useful stuff, uh, you know, product troubleshooting, uh deep dives into product features, uh, and that sort of thing. And so uh, you know, the website, that's gonna be kind of a the those are living organisms, so it'll forever be a work in progress, but uh we're very pleased to have finally gotten that launched. Uh, you know, outside of that, you know, we're always developing new products, and we'll kind of get into that here in a bit. Uh, and of course, trade shows. You know, we started the year uh at the work truck week. We actually, you know, uh on the warning light side of things, we in roadside safety, it applies to the work truck service bodies. So we were there in Indianapolis in March, of course, Florida, Vegas, and uh getting ready for San Antonio. It's coming up, we're halfway through the year. What in the world is going on?
SPEAKER_05Man, hey, you you've got me, brother. I thought it was January the 20th or somewhere around there, and everybody's telling me it's mid June, it's almost end of June. So uh hey, I just woke up from that too. But uh speaking of trade, the trade show circuit you've been making, I know you left one out there. You recently
Japan Trip And Global Truck Market
SPEAKER_05traveled to Japan and spent time with Tesoro, Japan, which took what took you there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so uh I did leave that out. Yes, Japan, Nihongo. So uh we we went to Japan uh every two years, there's a truck show in Fukushima, which is a large city in and of itself, just kind of south of Tokyo, uh, and home to a major port. Uh, and so there's a big convention center there, and uh every two years they put on the Japan truck show. So we went to support Tesoro at their booth and you know, kind of meet the customers over there firsthand.
SPEAKER_05Dude, that is awesome, and I'm sure that was a an experience in itself.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah, it was it was phenomenal. What what a cool place, and and the people were so kind, and uh we we had a really, really uh fulfilling and fruitful journey over there, man, and it and it shows the reach of the product, man.
SPEAKER_05It's loved around the world without a doubt. Well, well, well, let me ask you this what stood out to you about the towing and truck market in Japan?
SPEAKER_00Sure. Well, you know, first of all, the trucks look a little bit different. Um, you know, the principles are are the same, but in many cases they're more compact. So, you know, they still managed to get the job done though. Um, you know, and secondly, what was really cool and fulfilling is that nearly every heavy-duty tow truck for sale had a tomate light bar with it. And so, you know, that that was rewarding and is also just a testament to our partnership with Tesoro Japan. Uh, great guys over there, and uh, you know, that they're promoting the products well, and uh, so it just felt really good to be able to go halfway around the globe and you know see that our our equipment our products are still standard on the equipment.
SPEAKER_05Dude, that now that's awesome right there. That's awesome. When they open that that uh utility door and there sits your light right there, it's like, yep, that that that really brings it home. Well, yeah, that brings me to the next question. How does working with an international distributor uh like uh Tesoro uh help towate better understand the global safety needs?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, and that that's a good question. You know, first of all, uh, you know, I know that we we see these heavy-duty bars going over to Japan often. You know, apparently they don't have a requirement for tow lights on the light duty side. Uh, so they just put a banner on it that says uh kenminchu or vehicle in tow. And so it's not exactly the print the pinnacle of safety precautions. Uh so you know, kind of expect that'll change in time, but you know, it is really eye-opening to go to such a faraway land and get a glimpse of how things are done there. Um, in a lot of ways, it's not so different, uh, which is obviously great news for us with the products that are already tailored for roadside safety pretty well anywhere. Um, however, there are nuances that exist that will kind of help drive new product development for the Japan market uh that then may also apply here. So, you know, it really offers some perspective that can improve things at home as well.
SPEAKER_05Awesome. Well, would you say that this uh this trip maybe changed how you think about product design for road safety?
SPEAKER_00Uh absolutely. So I'll elaborate a little bit on this. So, you know, the Japan, uh the Japanese market has very high expectations when it comes to quality. Uh their engineering standards are very stringent and you know that's one of the reasons why it's so fulfilling to see the tomate products uh as the top choice for OEMs over there. Um, you know, at the same time, being there and seeing things through a different lens kind of helped us identify some additional ways we can tighten up certain designs even further. So, all in all, it's it's a benefit to get this other perspective. Uh, and it it bodes well for everyone, you know, here and abroad. Um you know, the the products we build today are not the same as they were five years ago, uh, and honestly, not even really the same as they were a year ago. Um, we're always looking for weak links, especially through what we learn from our service department, uh, and then addressing those things proactively. Uh, and so being over there kind of offered you know an additional way to look at things and how they can improve. Uh, but you know, that's also why when a customer calls for warranty parts or sends a bar in for service, our customer service team follows up, you know, within a month after they get those parts just to make sure that you know what they got is working, that the repairs done are working, uh, that the you know warranty parts are still working. And you know, if they're not, we were able to quickly make the necessary changes to address it. Now, on the roadside safety side, because you asked about that as well, uh, you know, it's really interesting over there because you know, Japan is highly highly populated, and most of the population is concentrated into these large cities. Uh, and so you know that creates tight traffic conditions, uh, and those spaces get even tighter when there's an accident scene or a roadside recovery is being worked. Um, so you know, that's really where kind of our broader warning light ecosystem can really shine, if you will. Uh, deploying cone lights for advanced scene awareness, uh, combining that with effective vehicle lighting, and then supplementing that with our HINV lights uh that you know help make workers visible without blinding them, uh, that really uh was well received as we were demonstrating, you know, kind of what our philosophy is towards scene safety uh at the booth. So uh does that answer your question?
SPEAKER_05That's really awesome. So, like you said, you were able to get a different perspective, but seeing all those products helped you gleam a lot of information to where you can tweak some of yours and make them fit even better and and uh provide even more safety and more reliability. That's that's phenomenal, man. That's the key to any business uh trying to get ground going forward. And you guys seem to be right on that cutting edge every time, working as hard as you can to make sure you're always supplying the top product to the to the client.
SPEAKER_00That's the idea. So, yeah, definitely gonna bone up on my Japanese for uh you know over the next two years before we make our way back.
SPEAKER_05Love it. I love
Towmate Advantage Tow Light Deep Dive
SPEAKER_05it. Well, let me since we're talking about newer products, uh, one of the newer products Tomate had had introduced is the I know it's the Tomate Advantage. So tell our tell our listeners what is it and who is it built for?
SPEAKER_00Sure, yeah. So I think last time I was on here, we were just coming out with it. The the Tomate Advantage tow light. Um, you know, who's it built for? Towers who are looking to get the most bang for their buck, uh, you know, get a high quality product at you know a reasonable price. So what we've done, we've taken you know, all of these high-ended uh um features like like what we had on the Saberlight, for instance, which is still available and it's still the top of the line, and we kind of uh pared it down a little bit for the advantage to be an affordable high-end tow light where you know it's got it's got wireless stop tail turn where your turn signals are sequential in amber. Um, it's got an area light, uh, a strobe, uh, as well as like strobe while your stoptail turn is active. Uh, but beyond that, it's got a lithium battery that gives you you know over 30 hours of use on a charge, more powerful rubber-coated magnets, uh, as well as side marker lights, all for around 300 bucks. So not we're really trying to make this the new standard. Uh the limelight, of course, has been the the world's best-selling wireless tow light for over a decade now. Uh, and it's very much a price point, you know, product where uh I think the the retail on it is $285. Uh, you know, the uh the this is not much more, and you're getting uh, you know, such a better product that's more modern in in both look, feel, and function.
SPEAKER_05Man, so you what you did is you took a top quality light, gave them all the advantages that they'd find in some of the the top quality stuff and gave them an entry-level price to be able to have quality at that entry-level price to the market.
SPEAKER_00Right. Well, and the the qual the quality has always been there, but the features, you know.
SPEAKER_05So yeah, yeah, gave them the same features.
SPEAKER_00That's right, that's right.
SPEAKER_05My bad. Yeah, without without a doubt. Yeah, other times I I know guys have talked about, man, if I if I spend this, I'm just getting you know the bargain light in the market. And and guys tell me they're like, uh when I go to Tomate, uh, you you know, I can come in with an entry-level price and get a top quality product every time. You know, they're putting products there. Every one, even the the lowest cost product that they offer in their product line is a top quality product, and and that's the key. When you start with top quality, everything follows through. So let me ask you this how do the features like uh sequential turn signals and lithium power help operators in the real world? Because I know they're asking this.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, you know, the sequential, I mean, it's all about visibility, right? That's the whole point, uh, is having this tow light that is a visual cue for those that are following. And so with the sequential turns, much like newer vehicles, it not only draws the eye as you see that sequencing action, uh, but it gives a clear act, a clear indication of your next action, uh, eliminating any possibility of confusion, even in poor conditions, uh, from a distance, or to those who may not have the best eyesight but still have a license.
SPEAKER_05I got you. So yeah, it makes it stand out more, correct?
SPEAKER_00Right. And and you know, as far as the lithium goes, uh, of course, that's gonna give you longer run times and longer service life in general. Um, you know, the the sealed lead acid batteries, you know, we've been around long enough that that's what our product started with, and that's what I mean, it's still available today. Uh, even though we're really trying to move into the lithium, um, the sealed lead acid currently is still available. And so we're we're we are working on phasing it out. Uh, but there's you know this balance of performance versus price. And so we we want to be able to still offer you know uh uh entry-level price point uh and and you know work the lithium technology into it where a guy's gonna be happy with you know the the the performance of the bar for years to come. When there was no other alternative, uh, you know, in from 1985 when we started, you know, the the sealed lead acid, it it was what it was, you know. But now there's these alternatives, and now you know you've got new new uh competitors coming into the market that never had to go through having lead acid. So, you know, they they they don't have this kind of stigma that kind of follows the lead acid, like oh the batteries are junk, I gotta change it every year. You know, that that admittedly that's an older technology, and we we've had lithium for for several years and have had it as an option and trying to move people into that. Uh, and so you know, we're getting to the point now where we're gonna end up just not offering the lead acid before long, but we're not quite there yet, and we'll still be able to service existing products in the field. Um, but uh, but with the advantage, that's really a big step that direction, trying to standardize the lithium battery in tomate products.
SPEAKER_05Wow. Yeah, I know I saw one of your lights, I think it was one of your distributors. JB Toe had one they had towed for I want to say 14, 16 hours, and that sucker was kicking like it just came off the battery charger. Um and uh I know they were showing off the cups, the different things with it, and man, phenomenal uh build quality on it um and uh service use. So let's do this.
Sponsor Break
SPEAKER_05Let's take a quick commercial uh and then we'll we'll come back and and give our listeners some more information. Guys, y'all, men and women, you stay there. We'll be back with more great information from executive VP Chris Anderson with ToeMate. We'll be back in just a moment. You stay tuned.
SPEAKER_02Attention Tow Hero. Level up with ToeMate's new XR Series wireless tow lights. Now supercharged with long-lasting lithium technology. Boost your truck's visibility with power link two-wire light bars and strobe. Maximize impact while minimizing installation. Then utilize your existing wiring. And don't miss our lifesaver toe-mounted warning lights, your first line of defense on the road stop. Eliminate your path at www.tomate.com slash dealers or dial 800-680-4455. Towmate. Dependable, durable, dynamic.
SPEAKER_04TRAA is the national association representing the U.S. towing and recovery industry. We act as the voice of America's towing industry by offering representation, education, and leadership at the federal level. Much of our focus is on representing the interests of the towing and recovery industry on Capitol Hill, including promoting positive legislation and opposing the potentially negative legislation. TRAA is the industry's watchdog on Capitol Hill. There are so many compelling reasons to be a TRAA member that besides being the right thing to do, membership gives you exclusive member benefits worth thousands of dollars a year, including exclusive TRAA member discounts from our feature partners, which has a real card. But best of all, you are pouring back into the industry to ensure we together make it stronger for generations to come. A special thank you to our partner Gay Rochester of INA Toyota for her continued ongoing support service to TRAA and her commitment to safety of our industry with one over, lose none. Become a National Association member today at TRAAOnline.com.
SPEAKER_05Well, welcome back, everyone. You are listening to Toad Professional Podcast. Every week we do our best to bring great industry guests, industry leaders to this forum to make sure. So make sure while you're looking at this, you download, you listen. We're available on Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, Amazon, wherever you get your podcast. And now also on YouTube. Take a look at us there. You can find us anywhere. And yes, you can see the face made for radio right there on YouTube. I'll be there. So again, we're back with executive VP Chris Anderson with Towmate Industries. And let me tell you, we're talking about the advancement in this industry and how these guys are lighting the way and beating that path to make sure they're bringing safety and the top quality products to you every time. So welcome back, Chris. That brings us to the the next question.
Scene Safety Strategy Beyond The Truck
SPEAKER_05We've got so much information here. I know Tomate is is known for wireless toe lights, but the the product line is so much broader now. So how would you describe Tomate's lighting ecosystem today, would you say?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, uh, you know, certainly wireless toe lights are what put us on the map, you know, for 40 for over 40 years. 1985, my dad invented them. Uh, you know, we've we've kind of been the gold standard for over four decades in in that realm. Uh, but yeah, now we offer a full spectrum of uh lighting solutions from arrival to the scene and operating uh you know tow mate power link warning lights on the vehicle uh to having a wireless tow light with strobes built in so you have visibility at the rear. As soon as you get to the scene, go to the back, put that on the casualty with the strobe. Robes going. Now, if your lights on the truck are obstructed by the casualty, you've still got visibility. You know, two cone lights that go on a traffic cone. You set that out. Again, some advanced warning. If your truck lights are obstructed, this gives advanced warning of the scene or marks the perimeter of the scene. All the way to personal uh safety, where you know, our HINV lights, which for the uninitiated are, you know, kind of a blacklight type of strobe where it's not visible, it's not going to blind you, but it lights up all the high viz gear. So your safety vest, uh, you know, any anything high vis it's gonna light up, making you visible yourself without blinding you. So, you know, it it's it really is more than just products, uh, more than an ecosystem, even. It it's kind of a philosophy.
SPEAKER_05I love it. I love it. Well, thank you for explaining that, brother. Uh next one I have for you is how does roadside safety change uh when you when you think about the whole scene instead of just the back of the vehicle? And I think you touched on a little bit of it there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and you know, I'll I'll elaborate a bit more. Again, I I I think it's really a way of thinking, kind of a measured approach that says, hey, I know there's no surefire way to ensure my safety, but there are things I can do to optimize my chances, and I care enough to put them into practice. You know, um light lighting and roadside safety systems have come so far. Uh, it's not just about having the brightest lights anymore, it's about scene management and having a strategy. So we've put a lot of time into researching how to best utilize our expertise to create a safer work environment. And I think our product offerings reflect that. Um, I also think that why we have so why we have such unique products geared towards that purpose is that they take into account the real world scenarios as opposed to saying, you know, hey, there's a cone, just throw a light on it and call it good. Um, you know, these are elements where, you know, our light bars have patterns that uh may not be the you know the most aggressive too, you know, because sometimes it calls for uh, you know, they call it, I guess, scene calming type of patterns, you know, where hey, you're distinctly visible, but you're you're not gonna draw people to you like moliths to a flame, uh, you know, which some of these manufacturers, I mean, yes, our lights can go toe-to-toe with brightness uh and aggressiveness, but you have the options. And so, you know, you really have to kind of consider what's best for you in a particular scenario. Uh, but we provide you the tools to do just that. Uh, and and having you know, this this system of uh, you know, these different elements from the truck lighting to you know lighting at the rear to perimeter lighting to worker lighting. Um it all kind of fits into this puzzle of you know personal safety at a scene.
SPEAKER_05I love it. That's uh that's awesome, and that's the way to look at it. Front to back, you guys have have gone over it A to Z and thought about everything in between, and uh it shows up in the design and the product. Um, so I commend you on that. Well,
Infinitra And PowerLink 2.0 Explained
SPEAKER_05uh next thing I I know you've been working on the uh Infinitra warning light platform. Uh what tell us tell our listeners what makes this product different.
SPEAKER_00Well, first of all, great job on the pronunciation. Uh, you know, it's kind of an imaginary word, you know, Infinitra. Uh, but it captures the vision of it because uh it really has infinite, infinite configurations. Uh again, to those that are unfamiliar, the Infinitra is our flagship product for PowerLink 2.0. And again, if you're not familiar with PowerLink, uh, this is a technology we developed for warning light systems on vehicles where we send communication over the power wire. So the light bar installs to just power and ground, controller, power and ground, and the system is expandable with drop-in replacements for you know uh marker lights and and stoptail turn, and we'll touch on that in a minute as well. But uh, you know, what really makes a difference is you know, Power Link 2.0 uh Infinitra operates on a different chipset than our previous line of PowerLink, which is still available, still very effective. Uh, but whereas there may have been a little bit of lag with the Gen 1 stuff, PowerLink 2.0 is 44 times faster. So it is basically instantaneous. It's indistinguishable from a hardwire switch to you know, uh light. Um now the the beautiful thing about in the infinitre light bar series is it's four colors all the way around. So you get it either amber, red, white, and blue, or amber, red, white, and green. And it's 360 degrees. So you have a 360 degree work light option, uh, you know, cruise light options, uh, and uh all those colors are accessible to you without the need to pay a subscription fee to unlock it, uh out of the box, it's fully ready to go. Um, it's configurable on the fly. So you can adjust everything from the color, the speed of the patterns, the intensity of the patterns, you know, front cutoff, uh, and the pattern itself all on the fly. Uh, and you know, where it gets really interesting is all these states, you know, there's not one uniform lighting code for tow operators. Uh, state to state, you've got different scenarios where I can have this color on the back while I'm stopped, etc. Well, there are rear-only patterns on this bar where the rest of the bar can keep flashing amber, but the rear can go to you know red and blue. Uh I think that's Pennsylvania has has something like that where you know they're stopped, they can have red and blue on the rear only. Uh, and there's several states that are like that. So, you know, if you whether you're crossing uh state lines and there's different lighting codes, or uh there's different lighting codes for the scenarios you're in uh in your own state, this bar checks all the boxes and uh and and makes it where you know you don't have to special order anything, it comes equipped for those scenarios.
SPEAKER_05Man, and it's you you showcased it last time we did a podcast, and that thing looked phenomenal. And then one of our local companies over here uh in Birmingham, ABC Towing, has one. And uh man, I got to see that thing in action on the truck, and it's phenomenal. And uh Shannon's told me about it, and he is I mean, he's taken a peek over it, he loves it, um, and has told me everybody that sees it comments on it. I mean, he's you know, he can't he he pulls up somewhere with that truck and he just hurts feelings because everybody wants the bar, man. So that's that's what he tells me, man. He said that's the only thing, man. I'm creating a lot of haters because every time I pull up with that truck and that bar running, everybody wants it. So I just keep checking their pockets and making sure nobody has a screwdriver on them. I don't want them to take it and run off with it.
SPEAKER_00I love to hear that.
SPEAKER_05You know, uh and you were talking about PowerLink. So I I do remember the original PowerLink wasn't just about one product, it it eventually expanded into the the marker lights, the light strips, stop, tell, turn lights, and other accessories that all work together. So it is that where PowerLink 2.0 uh is headed as well? And uh will customers see an entire ecosystem built around this new platform?
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. So uh, you know, that with the Infinitra and Power Link 2.0, it's been many years in the making. Um and we are we are we have already developed some of the stoptail turn lights and the marker lights, uh, but they're even more robust and more powerful than they were with the Gen 1 stuff. So um, you know, like we have four-inch round stoptail turn light that has four colors. Uh so you can get it amber, red, white, and blue, or amber, red, white, and green. So it will match the bar. Uh, but you know, these the the beauty is these are plug and play. You you you unplug your your factory light, plug ours in, and that signal sends over the power wire to now you've got strobe at the rear in any color configuration. You've got white work light, you've got red tail light, and stop. Um, it's all there. And so um yeah, it's and and more more is in development. So I know presently available are the two and a half inch markers. Uh those still are just two color. So, you know, it would be uh amber white or you know, a red, red amber, or you know, whichever color would suit you best.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00Um future generations, hopefully we will be able to move to a four-color on those as well. Uh, but currently those are still two. Uh, and then we have you know our four-inch rounds available today. Uh coming soon are the six-inch ovals and those kind of three by five rectangulars. So um just waiting on uh the the PCBs for those, uh, which populate in-house and program up, seal them, and you know, send them out the door. So we're we're right there.
SPEAKER_05Well, man, when you when you tell me it's in development, I know that's a fact. I know that there's more that you guys are digging into and working on. So uh you take that to the bank, folks. If Chris says it's in development, they're working on it, it's on the way. So well, well, let me ask you this. What kind of
Beta Feedback And Real-World Testing
SPEAKER_05feedback have you uh received from the beta users on on this so far?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so we we for you know, probably what should have been every time, but for the first time, we we had a formal beta program uh prior to product launch. You know, we we put so much into the development of this bar, we did not want to, you know, flub it and fall on our face, you know, out of the gate. And so it was very important to us to not only do our standard in-house testing, uh, which is very very extensive in and of itself, um, you know, testing for functionality, uh, form fit, performance, uh, you know, vibration, moisture, all of that. Uh, we do that in-house, but ain't nothing like the real thing, baby. And so, you know, we we said, hey, let's get you know at least 50 of these out in the field uh where guys are using them in the real work environment. And so, you know, north, south, east, west, we've got them all over the country, uh, as well as some international. And we were able to, we were able to get the feedback from our customers, which is overwhelmingly positive. Uh, several, I mean, I can't say the majority yet, but uh a good portion have already reordered, you know, and this is, I mean, that that that means uh, you know, that that they uh that not only business is good, they're getting a new truck, but uh, you know, they chose our bar uh to go on it. So um and we were able to identify a couple of things because you know it wasn't perfect in the first in the first release. And so we've we've been able to address it. The beta program worked exactly as we were hoping, and uh, and so now the it we're out of beta, we're in you know the full production mode, and uh these bars are available for purchase.
SPEAKER_05Man, fantastic, fantastic. Well, I I know uh Tomate still manufactures in uh in Rogers, Arkansas. And let me tell you guys, if you've never been there, it's a phenomenal facility. It blew me away. Um, I don't know what I was thinking I was going to look at. Um, but all I can say is wow. I mean, the way you guys have it broke down in every different format, and uh the team there is phenomenal. So uh let me ask you this: why is it important to you that it's still there, manufactured in Rogers, Arkansas?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, uh our mission from day one in 1985 was to build products in the USA. Um, it's both it's important to us, you know, very important to us, both economically and helping provide jobs for Americans, uh, but for also reasons like keeping our finger on the pulse for quality control, etc. Um, there's no place like home.
SPEAKER_05That's right. That's right. Now uh now a sidebar question. Will you still take a trade, uh a mountain line for a for a light?
SPEAKER_00Will you still do that or have y'all are y'all away from that barter so yeah, we've we've gotten out of the uh zookeeper phase. Uh you know, our zookeeper era has has passed. But yeah, that that's a good story. My my dad back, you know, early on, I think it was uh early 90s, traded a set of wireless toe lights for what was on the other end of that tail around the desk. Uh down there in Alabama, actually. Wow. Yeah, yeah. Well, you'll always and Zeus was our mascot for many years. You know, some of you old schoolers might have seen him at uh at some of the trade shows back in the day. Uh Zeus, the lighting king. You know, we had a had a logo that looked kind of like the Lion King and had Zeus on it. It was cool. He was a good cat, largest of the purring cats.
SPEAKER_05I love it. I love it. I figured some of our some of the the the veteran buyers out there will know those stories. That's why I thought I'd throw that in there. Um well, well, being an American manufacturer, uh, what does that allow Towmate to do that would be harder if it was outsourced? If everything was outsourced.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and that's a great question. And again, kind of part of why we keep things here at home. Uh, we're able to make changes quickly. You know, say for instance we were to import a product from China by the container load, uh, or overseas in general, and there was a bad charging port, you know, uh, for instance, you know, maybe we went with a cheap USB-C connector that wears out after minimal use. You know, I've heard of Stranger Things. Uh, now we're stuck with all these lights uh and you know, and that have these fault, this fault, what are we gonna do? I guess you just keep sending them replacements. Well, at Towmate, we're able to ensure the quality of that connector before it ever makes it uh into the hands of the end user, you know, for firsthand, we can look at it and test it and not just take the word of some you know profit-driven engineer in China. Uh, you know, and if something did make it into the field uh that doesn't hold up, which you know, admittedly, obviously 40 years plus years that that has happened in the past. We can the moment we find out about it, we can implement a change without having to wait six months for new production and then a boat to bring it over. Uh, you know, so there's so many reasons manufacturing in the USA and buying USA-made products is the move.
SPEAKER_05Yes, and and you guys are all about you know that your clients rely on this product as quickly as possible for safety, for being seen, for for getting their work done, and that just assures you can get to them and meet their needs so they can stay on schedule and protect it.
SPEAKER_00And uh that's right.
SPEAKER_05That's that's what I see, man. Well, that's awesome. Well, let's do
Sponsor Break
SPEAKER_05this. Let's take one more commercial uh to hear from some more of our great sponsors like Tomate. And when we come back, listeners, we're gonna have more information from executive VP, Chris Anderson, with Tomate Lighting Products. And man, you don't want to miss this. It is a an A to Z front-to-back on what you need to be looking for when you're buying these. We can all get products, but you want to make sure your money's invested well and you're putting quality products into your business. We'll be right back. Keep listening.
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SPEAKER_06Wilbert, Innovation Elevator.com, number one, and all the comment.
SPEAKER_05Well,
USA Manufacturing, Automation, And What’s Next
SPEAKER_05welcome back, one and all. You are there. We are here. This is Tow Professional Podcast. Remember, this is your podcast. It's for the pros that have a need to know, that are on the go, and it's truly the voice of the towing and recovery industry. So every week we try and bring some of the top products, service providers in the industry. And again, today we've got executive VP Chris Anderson with Tow Mate Lighting Products. And let me tell you, this has been a masterclass on what to look for and the needs and inner workings behind tow lighting. So back with this. I'm excited again. And what I'm looking at this is it's uh this is going to be a look towards the future because uh uh I know you guys have been in investing in robotics, uh automation, new product processes. Uh so how do those investments ultimately benefit the customer at the end?
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. You know, uh and that I think that's part of what has allowed us granted us the staying power that we have is invest reinvesting in the business, uh and re which you know reinvests in the products and the quality of the output. So, um, you know, first of all, quality and consistency of work. You know, we're not talking about a lights out manufacturing environment here. Uh, I want to be clear, it's not a Tesla gigafactory, and robots aren't replacing workers. Um you know, what we're talking about are precision processes that increase the quality of a build. So, for instance, you know, sealing a lens like our LED surface mount strobes, um, someone will still have to load the lens backing into the machine, but the robot will apply the you know precision adhesive in an accurate bead where the lens meets the housing. It that sort of thing. Um additionally, with our additive manufacturing processes, you know, 3D printing, which we do uh with um uh the what do they call it? It's like SLS, like laser centering technology. It's it's not your desktop filament printer, it's a nylon powder, and we're able to achieve, you know, uh novel geometries and stuff that you couldn't even mold if you wanted to. Uh, but you know, what that allows us to do is take products from concept to a tangible, you know, prototype and oftentimes a tangible completed product uh at breakneck speed compared to what it would have been, you know, 10, 15 years ago, even five, six years ago, you know, where you have to wait six months for tooling, eight to twelve weeks for production. You know, now we can design our circuitry, get boards, uh, and and you know, print or you know, otherwise produce our assemblies and have a tangible product in hand uh in a month's time, you know, in some cases even less, you know, if it's utilizing uh uh uh some of the plastics that we already use, you know, for our lenses and stuff. So um, you know, it just makes for uh a more quality product and um and allows us to address the needs in the field more quickly than ever before.
SPEAKER_05Man, I love that. I love that. Well, thanks for explaining that, Chris. Well, yeah, let me ask you this. Uh and and customers asked me this before, but when a customer hears made in USA, um, I think it's important that we tell them what they what that really means when it comes to the Tomay product. Because there's different definitions across every every manufacturer. So I want to I want to hear your word behind it.
SPEAKER_00Well, yeah. So I mean, first of all, uh, you know, made in USA starts with supporting American families. Every product we build helps provide jobs for people who come to work at Tomate every day. Uh, and those paychecks support families right here. Here in northwest Arkansas and across the country through our suppliers and partners. But it does go beyond that. You know, manufacturing here gives us a level of control that you simply can't get when production is halfway around the world. We can walk right out on the production floor, talk directly with the people building our products, identify an issue, and implement a solution the same day if necessary. So that responsiveness translates directly into better quality and better service for our customers. And finally, it means accountability. When you buy a Tomay product, you're not buying something that was designed by one company, manufactured by another, and supported by someone else entirely. You know, if you have a question or an issue, uh you're talking to the people that actually designed and built it when you call our call our number or see us at a trade show. You know, come talk to me face to face about it. I I need to hear it. You know, if if you're having an issue, uh let me know because we our mission is to make sure that you're up and running. And so we take a lot of pride in that. And I think our customers appreciate knowing there's a real team standing behind every product uh that we put out there with our lifetime warranty.
SPEAKER_05Yes, man. And and and guys, I tell you, I see them at every one of the shows, and nobody gets around like these guys. They run around, they check on their distributors, they ask questions of their customers, their clients, they get the feedback. Absolutely care about how they show up in the industry. I've seen it uh over and over. So thanks for lining that out for our listeners, man. Because I've seen it. Well, I love for you to tell your story. Well, looking ahead, uh, what are you most excited about with Towmate?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, and and uh I guess kind of uh a little bit nerdy, it just continued innovation, you know. Uh new tow light features coming. Uh, we've got some some more great things coming in that department. It's like, how do you keep coming up with stuff that's necessary, new, and you know, innovative? Well, our team does a crack job at it. So we we've got some new features that we'll be rolling out. Um, of course, the expansion of the Infinitra series and the PLC 2.0, the PowerLink 2.0. Um, you know, currently the Infinitra bar is just available in a 58-inch length. More lengths will be uh rolling out here in the coming months. Uh and then I I just look forward to seeing more and more adoption of these technologies, even outside of the towing world. You know, we've we've been uh seeing a lot of traction with our roadside safety systems like our cone lights, uh the Henvy lighting with highway departments, things of that nature. Um, and uh even some upcoming HENVI in integration into some OEM uh uh manufacturing um of some some trucks. So keep an eye out for that as well. So uh just big news. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05That it man, that's fantastic. Well, I I keep waiting to see the Millennium Falcon with some uh tomate lights on it in the in the back corner where you're rigging it up because you're always pushing the envelope. Um, well, all right, Chris. Well, let me ask you this are there any uh upcoming products customers should be watching for?
SPEAKER_00Well, Darren, we've always got something up our sleeve. So, you know, keep an eye out for more new products and more ways to stay engaged with the tomate community online and otherwise. You know, uh we we're always working. Uh got the got the the the mouse and the wheel turn, you know, turning the wheels in the head, just trying to get that cheese.
SPEAKER_05So oh that was hey, that was a loaded question, brother. I knew you had stuff going in the background, so gonna let everybody else know the wheel doesn't stop spinning, they continue to to work on it. Um, well, you guys are gonna be at a show upcoming pretty quick, right? Tell our listeners about it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah,
Where To See Towmate In Person
SPEAKER_00so we'll be at uh at the San Antonio Toast Show uh mid-July, and uh we'll be at booth 1000. So yeah, be be sure to come see us and uh check out some of the latest stuff firsthand. Uh it'll all be there.
SPEAKER_05So there you go. Well, hey, listen, guys, men and women, if you're gonna be there, if you're gonna be at the American Toneman San Antonio show, booth 1000, you want to drop by there and you can you hear it right there from Chris, man. He's he's always there, he's glad to show you the products. Just put you some glasses on because man, uh they will be showing them off, and uh you'll get to see the the full design. And and let me tell you, while you're there, make sure if you're listening to this podcast, if you're watching us on YouTube, go over and check out the new website. Uh, you might see it blinking off of my bald head here. I've got it running in the background, and man, it it is something else. I mean, everything from the products, every industry they fit in, if you want to find a dealer, any support you need, um, latest news, contact information, and you can even click in there on your account and see what you've got coming, what's out, and so on. So it's very informative, and you can see the lights in action right there on the home page, and the uh brand new Infinitra light is right there as well, so you can see it. I'm polishing up my vocabulary. I'm working on it, man. They try and tie us Alabama boys down, but we work, we get some words out every once in a while. Uh, well, everyone, tomate.com, or if you've got a question, give them a call direct 1-800-680-4455. Nothing like dealing with a company that's backing uh our economy that's American-built products, and you can call there. You can get the VP on the phone almost any day you can catch him. Um, he's always glad to answer questions and he always makes himself available. I don't know how he's in so many places at one time, but he's able to do it. Um, with that, anything else you want to tell our listeners before we wrap this up, Chris?
SPEAKER_00Oh, you know, just uh the the same as always, you know, rock steady. We're we're gonna keep doing what we can to uh to best support uh you, the tow operators out there. Uh you guys are working day in and day out, and we just want to provide the highest level of quality possible, uh, along with uh safety, you know, safety solutions to ensure you make it home at night. Uh so that that's the name of our game. And uh, you know, we we appreciate all the support over the years. Uh, we're gonna keep showing up for you guys. So, you know, please, if you if you've got you know any any uh needs that you you feel we haven't done a great job addressing, please let us know uh because that's the only way we can get better. So thank you all, and uh thanks again for having me, Darren.
SPEAKER_05Man, Chris, you're welcome as always. Again, folks, tomate.com 1-800-688. Excuse me, back up 1-800-680-4455-TOMate.com. Or hey, if you're gonna be in San Antonio, drop by, see them at the American Toman Expo, booth number 1000. You walk right over, get the information right from the horse's mouth. He'll show the lights off, he'll hand you one and show you and and and help you walk it off the show floor. Uh-oh, I might have committed you to a little bit more work there, Chris. Yeah, but uh make sure you check up on
Final Thanks And Closing Prayer
SPEAKER_05them. And as always, I'd like to end the uh the podcast with a prayer. Um, dear Heavenly Father, I just thank you for every one of our vendors. I thank you for uh uh their site, their insight, uh, them searching to find safety, um, quality products and putting things out there that that helps the public on a daily basis. And Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for every one of our towers, our men and women of towing that go out there on a daily basis. Lord, I ask that you increase them mentally, physically, uh, emotionally, in every aspect, prosperity for the work that they do, put a hedge of protection around them and bring them back home to their family safety and show them the value that they're putting into our industry. We ask that in your precious name, Jesus. Amen. Well, as always, folks, we thank you for tuning in to Toe Professional on the Go podcast. My listeners, the 23,000 plus, and the folks that are checking us out on YouTube, you are the ones that help this go around. And we're just going to continue to keep trying to bring the top service providers and the top industry leaders and uh manufacturers in the market to you so you can get out of the red and back in the black with the latest and top performing products in industry. And until next time, keep tuning into Tow Professional on the Go podcast. We'll see you next time in signing out, Darren Weaver, publisher and owner, and Chris Anderson, executive VP of Tow Mate Industries. Thanks again and God bless everyone. Y'all have a great day and be safe out there. We appreciate your service.