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From building and installing to servicing, Mainline Conveyor Systems works with clients from start to finish to assist their specific conveyor needs. Yet this was not always the case for the company, which Roger Brown founded back in 1991.
In its early days, the company operated out of a garage as a conveyor parts provider. As word of mouth spread, the company began receiving requests to provide larger parts for systems. Mainline continued to grow over the ensuing 30 years and is now a full-service system provider with three decades of experience in providing quality products and services to its customer base.
In 2022, Brown was looking to retire. He passed the baton to Terry Smith, who was ready to continue the legacy of the business and keep it growing. Ready for a challenge, Smith purchased Mainline and stepped into his new role as company president.
Smith has always had a passion for the conveyor industry because it combines two things he loves: technology and mechanics. Working at Mainline as a teenager and intern during college, the company has always been close to home for him. During that time, he did a little bit of everything. From running saws to making rollers by hand, he experienced the world of conveyor systems up close. It was there that Smith also realized he wanted to pursue business ownership.
CUSTOMERS FIRST
Mainline has a wide range of customers in business size and scale, including within the corrugated industry. No matter who they work with, the end goal is always the same—”put the customer first.” A one-size-fits-all approach isn’t what Mainline is after; instead, the company recognizes that each customer’s needs differ based on their services, team, and facility. Mainline representatives meet one-on-one with customers to get to the bottom of the problems they face, areas they want to improve, and the applications they have.
“A customer can expect that we know their environment, we know their equipment, we know their plants. We know what we can do with our conveyor systems. And we know what they want. But we’re always looking to give them more,” says Smith.
After the initial meetings, Mainline assesses a customer’s problems and creates a catered solution. As a full-service system provider, the company builds the designed system and installs it at the customer site. From then on, Mainline technicians are on standby to provide maintenance or repair support if needed. Knowing how detrimental downtime is, they strive to spot problems before they happen, to increase efficiency and safety.
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH
Over the past two years, Smith has noticed what he calls “a snowball of growth” in all facets of the business. He attributes the growth to Mainline’s team of employees and the environment he walked into as the new owner. “We haven’t done anything different, just better. I quickly realized that the team in place was the best and most experienced in the industry—they just needed processes, technology, and leadership to unlock their true potential,” said Smith.
As they remained close to what they’ve always valued—quality and innovation—more customers reached out to Mainline Conveyor Systems for services. More customers led to the need for a larger team. More employees meant more skills and experience, giving the company the capability to keep providing quality products and services. As Mainline experienced an influx of work, its facility began to feel restricting and cumbersome.
“We had limited space for production and employees were on top of each other. We didn’t have room for storage, raw materials, or inventory. We were using shipping containers to store things outside,” says Brandon Martin, vice president of operations.
WORLD-CLASS FACILITY
As demand increased and productivity slowed, Mainline management began looking for a solution. After talks of expansions to their previous building, a new 96,000-square-foot facility became available for purchase just down the road. The new building was a game changer, and they knew they had to jump on it as soon as possible. Within three months, Mainline had relocated its entire company with no disruption to customers.
Martin believes the new facility sets up the company for all that’s to come in the next 30 years of business. The team was excited to keep the company where it was born and raised, as it is conveniently located just a mile away from the previous building. As most of the staff resides in Mooresville, just outside of Indianapolis, IN, Mainline was able to maintain good employee retention despite the change in location. The company was also able to keep the same delivery drivers and suppliers, while remaining close to local vendors.
“I think the future is bright for Mainline. We’ve got the ability to grow into our new space. We’ve got the ability to add more technology, advanced manufacturing … I think we’re going to be a bigger player in the corrugated industry as we move forward,” says Martin.
The new facility has welcomed a host of opportunities. Employees now have the space to excel at their jobs. The building also broadens job opportunities for those in the surrounding community; in need of engineers, sales representatives, and technicians, the company is ready to welcome more members to the Mainline family to keep up with the influx of work.
The larger facility also helps the company provide a better product and experience for its customers, notes Smith. “The new facility will allow us opportunities to continue to expand not only our current product lines, but the amount of equipment that we can get out the door for our customers—and it allows us to deliver a better-quality product,” Smith says.
Having the space the company needs has also increased the speed of production. Customers can get their equipment faster as Mainline now has the manufacturing ability to get the job done quicker than before. At the old facility, loading and unloading equipment was weather dependent. Now, the team can handle this indoors, allowing them to get the product out faster.
ON THE DOCKET
The move also allows Mainline to house advanced manufacturing technology and gives the capacity for better research and development. The company now has a dedicated space just for that. With this extra room, Mainline is able to develop new products, test new ideas, and increase product functionality. “It gives everybody room to work. They’re allowed to bring ideas on how we improve their workflows. We’re starting to integrate newer technologies to increase our production through the facility,” says Smith.
Also in the works is a training center within the building. This training facility will be used to teach customers about maintenance, safety, and operation of the equipment.
STEPPING ‘OUTSIDE THE BOX’
To reach more customers in corrugating, Mainline will be exhibiting at SuperCorrExpo®, September 9-12, 2024. The company plans to share some exciting advancements and improvements. It will also unveil new products and services at its booth.
As the operation continues to grow, Mainline Conveyor’s leadership is careful to make sure they grow responsibly. Their goal is to ensure that each new customer will receive high-quality products and the best customer service.
Mainline wants to challenge the status quo, Smith says. While a lot has stayed the same in the conveyor industry over the years, the company is looking to rethink conveyor systems and provide new solutions that increase efficiency, safety, and functionality for all customers.
“Continued growth with customer success,” says Smith. That’s what Mainline Conveyor Systems is after—growing in a way that keeps customers as the top priority.