Trans-American Power Poles (TAPP) is a second-generation family-owned manufacturer of high-quality steel structures for the utility, communications and OEM markets. The made-to-order product line includes macro-monopoles, monopines, palm tree poles, canister poles and small cell poles.
“Our specialties are in the design, fabrication, galvanized and on-time delivery of these poles. Every single pole that we fabricate is designed specifically for a particular site. Our poles are designed to meet the needs of the wireless industry and are built to last. We pride ourselves on providing quality products and excellent customer service,” says Edward Ramirez, VP of Communications at TAPP.
The corporate offices of TAPP are in Houston, Texas, which is also home to a 60-acre distribution center. It also operates three “state-of-the-art” manufacturing facilities in Mexico. The production area of its industrial facilities spans 1.5 million square feet, with plans to increase productivity for the future.
A Proud History
TAPP’s history spans back more than 60 years when its parent company added steel poles to its hardware product line in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Over the years, TAPP has penetrated the utility transmission, distribution structure, and street lighting pole markets.
In the mid-1990s, the wireless market took off and TAPP expanded into communication monopoles. “It was a brand-new market for our poles, an exciting time and milestone in our footprint,” Ramirez said. Our commitment to excellence has grown our company. We implement high standards of excellence with continued employee training and industry certifications. Today, more than 1,900 devoted workers are committed to high quality workmanship. Our main goal is to supply quality monopoles globally.”
TAPP’s Take on Technology
Making customized steel poles profitably requires efficient operations. TAPP keeps more than $30 million in pre-purchased raw material on hand continuously and uses highly automated machinery. This allows it to offer extremely competitive lead times and prices on any project, according to Ramirez. Additionally, thanks to a dynamic Manufacturing and Enterprise Resource Planning system, TAPP’s planning, scheduling, and tracking of the poles are meeting production schedules. As a result, 98 percent of projects are successfully delivered on time, according to Ramirez.
“Our customers are looking for a customized solution for their business needs,” explains Ramirez. “I want to assure them that we can provide a unique product that meets the project requirements. Other manufacturers sometimes apply cookie-cutter solutions because they lack the necessary equipment. However, we do major upgrades to our technology and automation every ten years, and every five years we do semi-upgrades. This allows us to continually improve our manufacturing productivity goals.”
Ramirez believes that despite the economic challenges of recent years, there will still be significant worldwide investments in connectivity technologies and that developing infrastructure initiatives is essential to the carriers’ competitiveness and marketplace positioning.
The Facilities of the Future
TAPP is confident in the future demand for steel poles from telecommunications providers due to forward-looking business models and the ever-increasing public data usage. “We understand the importance of providing reliable infrastructure to support the growth of the telecommunications industry, and we are committed to meeting those needs,” says Ramirez.
To meet customer infrastructure needs, TAPP will be opening a new galvanizing plant this summer. The facility will feature a tank that can galvanize pole sections up to 57 feet and a crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 52,000 lbs. This will support the productivity efforts to shorten lead times for order delivery.
TAPP will continue to increase its ability to coat towers, adding the capability to paint, powder coat and corrosion-proof steel. “We want to be more vertically integrated as a company and have more control over our processes,” Ramirez said.
TAPP will have an announcement soon, featuring a facility to manufacture of galvanized steel components. “We are going to approach the component market as an OEM company,” Ramirez said. “This is another avenue where we can grow the company.”
TAPP will continue to use the highest grade of steel, the latest state-of-the-art equipment, and its knowledge drawn from years of steel pole manufacturing to master whatever challenging engineering and manufacturing projects its customers bring to the table.
Three Fundamental Principles
Throughout the company’s history, there are three fundamental principles that have been integral to its success, says Ramirez: a focus on the customer, a legacy of quality, and a vision of the future. These pillars will persist as its primary objectives.
For more information, contact Edward Ramirez at [email protected] or call 281.444.8277 to set up a meeting.
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
Reader Interactions