P&Q Profile: IPCD’s Bill Harvey

By |  October 11, 2019
Headshot: Bill Harvey, IPCD

Harvey

Bill Harvey serves as the president of IPCD (Industrial Products Conveyors & Drives), a stocking distributor based in North Carolina that serves the Southeast. Harvey entered the power transmission industry in 1983, and he started in the pulley manufacturing business nine years later. P&Q recently caught up with Harvey to hear about IPCD’s year and capture his perspective on what’s trending in conveying and material handling.

How are conveying and material handling equipment sales faring in 2019?

Our business has been outstanding with a tremendous amount of capital projects passing through order entry.

How do sales compare to 2018, and do you have any expectations about 2020?

We see about a 30 percent increase in all activity, both project and MRO (maintenance, repair and operations). Hopes are high for the next 12 months, we just need to stay focused with our major manufacturing partners.

Are you seeing a fair amount of new plant/production systems come online within the aggregate industry?

Harvey outside of IPCD. Photo courtesy of Bill Harvey

Harvey outside of IPCD. Photo courtesy of Bill Harvey

Yes, most of our aggregate accounts are wide open and several have expansion plans for the pending several months.

What sorts of new things related to conveying and material handling are aggregate producers trying to do or incorporate into their systems?

Improving efficiencies in their process, many related to material retention, spillage and dust suppression.

On parts, what are the keys to effectively servicing customers today compared with when you joined the industry?

Stay focused on the service end of business and stay near your core competencies. Excel in what we do well, and don’t try to be everything to everybody.

Do you notice any trends related to conveying and material handling at the moment?

From a producer standpoint, we believe that the big producers are beginning to realize that niche distributors can bring exceptional value to their operation by bringing technical experience and dedicated inventory to the scene. Sometimes larger distributors cannot make quick decisions with regards to increased inventory levels.


Five things

BEST ADVICE RECEIVED – Be different from the rest of the pack
FIRST JOB – Power transmission sales at Browning Manufacturing
SPORTS – Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Braves
HOBBIES – Guitar, woodworking, off-road motorsports
TRAVEL – The world. I just finished an African safari.

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