Greg Young, Senior VP at Performance Advantage Company (PAC), shares insights into challenges in the tool mounting industry and their vision for future growth and innovation
Greg Young is the Senior Vice President at PAC, a US-based manufacturer specialising in innovative tool mounting systems and brackets.
With a legacy rooted in fire truck manufacturing, PAC has grown into an international company, serving sectors such as the fire service, US Navy, and other industries in need of advanced tool organization solutions.
In this exclusive interview with IFSJ Managing Editor Duncan J. White, Greg discusses the evolving landscape of tool mounting solutions, PAC’s innovative approach to addressing industry challenges, and the company’s expansion into new markets.
For those unfamiliar, can you provide an overview of PAC?
PAC is a manufacturer of specialty products of our own design. Our entire product line encompasses tool mounting solutions.
These are special products to hold and organize tools used in various settings and industries.
Born out of the fire industry, PAC has evolved over 30+ years to design and manufacture products for all industries.
The goal of PAC is to provide robust tool, mounting solutions that exceed the needs our customers regardless of industry.
We believe in our staff which has experience across multiple industries.
When we receive a request for support, PAC always has and always will apply the same philosophy: we always provide the best guidance we can.
We are here to support truck manufacturers, equipment resellers, as well as end users through their challenges around tool mounting.
There is another big thing to mention regarding what the PAC company does to serve all the industries. That is distribution and warehousing.
We go above and beyond, keeping levels of inventory that ensure our customers’ needs are met.
In addition to prompt customer service (with real people answering the phone) we’re widely known in the industry for having both extremely fast shipping and very rarely having back orders.
PAC dealers trust us for prompt drop ship orders directly to their customers.
The tool mounting sector has seen significant changes recently. In your view, what are the main challenges driving these changes?
Without question, we’re seeing the largest number of changes surrounding EV’s as well as the electrification of what were historically, pneumatic and hydraulic powered tools.
The suppression and control of EV and battery fires is still evolving. Those tools in that field are still evolving.
We’re seeing many new products come online to help firefighters extinguish, and control battery fires for example.
We’re still watching the industry evolve, knowing it will get to a place where tools and training provide a safe community.
Because these tools are relatively new in the marketplace and various manufacturers continue to bring new concepts, we haven’t yet defined a solution for some of these new tools.
PAC is known for its innovative approach. Can you share how the company identifies and response to emerging needs in the market?
As we talked about before, we often have a tool mounting kit that will work for a brand-new type of tool that just came on the market.
Our team just doesn’t have the knowledge yet to say this kit will work with this new battery cooling nozzle, for example.
So we’re not afraid to work with manufacturers directly. We’re not afraid to work with equipment dealers.
Often times tool manufacturers and dealers approach us for answers. Many of our staff members are end users in various industries. In that way, the PAC staff is excited to identify and innovate as necessary.
We respond to emerging needs in the market as both partners and participants; making careful decisions that impact the well-being and safety of people around the world as well as our own staff.
Can you tell us about any of PAC’s recent products or innovations and their intended impact on the fire service?
Over the last several years, we’ve been asked to look at fire extinguisher mounts for various reasons.
So, a few years ago we developed two products, a 3 pound and a 5 pound extinguisher holder.
These could be mounted to any vehicle or stationary surface and feature our rugged design with easy to release straps.
Building on that, we found customers asking for larger mount for 10-pound extinguishers.
We noted these requests to look at extinguisher mounts correlate to an increasing presence of smaller attack vehicles, which have nontraditional compartments.
Additionally, to fight fires – regardless of how or where they may erupt – law enforcement, landscaping and garbage trucks are carrying extinguishers.
Our new 10 pound extinguisher mount provides an additional solution for mounting oxygen bottles.
Oxygen storage has been lacking from our product line until now! We’re very excited to support our customers around the world that provide critical life saving measures.
With the complexity of tools and vehicles how does PAC ensure its mounting solutions remain relevant and effective?
We understand our products represent an investment by our customers.
For those who use our products, the feedback we receive is that the customer service, product quality and product versatility surpass other solutions.
Additionally, we stand behind our products with a limited lifetime warranty.
So, we believe PAC will continue to be effective partners of the fire industry by providing the promptest service and incredible value.
Can you share an example when PAC adapted its products based on customer input?
We listen to our customers; whether they come to us directly or we come to them at tradeshows or site visits.
For this reason, several products come to mind.
For example, a military truck manufacturer came to us requesting tool mount brackets moulded in camouflage schemed colours.
Other military customers have approached us for products to meet specific military testing requirements outside of the requirements of the fire industry.
We have created and tested several military products that are used in various scenarios around the world.
As PAC expands into new markets, such as marine and industrial sectors, what specific adaptations or innovations are being introduced to meet the unique demands of these environments?
Earlier I mentioned our new 10-pound extinguisher mount, K5046. The requests for this product came from outside of the traditional fire industry.
The design of it, and the size of it are tailored with different environments in mind.
Storage compartments as well as the access an operator has to the tools are much different between a fire truck and a fireboat, for example.
The mounting surfaces outside a utility truck are much different than what are available on a boat hull, or an agriculture roll bar.
So we’re innovating with this knowledge. Tool mounting is needed across sectors.
We’re investigating what our products need to look like for the widest adaptation across industries.
Looking ahead, what trends or technological advancements do you believe will most influence the future of tooling solutions?
We will certainly continue to look at the diversity of our products. Meaning we develop products for from the standpoint of its usefulness across industries.
An example of this is a recently modified kit K5030, Universal Saw Kit. This was originally a kit that we developed for the fire industry that has seen an introduction of electric chainsaws from all types of manufacturers.
So our kit needed to be redeveloped to accommodate all the different chainsaw platforms.
We’ve always look to develop products that have a grip range that accommodates a variety of tools, not so much a line to line fit.
There are dozens of axe manufactures, for example, and they each have different dimensions for the handle and the head, respectively.
It would be easy to design a mount for one brand and one size, but this wouldn’t build customer’s satisfaction.
The right thing to do is build for the long-haul; build for the bigger picture. That’s what we do with all of our products.
But I think the clearest trend ahead of us is the electrification of tools as well as vehicles.
The types of tools carried on a fire truck is certainly undergoing changes and that trend will likely continue for decades.
PAC has a strong presence internationally – are there any plans for further global expansion?
We’re looking for the right partners who can help us bring our high-quality tool mounting solutions to markets outside of North and South America.
This is an exciting opportunity for PAC as we continue to grow globally, ensuring that more first responders worldwide have access to the best equipment to keep their communities safe.
By building strong distributor relationships, we can maintain our commitment to fast delivery, excellent customer service, and support on a much larger scale.
Finally what are PAC’s strategic goals for the coming years, and how do you plan to continue leading in the tool mounting industry?
Well, you know that I don’t like giving away any secrets, but what I can tell you are three things.
Even as we continue to grow, we MUST do what our customers need most: When you call PAC for service or help, you always get a real person.
As challenging as the labour market is right now, or continuing to promote from within to ensure our customer service needs are met with knowledgeable and prompt service.
When a new fire truck is nearing completion at the factory; it’s time to install tool mounts into the fresh, open compartments.
PAC customers rely on our stock levels and fast shipping to moves that truck from production into service quickly.
So we continue to serve our customers with our on-site warehouse and top notch inventory control.
Finally, we will continue to share knowledge with our customers. We will continue to do in person trade shows and on site customer visits.
We will continue to expand our reach with new technologies, such as our website and email marketing.
Above all else, our mission will remain to do our part, keeping the communities around the world protected.
We’re going to do this by provide our customers the help they need when they need it most.
This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.