Our Core Values at PowerSafe Automation
We have established these core values to provide consistency, focus, and personal growth in helping to better serve our customers.
This also helps us to achieve our mission of
"To provide a safer working environment for team
members through innovative turnkey solutions"
I am happy to share our journey!
"Powering a safer working environment" thru innovative turnkey solutions
Summer of 2015,
- Shawn Mantel, a Sales Engineer, and Lance LaLone, an Electrical Contractor, were at a crossroads in their careers and both were looking for something more for their family and friends.
- Conversations began about each other’s respective backgrounds at a seasonal campground drinking Fireball Whisky around a campfire.
- They quickly realized they could join forces to offer the market something unique and decided they could exploit a void in the market with their skills and abilities.
- This combined skill set could give workers a better chance to go home safe at night to be with their families, just as they did.
Prior to the inception of PowerSafe Automation:
- Shawn Mantel was part of two startup companies in the t-slotted aluminum extrusion and safety guarding market for 25 years being an integral part in growing them into two of the most well-known companies in their respective market.
- Lance LaLone owned an electrical & mechanical contracting business for over 15 years and was part of a family business prior to that in Northeast Indiana.
With a gap in machine safety systems between mechanical processes and machines, expanding regulations and standards, and the new generation of computer controls and robots there was a need for a company to provide skilled trade services of installation and electronic safety device integration and support. That casual conversation quickly became reality and PowerSafe Automation was founded.
January 2016,
- Created a niche category in the market providing machine safety guarding, electrical, & industrial automation solutions focused on custom design, fabrication, and nationwide installation.
- Opened opportunities to help customers reduce their pain points, lower hazardous exposures, and improve workplace safety attitudes.
- Efforts quickly paid off as they were continually adding new customers, which included Fortune 500 companies with multi-line/multi-plant projects.
Fall of 2016,
- Purchased a 14,000 sq ft facility with the offices and the shop in one location due to customer demand
- Starting out with one employee using their homes as offices and shops they now have 4 full-time employees and 3 part-time employees, as well as the start of a fleet of field installation vehicles and trailers.
- Expanded online digital presence
- Developed a full administrative infrastructure to prepare for future expansion to help better serve our customers and provide leadership and direction to our employees.
- Became a member of ISNetworld or ISN 400-243872, a highly respected third-party compliance partner with copies of our liability insurance coverages, OSHA logs, and safety programs.
In 2017,
- Hired a Site Supervisor to expand installation capabilities of machine guarding across the United States
- Renovated the offices to prepare for future expansions of front end support to our clients and partners
- Renovated and sub-divided the shop for future expansion and temperature control
- Expanded digital presence online via industry-specific medium
In 2018,
- Bought metal fabricating machines for in-house machining and custom work
- Joined 2 top safety organizations, ASSP and NSC, to stay in the know and to provide knowledge for their partners in return
- Became a US partner for the ReeR brand electronic safety devices looking to expand their US presence
- Interviewed and published first article in the Assembly Magazine
- Partnered with Amazon for eCommerce DIY product sales
- Partners with Independent Sales Reps in strategic areas to help expand local support to our customers
In 2019,
- Made an investment to double the fleet and hired another Site Supervisor due to increased customer demands for turnkey safety solutions
- Added a bullpen and security system for fleet storage
- Wrote and published 3 more magazine articles
- Presented with 2 awards for industrial safety solutions provider and general business
In 2020 (a critical time to pivot and be agile),
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, PowerSafe was considered essential due to compliance-driven safety regulations and continued to work with manufacturers.
- Created defined office areas for improved front-end support and a demonstration area for customer as well as social distancing
- Created internal training programs and remote work programs
- Expanded digital presence
- Installed an industrial fan for shop temperature control as well as a demo for customers
- Published another magazine article to their respective market and self-published others online
- Revamped fleet program to prepare for future expansion
- Hired a Controls Technician and a Technical Solutions Rep
- Refined processes and increased infrastructure to better serve and educate customers and employees.
- PowerSafe seamlessly pivoted into workplace safeguarding to include protective shields, modular office cubicles, line worker barriers, and ergonomic safety solutions.
- The most notable part of the COVID-19 timeframe was PowerSafe developed an AWARD-WINNING, patent pending, hands-free sanitizer dispenser to help maintain a sanitary work environment per new pandemic protection protocols.
- This dispenser has been determined to be a Winner of the Year by Plant Engineering!
- Expanded In-Plant Solution capabilities by partnering with A-Safe, Panel Built, and Seek Thermal
- Presented with 3 awards for safety solutions and our hands-free dispensing system
In 2021 (continuing to be essential to worker's safety),
- Shawn Mantel purchased Lance LaLone's interest in the company becoming the 100% owner
- Still partnered with LaLone as he started a localized electro-mechanical automation company.
- Shawn's wife Tracy entered the operations of the company expanding infrastructure support
- Reached a 5-year milestone of a turnkey machine safety guarding company
- Added a second crew and fleet infrastructure for expanded capabilities
- Expanded local fleet vehicles for pickups and deliveries with a box truck and Chevy Silverado
- Published an article on "Overcoming the Challenges of Electronic Machine Safety"
- Added an inventory control system in response to supplier delays due to a reaction to COVID manufacturing constraints
- Improved efficiencies and quality with new shop layout
- New engineering processes for designing machine guarding
With no end in sight, they continue to focus on new ways to expand the business and their outreach, grow relationships with their customers which include Fortune 500 companies. Most importantly, they continue to save people’s lives by improving their workplace safety while reducing pain points.
Would you connect with us on LinkedIn for more information (safety resource):
Shawn Mantel, CEO / Sales Engineer
Helping to keep workers safe in American manufacturing companies nationwide through innovative machine safety guarding solutions!