MUNCIE, Ind. (Jan. 5, 2009) – Muncie Power Products has named Ray L. Chambers President and Chief Operating Officer, giving him the opportunity to replicate on a larger scale the successes he brought to the firm’s Tulsa division.

Founded in 1935, Muncie Power Products supplies mobile power equipment and operates warehouse, distribution and manufacturing divisions in eight states.

Chambers joined the company in 2004 and has served as Vice President, responsible for all plant operations at its Tulsa division. In that role, his management team implemented Lean Enterprise systems that significantly reduced costs, reduced working capital, cut work-related accidents, and reduced employee turnover, while doubling plant output. Chambers considers his greatest achievement tapping into the knowledge and passion of the MPP employees.

“I really didn’t have to provide much leadership to the people I inherited. They knew the answers of how to improve the process, we simply empowered them and gave them the resources to get the job done,” Chambers said.

“Ray has done a remarkable job in his past position with our Company and we are excited and confident about the continued growth of Muncie Power Products under his capable leadership and vision,” said Terry L. Walker, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. “As President and COO, he plans to focus on this growth through aggressive market expansion and product development.”

“We do a great job getting products to customers fast. Even with no finished inventory and thousands of possible assembly configurations, we’re able to fill 85 percent of orders with same day or next day delivery,” said Chambers. “Now we need to leverage our capabilities and expand into new markets by getting new product ideas to market quicker.” “There is no shortage of ideas here at Muncie Power Products. We have to build on the successes we have already had to reach our new market growth goals.”

“If you truly believe in something, your passion shows,” Chambers said. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a tremendous group of passionate people all across our company who work every day to improve our service to customers. We truly have the best people in the business working at Muncie Power Products.”

Chambers’ vision includes fostering a culture that rewards innovation, encourages teamwork and inspires involvement at all levels of the organization. He’s already developed cross-functional strategy teams to identify target markets and has crafted a new organizational structure to support those market growth initiatives.

“In order to facilitate this type of effective employee involvement, we will need to leverage all of the training resources we can muster over the next 12-18 months. There is no better investment we can make than in our own people,” Chambers says.

Chambers starts with a solid and rich foundation of customer service, integrity and attention to details of getting things right the first time for customers and employees.

The company was founded in 1935 by Lou Conne with Hamer Shafer as the first employee. Shafer took over the business shortly after World War II and led it for 50 years.

“Mr. Shafer not only left us a tremendous legacy of excellence in all phases of customer service but also passionate involvement and service to our community,” said Chambers. “One of his guiding principles is that we should all give back what has been given to us and provide opportunities for those who will follow us. Founding principles such as these serve to remind us that doing the right things in life have a lasting effect on those around us. Now we have the honor and duty to pass these principles on to the next generation of Muncie Power Products employees.”

Chambers has more than two decades of experience in multi-plant leadership. Before joining Muncie Power Products, he was Vice President of Manufacturing at Gear Products in Tulsa and Director of Operations for U.S. Marine, a Brunswick Company in Claremore, Okla. He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Management of Human Resources and Leadership in Business from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in Business Administration from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla.

Owned by the Interpump Group of S. Ilario d’Enza, Italy, Muncie Power Products has partnerships with 50 companies in 150 locations that form its Master Warehouse network in the United States and Mexico. Muncie Power Products manufactures and distributes power take-offs, hydraulic pumps, hydraulic motors, auxiliary power products and systems.