How to make multiple objects follow a shape?

See attached. Our engineers want the six triangles (3 down, 3 across) to follow the bend of the overall product, like the small circles do. I've tried skewing, envelope warping (art and top object--a duplicate of the grey product), and puppet warp, but even though I used Pathfinder to Unite first, I can't seem to find a way to make the entire object follow the curve WITHOUT distorting the individual triangles themselves. Any ideas? 

I thought their original request was to replace EACH small circle with a small triangle and said sure--now I find they want these six big triangles instead...