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The beginning of RP – Rich Piselli began acquiring his knowledge back in 1989, when he shifted from the Oriental import/export business to buying and selling used equipment for a company called U.S.A. Machinery. He quickly noticed that each of the salesmen specialized in certain types of equipment, but that they tended to shy away from gear machinery. "Not many guys understood gear equipment, because these are unusual machines. So I decided to take advantage of the situation and make that area my own."
Established in 1992, RP Machine Enterprises started with 50,000 sq feet and has to date, grown to a 250,000 sq ft facility of manufacturing space and warehouse.
Initially starting with the purchasing of used gear machinery, Piselli expanded into the recontrolling and retrofitting of older machines. Later, Piselli realized you can’t just sell the machines; you need to offer other services, so RP began offering other services, tooling, fixturing support and technical expertise. Soon a complete turnkey package was available.
Already known for their extensive inventory of reconditioned gear machines and their remanufacturing, retrofitting and complete turn-key packaging, RP expanded again by purchasing Gould & Eberhardt Gear Machinery Corporation in 2005.
With this purchase RP had achieved a true OEM status. From that day on RP updated the line with current leading-edge technologies, including the construction of a new 40,000 sq ft facility, which includes two 20-ton overhead cranes. With the new G&E line, RP can now offer new gear machines large enough for wind energy, mining, construction and other large gear related markets. Their latest models, the 96GH, 120GH, and the 160GH, with a maximum diameter of 240 in are all now available and currently being used in a number of customer locations.
Now a multi-million-dollar company, RP continues to focus on the sale of both new gear machinery for wind energy production and mining, as well as retrofitted gear machines. Their latest product offering, (PME, a sales solution division) is their design for a five-axis machine for precision machining of hubs, base plates, and blades for 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 megawatt wind turbines.
In 2Q of 2009, RP Machine expanded again, acquiring the Statesville Division of Alpha/Sullivan Steel. The acquisition provided RP with a superior magnetic division that would now allow RP to offer a line of magnetic lifting devices, fixturings, tables and chucks. Not to mention contract machining and grinding up to 144 in diameter.
I can promise that if you haven’t seen RP lately, you haven’t seen R.P. Machine. To learn more call (704) 872-8888, send an e-mail to sales@rpmachine.com, or visit online at www.rpmachine.com.
