While the interior framework of any structure is clearly critical, it’s often the façade that sets one building apart from the others. As a result, architects, designers, and builders are placing a premium on aesthetics and the suppliers who can support innovative trends and meet rising expectations.

What happens when a family-owned company and a leading manufacturer in the industry collaborate for a noble cause? They create the Pink Cancer Awareness Press Brake that has been developed by Cincinnati Incorporated for Robey's Welding.

On December 8th, 2022, RC Industries, a custom metal fabricator located in Elkhart, IN, and Cincinnati Incorporated, a metal fabrication equipment manufacturer located in Harrison, OH, came together to celebrate their USA pride in a fun and unique way.

Murray Equipment outlines how they reduced vendor bottlenecks by creating an in-house metal fabrication facility, stocked with CI equipment.

RC Industries located in Elkhart, Ind., is a full-service fabricator and leading supplier of complex metal parts to the North American transportation industries. In addition to storage systems, toolboxes and bumpers, the company offers advanced custom fabrication and engineering services.

When Etobicoke, Ont.-based high-voltage switchgear and protection manufacturer S&C Electric Canada wanted to upgrade its press brake department, it was considering replacing two machines. After review, the team determined that it could actually refurbish one of them, saving money while improving the efficiency, productivity, and safety of its equipment.

I had the opportunity to speak with Tim Pribula, Director of Operations at Sunrise Machine & Tool and he shared with me his thoughts on their recent purchase of the CL-955c Fiber Laser Cutting System and its integration into their operations.

When we met with RC Industries in July 2019, the company had 160 employees working three shifts. They’ve overcome plenty of adversity in that time—much like all of us have—and managed to keep headcount the same while increasing revenue 24%. What are the reasons for that success? We caught up with Chris Curtis, Owner of RC Industries, to talk about it.

In this article, we revisit the Holland, Michigan-based metal fab job shop to focus in on the Bend Sim and Unfolder apps, and the effect they have had in streamlining operations.

Henny Penny, based in Eaton, Ohio, designs, develops and manufactures premium food service equipment such as fryers, rotisseries and holding cabinets that keep hot foods fresh. They have proudly served the world’s most demanding kitchens for over 60 years, and to safeguard their reputation for quality products, the manufacturer depends on CI press brakes. “We are big fans of their durability, repeatability and ease of use,” said Jeremy Horn, Manufacturing Technician and a 21-year company veteran who oversees forming operations at Henny Penny.

In 1999, United Alloy (UA) was founded in Janesville, Wisconsin. That same year, the company welcomed its first Cincinnati Incorporated machine, a 135-ton press brake.

HEC Manufacturing enjoyed a massive productivity leap after installing a Hyform press brake from Cincinnati Incorporated.

Opening for business in 1962, Spradlin Brothers Welding has grown from humble beginnings in a two-car garage to a 25,500 square foot state-of-the-art facility. Based in Springfield, Ohio, the shop handles a wide variety of work ranging from prototypes to production runs for industries including crane manufacturing, foundry equipment, oil and natural gas, and even a super store chain (manufacturing components for their buildings). “Our biggest goal is to keep satisfying customers with our work,” said President Jeff Spradlin. The success of this philosophy can be seen in the fact that the company has maintained relationships with some customers for over four decades.

Huron Fabrication, based in Cudahy, Wisconsin, prides itself on taking complex projects from concept to completion for a wide range of industries. According to CEO Erik Schimelfenyg, “It’s not about being in the middle of the manufacturing process, it’s about being at the center of creating something great.” This includes everything from elegant residential bridges to rocket engine components to military-grade armor fabrications. Whatever project is on the production line at Huron, you’ll find equipment from Cincinnati Inc. (CI) at the heart of it.

For a quarter century, Tom Racicot has been a welder. The first 15 years of his career was spent at a welding company, where he learned the ropes and ultimately gained enough expertise that he hit his ceiling. As it turned out, he had just as much passion and talent for hands-on fabrication as he did for welding.

So in 2011, he set off on his own and opened T.R. Welding & Fabrication out of his garage. The Wappingers Falls, NY company welds steel, aluminum and stainless, and it provides custom welding, structural steel, aluminum and mobile welding services. Starting the company was riskier than staying put, but Tom didn’t think twice about it. His talent spoke for itself.

E.K. Machine Company started out 50 years ago as a small machine and fabrication shop. Since then, they have grown into a full-service supplier of quality steel components and assemblies to the agriculture, construction, food processing, oil/gas and transportation industries. The company also depends on the finest technology for quality, speed and productivity. That’s where CINCINNATI enters the story.

When Chris Curtis took over RC Industries in 1994, the company was in disarray. Fresh off an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Curtis immediately identified a few reasons for the company’s stagnation.

Based in the heart of the Midwest near Rockford, Illinois, Pro Arc fabricates steel, aluminum and stainless. The team has a passion for custom and prototype work and lives for the challenges that come through the door.  Here’s how Pro Arc expanded their in-house fabrication capabilities with a brand-new CINCINNATI laser cutter, the CL-965.

If you’re wondering how to grow a fabrication business, RC Industries has a template. Its CINCINNATI machines help the company stay nimble and endlessly productive. The company now owns one mechanical shear, eight press brakes, fourlasers and one automation system with a tower—all CINCINNATI. The company’s oldest CI machine was made in 1953 and the newest in 2018. Chris spells out the reason: “I don’t have to worry about the equipment,” he says. “Nothing is made like a CINCINNATI.” 

Ryan Carne, president of Detronic Industries, has been with the same company for 24 years. He’s had Cincinnati press brakes that entire time. Why the focus on Cincinnati? In their president’s words, “They place an uncommon emphasis on educating and taking care of their customers.”