RPI increases turnover by over half and celebrates 3,000th device

RPI, the world’s largest manufacturer of high precision rotary measurement and angular positioning devices, recently announced that it had increased its turnover by 55% last year and the installation of its 3,000th device.

Most of the growth came from the USA, which now accounts for half the business, and is where the 3,000th device was installed. Large OEMS manufacturing turbines for energy production have placed orders to the value of over $2m for the company’s iMAPs since May.

The company is reaping the benefits from a strategic investment in the US, after listening carefully to its customers. It set up a sales and technical support service for repair and calibration which has reduced turnaround times from four months to two weeks. The first major repair started last month.

Last year was a significant milestone for the company as it secured its start-of-the-art premises for another 10 years. Its location within the engineering hotspot of Bristol & Bath and its excellent transport links makes it an attractive employer, with four engineers joining the team to meet this growth and plans for another three this year.

RPI has more than 3,000 devices operating within the industry worldwide. It has been manufacturing since the 1940s and is planning for a high-growth future by investing 12% of its turnover in R&D. It will also integrate a new large volume, dual axis, precision rotary grinder into its operations.

This year the company will also continue its extensive new product development programme, with two new devices for circular geometry measurement and dimensional metrology for CMMs launched by the summer. CMM manufacturers are increasingly recognising the efficiency, additional flexibility and accuracy a rotary table brings.

Peter Marchbank, RPI’s managing director, said, “What a year it’s been. We have secured our long-term future with a growing order book, a state-of-the-art factory, new markets new industries, new highly skilled engineers into the team. What a year!

“Now we will show just how precision in rotary measurement and angular positioning improves efficiency across all advanced engineering industries. That’s what we’re here for.”

www.rpiuk.com