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Dave Mueller, CEORICO understands one of the major challenges the defense industry faces is cost reduction. The company works collaboratively with clients to develop quality, customizable commercial solutions designed to lower ownership cost.
RICO partners with the customer to precisely capture a clear picture of the specific needs has been defined.
They work closely with the customer regarding unique requirements such as operating environment and load capacity to ensure each solution is custom engineered perfectly for the customer’s needs. Mueller explains, “Sometimes the clients have an idea for complex solution, which can be expensive to build. We work with them to simplify the idea-to-product process, thereby reducing cost of ownership of the equipment and maximizing operational efficiency.”
RICO Manufacturing has over four decades of experience developing custom material handling equipment, which sets the company apart from its competitors. With such rich industry expertise, the company offers quick turnaround time and accelerates its customers’ overall process. Such a capability is highly crucial in the market. The client may take years in the design phase to agree upon a specification, which may result in an urgency for delivery once a design is finalized. This expertise enables RICO to efficiently manage the project from the completion of engineering to customer delivery in a matter of months as opposed to years. Mueller notes, “We have a very rapid manufacturing process for the custom-designed pieces of equipment and prototyping. It is our efficiency of the process that allows us to go through the first article testing, meet the requirements at a rapid rate and deliver the truck or the equipment to the customer in a short time.”
Mueller further elaborates on this process, “We reach the customer’s location, inspect the material to be moved, and observe how they are currently doing the job. We then provide improvements and suggestions and get to work.” With some defense customers, it might be a brand-new ship that is still in the design phase and has not been built yet. In such cases, RICO reviews the drawings and other mechanical designs with the engineers at the ship builder’s location. Most of the time, RICO reaches out to a project about three to five years before construction begins on a ship in the shipyard. This closely aligned partnership, throughout the project, allows RICO to help clients write, or review, a specification and identify improvements and efficiencies.
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We have a very rapid manufacturing process for the custom-designed pieces of equipment and prototyping
RICO Manufacturing has over four decades of experience developing custom material handling equipment, which sets the company apart from its competitors. With such rich industry expertise, the company offers quick turnaround time and accelerates its customers’ overall process. Such a capability is highly crucial in the market. The client may take years in the design phase to agree upon a specification, which may result in an urgency for delivery once a design is finalized. This expertise enables RICO to efficiently manage the project from the completion of engineering to customer delivery in a matter of months as opposed to years. Mueller notes, “We have a very rapid manufacturing process for the custom-designed pieces of equipment and prototyping. It is our efficiency of the process that allows us to go through the first article testing, meet the requirements at a rapid rate and deliver the truck or the equipment to the customer in a short time.”
Along with technical expertise, RICO also has a strong company culture with very low turnover. Mueller boasts, "We have specifically been working with the department of Defense for over three decades." Speaking of the future, RICO plans to double down on the relationships within the DOD and prime contractors, which has been one of the company's strengths.
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RICO Manufacturing
Company
RICO Manufacturing
Management
Dave Mueller, CEO and Steve Shuck, President & Kent Stelmasczuk, CFO
Description
RICO Manufacturing, a leading engineered material handling equipment manufacturer, offers custom-built application-specific vehicles for the Department of Defense (DoD). The company builds highly specialized lift trucks, pallet trucksand mobile forklifts for numerous manufacturing industries, including the US Army, Navy, and Air Force. RICO serves defense manufacturers by making products for the armed services directly, as well as through approved contractors. The company works collaboratively with clients to develop quality, customizable commercial solutions designed to lower ownership cost. RICO Manufacturing has over four decades of experience developing custom material handling equipment, which sets the company apart from its competitors
RICO Manufacturing News
Prioritizing Safety in Specialized & Challenging Conditions with RICO
RICO’s standard for excellence in the design, manufacturing and installation of trucks instills in us a responsibility to create the safest EX-rated lift trucks on the market today.
Certified, simple maintenance, clear operator visibility, and outstanding parts and service support are always tied to the creation of our trucks.
Our EX-rated trucks are available in various models and configurations. From pallet and counterbalanced trucks to straddle, reach, platform and tractor, our exacting specifications and adherence to all safety levels are what you have come to expect from RICO.
RICO recently announced an expansion of its EX-forklift conversion services, aligning with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards that require a third-party certification for approval. This initiative is vital for forklift dealers and end users to ensure these markings are labeled and visible to safely operate in environments with flammable vapors or dust.
RICO offers extensive EX industrial truck operational and maintenance training to ensure our end users can safely maintain their RICO products. We also offer a Compliance Inspection Program to ensure aging units still comply with all regulations and can operate safely in an EX-environment. An explosion-proof truck is a big investment, and we want to ensure our customers extend their return on investment on these units.
All our EX-rated lift trucks are built to the UL 583 specifications and are approved by Factory Mutual, a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). Every EX rated RICO truck is approved and labeled to operate in the following hazardous areas:
• Class 1, Division 1 & 2, Group D
• Class 2, Division 1 & 2, Group G
• Hazardous Environment