Ridg-U-Rak, inc

Family Owned Firm Marks 78 Years as ‘American Made, American Proud’ Storage Rack Solutions Leader

American Owned. American Made. American Proud. Those are the words that come to mind when describing Ridg-U-Rak, Inc., one of largest privately held storage rack and pallet rack providers in North America. Owned and operated by the Pellegrino family, Ridg-U-Rak is widely recognized for its innovative and quality rack products, as well as for its longstanding contributions to advancing manufacturing and career opportunities in northwest Pennsylvania (NWPA). With 320 employees, the company is one of the largest employers in North East, Pa., with three state-of-the-art locations, including two production facilities covering 160,000 square feet and a 5 1/2-acre warehouse and distribution center added in 2018. President and CEO John B. Pellegrino Sr., P.E., who leads the company with his two sons, John Jr. and Mark, attributes many factors for Ridg-U-Rak’s longevity and long-term success. “Family ownership coupled with a constant focus on building a customer-centric organization, lean operational principles, continuous reinvestment into the business, maintaining a strong financial position, and creating a highly positive atmosphere by taking care of our employees have all contributed to what Ridg-U-Rak is today.”

The American Dream

Ridg-U-Rak has been a staple in the NWPA business community since 1942 when it began producing industrial storage racking as part of the push to modernize America’s warehousing needs following World War II. At that time, there were virtually no companies like Ridg-U-Rak that existed, and even though it was limited in marketing and automation, the company had survival strengths that allowed it to grow. But the story of its growth and market position is really the story of the American Dream thanks to the dedicated and visionary leader Pellegrino, who joined the company as vice president of Sales and Engineering back in 1975. During the Great Depression, the Warren and Forest County native was inspired to become an engineer while watching his father and grandfather build the railways that would support the logging industry in rural Pennsylvania. One day, Pellegrino says he spotted an engineer, surveying the project and clearly standing out among the laborers in a suit and tie. At age 6, he knew it was the career for him. From there, he worked odd jobs and passionately pursued his studies to make his dream come true. “I’m a big believer in education but you have to have marketable skills,” Pellegrino says. “I couldn’t have managed my business without it.” After high school, Pellegrino served his country proudly in the Korean War before returning home ready to earn his degree in civil and structural engineering from Tri-State University in Indiana. From there, Pellegrino worked as a registered professional engineer for 14 years when opportunity came knocking at the little known North East, Pennsylvania company — Ridg-U-Rak, Inc. Although it was small in size, the company held big opportunities for Pellegrino to make a lasting mark. He was hired and soon became involved in all aspects of the company, from engineering and product design to development, marketing and sales. When the business became available, Pellegrino seized the chance to make it his own and never looked back.

He not only brought a new level of skills and innovation to the direction of Ridg-U-Rak, but also a commitment to building a culture of high operational integrity, a culture where employees embrace that philosophy and show it through their everyday actions. Pellegrino, who is the only local leader to be named chairman emeritus of the Manufacturer & Business Association, has earned respect and admiration from his family, his employees and his peers. “Even our competition has respect for Ridg-U-Rak, because of our integrity,” says Pellegrino. “Rule No. 1, the customer is always right. No. 2, when they are wrong, go back to rule No. 1. And, always remember: There is no job below you, and there is no free money.” It’s an unwavering sense of accountability, work ethic and integrity that has been passed down from one generation of the Pellegrino family to the next. Much like their father, Pellegrino’s sons have worked their way up through the company and have contributed to its long-term success. John Jr. is vice president of Manufacturing Operations, and Mark is vice president of Sales and Engineering. Also employed at Ridg-U-Rak is Pellegrino’s son-in-law, Tom Bohrer, a project engineer who has a P.E. in Mechanical Engineering and is in charge of the development and maintenance of Ridg-U-Rak’s state-of-the-art online quoting software platform. The platform is known to be the best in the storage solutions industry and allows Ridg-U-Rak to expeditiously provide fully engineered quotations for its products and services. Having such qualified and committed family members at Ridg-U-Rak is critical to the company’s future. “This level of experience and succession provides to all stakeholders a sense of long-term stability and enhanced confidence and trust that the partnership is one that remains intact for many years,” says Pellegrino. “I am comfortable leaving the company in their hands.”

Engineering and Quality Excellence

When it comes to where it stacks up against the competition, Ridg-U-Rak has certainly accomplished what others have not. The company creates in excess of 140 million pounds of rack each year with a broad distributor base covering all regions of the United States and a diverse mix of national accounts in both retail and industrial markets. For 78 years, Ridg-U-Rak has steadily and systematically built upon its engineering excellence by producing quality storage rack solutions utilized by many of the country’s most recognized big-box retailers, including Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Target, and manufacturing powerhouses such as Proctor & Gamble, Black & Decker, Boeing and Hershey Foods, just to name a few. The Pellegrinos and their highly skilled workforce have produced some of the most sophisticated engineering marvels in the storage industry. It is truly a sight to see in distribution centers that span upwards of 44 football fields filled with an intricate network of Ridg-U-Rak’s steel rack systems’ rising 30 to 45 feet high and supporting pallet loads of 35,000 to 40,000 pounds per rack bay (each one the weight of a motorhome).

At the heart of most Ridg-U-Rak pallet rack systems is its famous rollform column design. “Ridg-U-Rak’s unique 6-bend column profile is an optimized design, which offers a high performance solution for structural stability and efficient load carrying capacity,” Pellegrino explains. Ridg-U-Rak provides an unlimited array of storage options, such as deep and dense storage systems like Push-Back, Drive-In, and Pick Modules, or Narrow-Aisle and Deep-Reach systems. The company also provides small storage systems for pallet loads or hand-stacked cartons, and offers replacement parts that interchange with competitive racks. In addition, Ridg-U-Rak has complemented its core rack business in the areas of seismic isolation and rack protection guarding product lines. The Pellegrino Seismic Base Isolation System, for instance, is one of its most innovative solutions, proven to withstand the most powerful earthquake anticipated in the United States with little or no merchandise shedding or rack damage. Of course, quality is a given with all of Ridg-U-Rak’s products, and is one reason why it has so many loyal and repeat customers. “We firmly believe that product quality is not just a ‘one department’ responsibility, rather it begins with procurement of high-quality American made raw materials and continues through finished product installation,” explains Pellegrino. “Every department and person that touches the product along its journey contributes added quality; it is simply our culture.” Ridg-U-Rak employs more than 80 welders, and in conjunction with a local trade school, has implemented an in-house AWS Certified Welder program. The program ensures Ridg-U-Rak employees are the best trained and produce the highest quality of structurally proficient welds. “We are able to boast that 100 percent of our products are welded by AWS Certified Welders, a claim very few rack manufacturers can make,” says Pellegrino. “This provides our customers with peace of mind knowing they are purchasing well engineered products, made from >

Ridg-U-Rak is one of the largest pallet rack and storage rack manufacturers in North America, with an annual production capacity of more than 140 million pounds of storage rack. The privately held company is owned and operated by two generations of the Pellegrino family.

Headquarters:

120 South Lake Street North East, PA 16428 Phone: 866-479-7225 Website: www.ridgurak.com

the highest quality materials, by the best trained workers. Couple this with incredible customer service and competitive pricing and you end up with the best value in the industry.” Ridg-U-Rak has invested heavily in innovation and its facilities to stay ahead of the curve — including the latest rolling mill equipment, a total shop layout re-vamping, an automated beam manufacturing line, and a 600-foot-long state-of-the-art powder coating line, which not only improves product quality, but also the company’s environmental imprint by eliminating its liquid paint usage. “We have invested significant capital in every aspect of our plant operations, offices and warehouses,” says Mark Pellegrino. “Most recently, we invested in a new 240,000-square-foot logistics warehouse.” Ridg-U-Rak also continues to make investments in areas of its operations that help it streamline costs and improve the quality of its products. “Our investment in computer hardware and software technology has allowed our office staff to work remotely, in an effective and seamless manner during the current COVID-19 crisis,” says Pellegrino. “We have invested in lifting equipment in two key areas of our operations to aid our employees with heavy lifting of our product. These devices enforce our commitment to keeping our employees safe and continue to build a strong safety culture.”

Lasting Impact

When discussing its impact, Ridg-U-Rak is a tremendous example of the importance of manufacturing to America’s past, present and future. The company is one of the biggest buyers of steel in northwestern Pennsylvania, running in excess of 2.7 million pounds of steel a week, or 150 miles of roll steel product. “We have long-term relationships with the large steel producing mills, which provides critically important stability of our primary raw material supply chain,” Pellegrino states. Ridg-U-Rak is also an “essential” manufacturer, which has been fully operational throughout the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis of 2020. “We feel very fortunate to be part of essential supply chain industry, especially at this time of need,” explains Pellegrino. “We supply the storage solutions needed by both the industrial base of the supply chain and logistics industry and the large national retail store base that is critical for the life-sustaining activities needed by Americans every day during this crisis. These organizations are especially critical now,

but will be equally important during the recovery process. In addition, our employees are able to continue to provide for their families at the standard of living they are accustom without experiencing any undo financial hardship.” While Ridg-U-Rak is positively positioned to weather the storm of the COVID-19 crisis, the company recognizes there are major issues for the American economy that must be addressed. “Again, we feel fortunate to be in this industry, especially at this time of significant growth in e-commerce and logistics,” says Pellegrino, “However, given that America is experiencing an ‘eye-opening’ on the erosion of our manufacturing base and the ‘over-dependency’ we have on other countries for critical life-sustaining products, we do see the strong potential for a surge in manufacturing business investment to bring much of that back to America, along with many good-paying jobs and careers.” Pellegrino, for one, has always been a strong believer in the free enterprise system and has put a lot of pride — and value — in making products in America. “The free enterprise system is the engine that drives our economy. That’s what makes us the most powerful country in the world,” he says. “This is the only place in the world where, if you have the moral fabric, work ethics and modesty, you can achieve anything.” Ridg-U-Rak is integral to the community in which it operates and is proud to support local fire departments, animal shelters, schools, sports teams, food banks and charity auctions. The manufacturer also has been a major sponsor of the MBA’s Annual Event, the region’s premier business networking event, and yearly MFG Day celebration, the largest in the country, which educates students on the opportunities available in manufacturing careers. For Pellegrino, his family and Ridg-U-Rak team, manufacturing is truly a way of life. “Our country was built on the principles of entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and the freedom to pursue your dreams,” he says. “With this freedom and a willingness to work hard, manufacturing in the United States evolved as a primary foundation for success and became the envy of the world.” At Ridg-U-Rak, the Pellegrinos embrace this principle as they make their mark with each generation. “Over the years, our company has silently grown to be one of the major economic success stories of NWPA,” says Pellegrino, “and we are proud to offer some economic stability to our community, especially during such tough times as we are living in right now.” As he looks to the future, Pellegrino is a leader who knows what it takes to move ahead. “We are focused on our business one day at a time, especially during these times of crisis,” he says, “but with a keen eye to our future and a willingness to adjust and adapt, as the winds of change evolve as they have for many years.” “As General Douglas MacArthur once said,” Pellegrino continues, “ ‘ A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.’ ” For more information, visit www.ridgurak.com.