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| JAMES A. BUECHEL
Jim Buechel started the business on
February 17, 1958. On that date, as
then president Dwight D. Eisenhower
faced a lackluster economy, there
was talk of implementing a tax cut
to spur the economy. Not exactly
the kind of talk one would want to
hear when launching a new business
enterprise. But Jim moved forward
with his dream and began the Rotary
Broom Refilling Service Company. The
company re-bristled brooms for road
and street sweepers. Originally from
Detroit, Jim selected Columbus, Ohio
because it was a defense procurement
center and he had a vision of getting involved in that arena.
In a classic case of being in the right place at the
right time, his vision took off beyond
his wildest dreams and the little
broom shop morphed into a precision
machine operation. By the mid-sixties the federal
government comprised about 75% of
the company's business. Business was
good. Life was good.
Then came the mid-seventies and
business conditions dictated that it was
time for change. Jim, and his sons Chris and Gary,
explored various avenues, and were
introduced to an interesting product,
seals for dock doors. Three decades later RPI has become and
important source for all types of loading dock equipment. |
