Rico

What Rico does

RICO - Precision Ideas designs and manufactures precision sheet metal processing machines from its headquarters and main facility in Foz do Sousa, Gondomar, Portugal. The company was founded in 1969 by Tomás Castro Silva, with the RICO brand established in 1976, and operates today as RICO - Tomás Castro Silva, LDA, a privately held Portuguese limited liability company. RICO is a vertically integrated industrial equipment OEM with two core product families: hydraulic and electric-servo press brakes (PRCN, PRCB, PRCE lines, with the new PRCN C-LINE hybrid) and HGR guillotine shears. It layers onto these an automation portfolio that includes PR-CELL robotic bending cells, the ATC and ATC TWIN automatic tool changers (where a single tool magazine can serve two machines), and the HGR Matic automated cutting line. A proprietary software stack — MBEND for offline bending simulation, MROBOT for offline robot programming, and RiCut PRO for HGR Matic control — is sold with machines or independently.

The company monetizes primarily through one-time hardware sales of configured capital equipment, supplemented by software licensing, lifetime training, technical support, and customization services. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, with multi-year contracts and no public price list; machines span 30 to 1,500 tons of pressing force with extensive optional equipment, automation, and dimensional customization. RICO goes to market through enterprise field sales combined with a network of authorized distribution partners in 25+ countries across Europe (Germany, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, France, etc.), the Americas (USA, Brazil), Asia (Korea, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Israel, Kuwait), Oceania (Australia), and Africa (Egypt), and uses major international trade shows — EuroBLECH, BIEMH, EMAF, MSV, STOM-TOOL, SIMTOS, FEIMEC, Blechexpo — as primary demand-generation channels.

Customers are horizontally distributed across metalworking-intensive verticals: metallurgy, construction, engineering, agricultural equipment, automotive, sustainable energy, and aerospace/aeronautics. RICO holds ISO 9001 quality certification, complies with EU Machinery Directive safety standards and GDPR, and is marketed as a 45+ year-old family-owned reference brand for high-segment industrial customers in reference companies with high standards. Geographic mix of business is heavily Europe-skewed (86% Europe, 8% Asia, 6% Americas), and the company has disclosed no public revenue, headcount, funding events, or M&A activity.

Name

Rico

Legal name

RICO - Tomás Castro Silva, LDA

Website

https://rico.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RICO is a Portuguese manufacturer of precision sheet metal processing machinery, producing hydraulic and electric-servo press brakes, guillotine shears, robotic bending cells, and automatic tool changers for global metalworking, construction, engineering, automotive, energy, and aerospace customers across 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Sheet Metal Processing Machinery

NAICS

Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351)

SIC

Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540), Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

Keywords

• Sheet metal machinery
• Press brake equipment
• Guillotine shears
• Metalworking automation
• Industrial bending machines

Headquarters

HQ city

Gondomar

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Sales: Sale of high-precision press brakes and guillotine shears for sheet metal processing. Products include hydraulic and electric servo bending machines, robotic cells, and automatic tool changers. Sales are project-based with custom configurations per customer requirements.
2. Software Licensing: Offline software packages (MBEND, MROBOT) included with machines or sold separately for programming and simulation of bending and robotic operations.
3. Technical Support and Training: Lifetime free training for customers plus immediate technical intervention and support services for machine maintenance and optimization.
4. Customization Services: Customization and configuration of standard models including dimensional changes and optional equipment selection for specific customer applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RICO designs, manufactures, and sells precision sheet metal processing machinery — primarily hydraulic and electric-servo press brakes (PRCN, PRCB, PRCE), guillotine shears (HGR series), and integrated robotic automation cells (PR-CELL, HGR Matic) with automatic tool changers (ATC & ATC TWIN). The company also provides proprietary offline simulation and control software (MBEND, MROBOT, RiCut PRO), plus customization, technical support, and training services for industrial metalworking customers worldwide.

Product overview

RICO manufactures precision sheet metal processing machines with two core product lines: Press Brakes (PRCN hydraulic, PRCB hydraulic CNC, PRCE electric servo) and Guillotine Shears (HGR series). The product portfolio includes add-on automation modules (PR-CELL robotic cells, ATC/ATC TWIN automatic tool changers, HGR Matic automated cutting systems) and proprietary offline software (MBend for bending simulation, MRobot for robot programming, RiCut PRO for HGR Matic control). All products are configurable and supported by after-sales service, customization, and technical support services. RICO serves global markets including metallurgy, construction, engineering, agriculture, energy, automotive, aerospace, naval, and military sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RiCut PRO: Control software developed by RICO for managing the HGR Matic automated cutting system
• MBend
• MROBOT

Products and services

• PRCN Hydraulic Press Brake High-performance hydraulic bending machine with robustness, precision, and repeatability; features the H-Box Frame structure, Triple-Guide, and Swaybend systems for low deflection and superior bending quality. Targeted at industrial metalworking manufacturers requiring precision sheet metal bending.
• PRCB Hydraulic Press Brake Highly configurable hydraulic CNC bending machine that adjusts to different optional equipment, delivering above-average performance and versatility for varied production needs. Targeted at manufacturers needing flexible bending solutions.
• PRCE Electric Press Brake Fully servo-electric bending machine featuring the SYNCHRO Servo-Electric system with Direct-Drive motors, ball screws, and planetary gearbox, delivering extremely short cycle times, high competitiveness, efficiency, and low energy consumption. Targeted at industrial users seeking high-productivity electric bending.
• PR-CELL Robotic Bending Cell Independent automated bending cell integrating feeding, handling, and palletizing with robotics; allows offline programming for small-batch production without interrupting the machine. Targeted at manufacturers automating bending operations.
• ATC & ATC TWIN Automatic Tool Changer Automatic tool changer system for bending machines that automates tool changes, increases production flexibility, controls setup, and reduces positioning errors. The TWIN configuration allows a single tool magazine to serve two different bending machines of different tonnage, length, or type. Targeted at high-mix production environments.
• HGR Guillotine Shears Guillotine shears distinguished by unique dynamic structural behavior and superior sheet metal cutting quality; features a vertical cutting system for vibration-free, silent operation with adjustable angle based on material type and thickness. Targeted at industrial sheet metal cutting operations.
• HGR Matic Automated Cutting System Integrated automation solution combining loading, feeding, cutting, separation, and palletizing systems for guillotine shears; fully autonomous and managed by RiCut PRO software, reducing manual intervention by more than 90% and designed for Industry 4.0 environments. Targeted at high-volume sheet metal cutting operations.
• MBEND Offline Simulation Software

Quantifiable outcome

• Structural deflection reduced by 60% with H-Box Frame technology
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Inte Maszyny Sp. z o.o.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner in Poland. Participates together with RICO at STOM-TOOL exhibitions in Kielce, one of Europe's leading industry exhibitions with over 600 exhibitors and 19,000 visitors annually.
• Blecken ExpertscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner in Spain. Collaborated with RICO at BIEMH 2024 in Bilbao, presenting the PRCE electric press brake with latest innovations and efficiency improvements.
• Rico MáquinascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrazilian distribution partner supporting RICO's presence at FEIMEC, the largest trade show in Latin America for machines and equipment with 700 exhibitors and 65,000 visitors.
• Hezinger MaschinencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman partner that presented RICO solutions at Blechexpo 2025, an international trade fair for sheet metal working in Stuttgart, Germany.
• HK Lasers & SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for Asian markets. Participated together at SIMTOS 2024, the largest manufacturing technology exhibition in South Korea with over 1,300 exhibitors and 100,000 visitors. Also partnered for SIMTOS 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prima Power: Italian-Finnish producer of sheet metal working machinery including press brakes, shears, and integrated automation cells. Comparable product portfolio and customer focus on industrial sheet metal fabricators.
• Salvagnini: Italian manufacturer of panel bending machines, press brakes, and flexible manufacturing cells for sheet metal. Closely comparable to RICO in scope of bending equipment and factory automation offerings.
• LVD Group: Belgian manufacturer of press brakes (including hybrid and electric), guillotine shears, and laser cutting machines. Direct peer in press brake and shear product lines with similar mid-market European industrial customer base.
• Baykal Makina: Turkish manufacturer of press brakes, shears, and laser cutting machines. Comparable product line with strong export presence in similar markets to RICO, often positioned at competitive price points.
• Durma: Turkish manufacturer of press brakes, hydraulic and electric, plus guillotine shears and laser cutters. Comparable product mix targeting similar metalworking customers, often competing on price-performance.
• Bystronic: Swiss-headquartered global manufacturer of press brakes and sheet metal cutting systems with integrated automation and software. Direct competitor to RICO across hydraulic and electric press brakes and guillotine/shear cutting solutions.
• Haco Atlantic: Belgian-based manufacturer of press brakes, guillotine shears, and plate processing machinery with global distribution. Closely comparable mid-sized European competitor to RICO.

Broad incumbents

• Amada: Japanese global manufacturer of sheet metal machinery including press brakes, shears, and laser systems. Broad incumbent competing with RICO across multiple product categories and geographies.
• TRUMPF: German global leader in machine tools, laser technology, and sheet metal fabrication including press brakes. Significantly larger and broader portfolio than RICO, but overlapping in bending and automation segments.
• Mitsubishi Laser / MC Machinery Systems: North American arm of Mitsubishi's machinery business, offering press brakes, lasers, and automation for sheet metal. Overlaps with RICO in bending and factory automation for industrial fabricators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-Cl_EkCmBcj5OkIm22ogRw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ricoportugal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ricoportugal

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rico