RPI

What RPI does

RPI Inc is a privately held, Racine, Wisconsin-based electronics contract manufacturer founded in 1986, operating from a single 25,000 sqft facility with an automated PCB assembly line and an in-house CNC machine shop. The company operates three service groups — Contract Manufacturing (PCB assembly, test, and mechanical enclosures), Connectivity and Cable Maintenance (custom cable and connector design), and Test Automation Services (production automation, test actuators, robotic interfaces, and inline temperature-controlled test stations) — and serves enterprise customers in commercial electronics, automotive electrification, rail, and green energy. Its customer base includes ABB, Continental, Delphi, TRW Automotive, Vitesco Technologies, Badger Meter, and Nordco.

The company differentiates through specialized high-current (600A–1200A) connectivity and test solutions targeted at the eV/HV powertrain and motor driver markets. Its proprietary innovation portfolio includes the patented AirSwitch™ air cylinder-actuated high-current switch with self-annealing contact coatings rated for >100,000 actuations, the ESS Inline System™ for continuous frost-free PCBA temperature testing from -40°C to +85°C, the Switch Rack cart-based burn-in system, custom motor-driver test cabling, and dedicated test actuators and fixtures. Revenue is generated through project-based manufacturing contracts, build-to-print and custom design services, and sale of these proprietary test products, with quotes issued within 48 hours and pricing structured around multi-year engagements.

Go-to-market is a direct enterprise field-sales motion with no external investors, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding. The company is led by President Roger Perry and positions itself as a "can do" specialist for small lot sizes and design/redesign challenges — a niche orientation that is both its differentiation and its scale constraint relative to tier-1 EMS providers.

Name

RPI

Legal name

RPI Inc

Website

https://rpiincorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RPI Inc is a Racine, Wisconsin-based electronics contract manufacturer specializing in PCB assembly, custom cable/connector design, and high-current (600A–1200A) test automation for the eV/HV and motor driver markets. It serves enterprise customers across automotive, rail, and green energy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Racine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: PCB assembly, testing, enclosure fabrication, and machining services. Revenue generated through project-based manufacturing contracts with pricing based on complexity and volume.
2. Connectivity and Cable Maintenance Services: Design, assembly, and test of cable products. Includes build-to-print services, custom cable and connector design, and maintenance programs with periodic refurbishment or replacement.
3. Test Automation Solutions: Specialized design services for production automation, test actuators, workstation design, and robotic interfaces. Includes design of inline temperature-controlled test stations and high current/high voltage test equipment.
4. Proprietary Innovation Products: Sale of proprietary products including AirSwitch™ technology, ESS Chambers, Inline PCB Test Stations, and Test Actuators & Fixtures with their patented technologies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

RPI Inc is a full-service electronics contract manufacturer providing PCB assembly, mechanical enclosure fabrication, cable and connector design, and production test automation services. The company specializes in high current connectivity solutions (600A-1200A) and test automation for eV/HV powertrain and motor driver markets, with proprietary products including AirSwitch™ technology, ESS Inline System™ temperature testing, and custom test actuators and fixtures.

Product overview

RPI is a full-service electronics contract manufacturer offering three core service groups: Contract Manufacturing (PCB assembly, test, and enclosures), Connectivity and Cable Maintenance (cable and connector design), and Test Automation Services. The company also maintains an extensive innovations portfolio including patented AirSwitch™ Technology for high-current switching, ESS Inline System™ for temperature testing, custom high-current connectors, and burn-in rack solutions. RPI specializes in high current connectivity and test automation solutions, particularly for eV/HV and motor driver markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contract Manufacturing Full-service contract manufacturing for printed circuit board assembly and mechanical enclosures, including SMT and through-hole capabilities, enclosure fabrication, CNC machining, and quality inspection, marketed to enterprise electronics manufacturers needing high-quality short lead-time production.
• Connectivity and Cable Maintenance (CCM) Design, assembly, and testing of cable products including build-to-print cables, custom cable design, custom connector design, and periodic maintenance programs aimed at resolving chronic connectivity issues in production environments.
• Test Automation Services Specialized design services for production automation including test actuators, workstation design, robotic interfaces, and inline temperature-controlled test stations for high current and high voltage applications.
• AirSwitch™ Technology Air cylinder-actuated high-current switch technology featuring low contact resistance, self-annealing coating that decreases resistance over time, rated for minimum 100,000 actuations, supporting 600A in production and 900-1200A solutions available.
• Custom Connectors Custom-designed high-current connectors and motor-driver test cabling solutions eliminating chronic connectivity issues, available from 600A to 1200A with individual pins easily serviced and compatible with robotic interfaces.
• ESS Inline System™ (Inline PCB Test Stations) Patented dual-evaporator-based continuous frost-free PCBA temperature testing system operating from -40 to +85°C with modular, customizable design and air-curtain temperature chamber isolation.
• ESS Chambers and Racks (Switch Rack) Cart-based burn-in test system with air-actuated door bladder and automatic interface connectors, supporting high current versions from 600-1200A using AirSwitch™ technology.
• Test Actuators & Fixtures Manual, semi-automatic, and robot-enabled test actuators and workstations for high-power applications including dual-axis rollover protection systems, specializing in eV/HV inverter and DC/DC converter module testing.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Benchmark Electronics: Global EMS serving industrial, aerospace/defense, medical, and automotive markets with engineering, PCBA, and test services. Comparable business model and end-market mix to RPI, though at substantially greater scale and with global manufacturing footprint.
• Creation Technologies: Mid-market EMS specializing in complex, high-reliability electronics for industrial, medical, and automotive customers — a close analog to RPI's niche, mid-volume contract manufacturing positioning.
• Plexus Corp: Mid-size EMS focused on complex PCBA and electromechanical systems for industrial, automotive, and healthcare customers. Overlaps with RPI on contract manufacturing and test capabilities, and similarly targets high-mix, low-to-medium volume programs.
• Feinmetall: Manufacturer of test probes, contact pins, and interface solutions for PCBA test — comparable to RPI's custom high-current connector and cabling offerings for production-test applications.
• Cohu (ECT / Everett Charles Technologies): Supplier of test contactors, handlers, and interface solutions for semiconductor and PCBA test — directly adjacent to RPI's proprietary switch and connector products serving production-test applications.
• Kimball Electronics: Mid-market US-headquartered EMS provider serving automotive, industrial, and medical markets with PCBA, cable assemblies, and test services — directly comparable to RPI's three core service lines but at meaningfully larger scale.
• Ingun: German-headquartered specialist manufacturer of test fixtures, probes, and contact solutions for PCBA testing. Highly comparable to RPI's test automation and custom connector offerings serving electronics production-test customers.
• APCT: US-based PCB manufacturer focused on quick-turn, high-mix production runs — directly comparable to RPI's contract manufacturing service line, particularly for small lot sizes and prototype-to-production programs.

Broad incumbents

• National Instruments (NI): Major provider of automated test equipment and measurement platforms used across electronics production-test environments. RPI's test automation services address adjacent customer needs with a more specialized, custom-engineered approach.
• Sanmina: Large global EMS with broad end-market exposure including automotive and industrial. Provides similar PCBA and cable/connector services to RPI but as part of a much wider portfolio and at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 RPI