West Virginia Executive Spring 2022 | Page 80

RCBI Helps West Virginia Manufacturers Through Pandemic

By Mike Friel

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of global supply chains — even within West Virginia . For manufacturers , the Robert C . Byrd Institute ( RCBI ) has proved critical in overcoming disruptions created by the pandemic and other factors .

Null ’ s Machine & Manufacturing in Huntington , WV , produces assemblies for a variety of industries , like military , mining , agriculture and construction . Greg Null has struggled to secure specialized insulators from his supplier . He requires the insulators to fulfill contracts with industrial clients such as Caterpillar , so he turned to RCBI for assistance .

An RCBI engineer reverse engineered the insulator by producing computer renderings and then printing a 3D mold to manufacture it from high-strength urethane . Null says RCBI ’ s assistance will enable him to fill orders in a timely fashion and reap financial savings of as much as 84 %.

Photo by Robert C . Byrd Institute .

Tad Robinette recently established his own metalworking business — Liberty Hill Company — after completing a machinist training course at RCBI . Robinette landed that critical first contract — producing 600 airflow diverters

FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT :

72

WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE