The RAPA site in Auburn/USA celebrates its 10th anniversary
The RAPA plant in Auburn in the US state of Alabama has now been in existence for ten years. RAPA LP, founded in May 2012 as a 100 percent subsidiary of the RAPA Automotive division, was the first foreign subsidiary of the medium-sized group of companies headquartered in Germany. Since its founding, RAPA LP has been servicing a fixed customer base in North America and at the same time is involved in development projects worldwide via the parent company.
On May 5, 2022, the success story will be toasted at the Auburn plant. All U.S. employees will take part in the celebration, as will German colleagues, executives and board members who will be on site as part of the spring strategy meeting.
“Also invited are representatives of the city of Auburn, which gave RAPA a very warm welcome ten years ago,” says Dr. Roman Pausch. On the occasion of the anniversary, the CEO of RAPA Holding recalls the founding of the company in May 2012: it took place because it allowed the company to supply the North American production facilities of customers in the automotive industry more quickly.
Customized developments for the automotive future
The U.S. plant is headed by Carmen Jordan as CEO. Jordan works closely with the company’s headquarters in Germany to develop strategic innovations for customers who are among the market leaders in the future market of electromobility and autonomous driving. RAPA LP currently has annual sales of nearly $45 million and employs 120 people. Women make up 43 percent of the team. Approximately $18 million was invested in the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with laboratory and validation center on 77,000 sq. ft. (7,200 sq. m.) in Auburn. The foundation stone was laid in December 2012, and production began in early 2014.
“We embrace a strong focus on quality in Auburn, modeled after our German origin, combined with the service culture made in the USA. We enable customer-specific developments and production of components for chassis and transmission and offer our customers in North America fast accessibility and direct contact persons nearby.”
Quality for premium brands
RAPA Automotive, including its US subsidiary, serves premium brands from the automotive industry as well as major suppliers. The most important customers of the production in Auburn include first-tier suppliers and manufacturers such as Stellantis, Audi, Tesla, Vibracoustic and ZF. The global product portfolio focuses on pneumatic and hydraulic chassis and transmission components and complete systems for passenger cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles.
Customers benefit from technically advanced valve blocks and residual pressure holding valves for air suspension, electric valves for shifting and control, and damper valve technology for electronic damper systems. RAPA LP has also been manufacturing the HIS® spring piston accumulator, required for the start-stop function of combustion engine cars, since 2015. It is one of RAPA’s biggest success projects; in July 2021, the 10 millionth HIS rolled off the production line.
RAPA: german „Mittelstand“ (Medium-sized business)
RAPA LP is part of the RAPA Automotive division. Under a holding company, the medium-sized RAPA group of companies also combines two other business units: RAPA Healthcare and RAPA Industry. RAPA is a globally recognized engineering and technology partner as well as a system supplier for valves and complete mechatronic solutions in the automotive, healthcare and industry markets – and has been for over 100 years.
In addition to the headquarters in Selb/Bavaria and the production in Auburn, RAPA is represented by a sales office in China. There, a production facility for air spring valve blocks is being built in Jintan/Jiangsu province by 2024. RAPA currently employs around 1,000 people worldwide.
RAPA LP
RAPA Limited Partnership (LP) was founded in May 2012 in the USA and currently employs 120 people. The company is headquartered in Auburn/Alabama. RAPA LP is a 100 percent subsidiary of the automotive division of RAPA Holding, based in Germany. The family-owned company was founded in 1920 in Selb, Bavaria. This is where RAPA’s headquarters are located. In addition to the automotive sector, the engineering and technology company serves customers in the industrial and healthcare sectors.
RAPA Automotive, including its US subsidiary, serves premium brands in the automotive industry as well as leading first-tier suppliers. Key customers of the team in Auburn include Stellantis, Audi, Tesla, Vibracoustic and ZF. In the USA, the product portfolio focuses on pneumatic and hydraulic components. Customers benefit from technically advanced valve blocks and residual pressure holding valves for air suspension, electric valves for shifting and control, and damper valve technology for electronic damper systems. RAPA LP also manufactures the HIS® spring piston accumulator, required for the start-stop function of combustion engine cars.
RAPA LP currently has annual sales of nearly $45 million and is led by Carmen Jordan as CEO. RAPA’s holding company is headed by Dr. Roman Pausch, great-grandson of the company’s founder August Pausch, and Karin Wolf. In May 2022, they looked back on ten successful years in America.
RAPA Group
RAPA SE is the holding company – the strategic umbrella – of the medium-sized RAPA Group. The operative business is located in the subsidiaries RAPA Automotive, RAPA Healthcare and RAPA Industry. RAPA is a globally recognized engineering and technology partner as well as a system supplier for pneumatic and hydraulic valves and complete mechatronic solutions in the automotive, healthcare and industry markets – and has been for over 100 years. Dr. Roman Pausch heads the family-owned company in dual leadership with Karin Wolf. RAPA generated sales of over 170 million euros in 2020. In addition to its headquarters in Selb, Bavaria, RAPA is represented by subsidiaries in North America and China. RAPA currently employs around 1000 people worldwide.
For more information, visit www.rapa.com