Company mural commemorating RB Royal founder John Neumann   c 2002

1942 –

Company founded as Royal Brass Products Co. in Chicago by John W. Neumann Sr.  Read the complete story

Earliest known catalog.   c 1944

1945–

First location for the company is established at 1205 W. Berwyn Ave in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago storefront on Berwyn Ave.  c 1946

1946 –

John moves his family of five to Fond du Lac, WI. The basement of his home at 444 4th Street (see Fig. 1) serves as the company’s first manufacturing facility

1950 –

Original plant (3,000 sq. ft.) constructed at 442 Arlington Ave.

First Plant and Office (3,000 sq. ft.) Fond du Lac Wisconsin.  c 1950

1955 –

Carl Kiekhaefer, founder of Mercury Marine, is a frequent visitor to the company. His personal involvement in engineering and design regularly brings him to Royal Brass for product development options and solutions. Royal Brass provides product assistance on the famous Mercury Outboards Team’s high performance cars for NASCAR competition where they will dominate for a number of years in the 1950s.

Mercury Outboard NASCAR champion.  c 1955

1957 –

The company’s first automatic screw machines are purchased. Brass fittings are now manufactured at the Fond du Lac location.

First production machines. Left to right; George Kiesler, Bob McLain (first General Mgr.), John Neumann, Laverne Kinkel, Ralph Welsch (first plant superintendent)  c 1957

Bob McLain and John Neumann in Arlington Ave. office.  c 1957

1963 –

The company incorporates.

Custom products are now manufactured for a number of local and regional OEMs

1968–

Production tube bending and end forming capabilities are developed as MerCruiser stern drive engines require ‘hard’ tubing fuel lines.

production tube assemblies

1969 –

Building and land directly across Arlington Ave is acquired. This more than doubles plant capacity and allows the company to continue growing from its original location.

1973 –

John Neumann becomes sole owner of Royal Brass when he buys out his partner.

North Plant at 449 Arlington Ave c 1978 (25,000 sq. ft.)

1987 –

The company becomes RB Royal Industries, Inc. to better present the image of a diversified manufacturer.

1994 –

First degreed engineer hired. Professional engineering expertise is added to address increasing performance and quality requirements throughout industry.

1999 –

RB Royal receives ISO 9002 Certification. The company has retained its ISO certification continually since then. The certification registrar is ABS.

2000 –

LEAN ENTERPRISE is brought into the company as a core strategy for sustained competitiveness. Lean projects are initiated in the office as well as the plant.

2002 -

The company moves to a new 90,000 sq. ft. facility on 16 acres at 1350 South Hickory Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

RB Royal Industries current facility constructed in 2001.                         Photo c 2006

2003 -

ISO 9001:2000 Certification is received.

2004 -

Gross sales surpass $20 million for first time in company history.

2005 -

RB Royal mourns the passing of its founder, John W. Neumann Sr., at age 87.

2006 -

Wisconsin Business of the Year awarded to RB Royal Industries at Marian University’s Business and Industry Dinner.

2007 -

RB Royal invests $400,000 to upgrade ERP system for future growth.

2008 -

Six-sigma Green Belt Program is established for continual improvement.