Ripi Precision Company Inc. located in Farmingdale, New York, is a prime example of what happens when you mix old world craftsmanship and modern technology. Ripi is named after a small village in southern Italy, birthplace of founder Mike Perciballi. The family-owned business in operation since 1976, Ripi supplies leading aerospace companies with precision machined parts for a variety of aircraft including the Boeing 777, Gulfstream IV and the Falcon 50. Perciballi has combined his know-how, work ethic, commitment to customer satisfaction, and willingness to take risks to build a successful and dynamic aerospace job shop.

Due to a variety of circumstances, the aerospace supplier community has experienced a significant lull in business, but you wouldn't know that by making a visit to Ripi Precision. Ripi is currently in the middle of a major expansion, substantially increasing the size of their facility and adding new CNC and inspection equipment.

Ripi's custom, automated quotation part tracking, and inventory control software would be the envy of any fortune 500 IT manager.

During a tour of the shop, Perciballi picks up a freshly machined aircraft component and points out the smooth corners and the mirror-like finish. Perciballi explains that his aim is to exceed customers' expectations in terms of quality, while at the same time, being as efficient as possible.

With the precision of a Ferrari driver, Perciballi has carefully managed the growth of Ripi, hiring skilled workers, monitoring backlog and inventory, and using capital wisely. He also has a willingness to think big and take measured risks. An example of this is when, at a time Ripi had but one CNC machine, they invested $40,000 in NCL and related software. The decision paid off and six years later Ripi has over a dozen CNC machines, and continues to invest in the latest CAD/CAM technology.

Rich Faustini, CNC programmer states, "We like to do things our own way. NCL provides the power and flexibility to machine the part our own way, not simply relying on canned functions. By using the family of parts capability, I was able to cut down the programming time substantially. After programming the initial part, I copied the geometry file, changed certain dimensions, and programmed a similar part in much less time. I also created several macros to machine pockets and cut smooth corners, which has enabled us to cut costs and increase productivity."

A recent addition to Ripi's technological trove is VX, a parametric solid and surface modeler, which is directly linked to NCL. "Design and engineering companies have been employing solid modeling for several years now. But we don't design parts, we make what our customers design. We needed a modeling package that would allow us to import and use our customers' models as well as create models from blue print data. VX is a hybrid modeler, which means we can import native CATIA models. In addition to importing geometry, VX also allows us to quickly create 3D models from blue print data", says Faustini.

Ripi also acquired NCL/IPV (In-Process-Verification) software. After creating an STL model in VX, the NC program is verified using NCL/IPV where the cut part can be compared to the STL model. This process ensures the accuracy of the program and eliminates any collisions that may occur at the machine. Using a combination of VX, NCL, and NCL/IPV has brought Ripi continued success by improving efficiency and quality.

Like a fine tuned Ferrari, the NCL and VX combination gives Ripi the horsepower to take on the most challenging jobs. And with Perciballi at the wheel, Ripi will continue to navigate with skill the cyclical and competitive aerospace suppliers market.