Letchworth-based RA Rodriguez, a supplier of precision engineering components to UK and European manufacturers, is celebrating 50 years in business.

From the start, R. A. Rodriguez (www.rarodriguez.co.uk) has chosen products with a unique edge and underpinned this with quality technical advice and applications support.

One of its most important relationships is with Kaydon — now an SKF Group brand.

It was central to the establishment of RA Rodriguez in the UK in 1968, and the enduring success of this partnership has led the company to represent Kaydon interests in Europe, with Turkey now a significant market for both companies.

RA Rodriguez also acts as the exclusive representative of several component manufacturers from Europe, the USA and Japan, all approved to the latest ISO9001 and AS9120 quality standards.

These include stock gear manufacturer KHK and Framo Morat, which makes planetary gears and drives.

While long-term relationships with linear-drive manufacturers such as IEF Werner now come under the remit of RARUK Automation (a sister company formed in 2016 to concentrate on robotics and automation), RA Rodriguez continues to be home to Grob linear chain devices in the UK and also the Rodriguez brand of rotary and linear bearings, manufactured by its counterpart in Germany.

Managing director Peter Williamson said: “This is an important year for RA Rodriguez — and not just because we have reached this milestone. We have recently opened a dedicated demonstration facility for RARUK Automation in a separate unit close to our current premises.”