Meet Dan Cotrino of Rockwell Precision

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Cotrino.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My dad started the company in 1979 with the blessing of my mother. He had two partners and bought them out shortly after. My dad told me to never have a partner, especially family.

After he went solo, he purchased one machine and would take whatever work he could get his hands on. He would work for weeks at a time taking catnaps at work. He did whatever he could to keep going and eventually became successful at it. He kept buying machines and growing. He told me he could not believe he owned some of the equipment he dreamed about when he first immigrated to this country from Colombia. His English was pretty bad back then and he would tell me the people he dealt with would oftentimes make fun of him, but he did not care; as long as they gave him work and paid him.

I gave it a go after university since I did not have any plans at the time. I figured it would be a good way to start.

Now almost 23 years later, I do not regret my decision. I started myself on the shop floor learning how to machine parts and about tooling; anything I could to better myself and be in a position where I knew what I was talking about. I was thrown to the wolves one day when one of our machinists scrapped a rather substantial order. He had a nervous breakdown and ran out. I talked him into coming back and teaching me how to operate the machine he was on so I could at least finish the order that he left behind. I look back and laugh at that moment because he had a very bad Vietnamese accent and I was trying to write down everything he told me. I asked many questions and eventually finished the job. I kept running that machine learning from anyone that would teach me something. I have had some good people help me out and I owe them my good fortunes.

I ran machines for several years while running the day to day operations. At one time, my office was next to a big machine we purchased to get large format work. It was a huge gamble that paid off. I remember for almost two years we ran parts the size of shoe boxes on a machine that is able to accommodate a small car. It was disheartening at first, but like my father, I do not give up easily.

Fast forward to today and we have seven large machines and a variety of medium-sized machines. All of our work has always been thru word of mouth. We have not had to advertise in all of the years we have been in business. Recently, we have added a website to attempt to get some work other than oil and gas. We have been blessed many times over with the opportunities the U.S. has presented us. Both of my parents emigrated here and they love this country and in particular, Texas. We have traveled all over the world but always look forward to coming back home to Texas.

Has it been a smooth road?
Never smooth. Ups and downs of the oil industry. Staffing issues such as not enough experienced, qualified people.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are known for manufacturing medium to large format precision parts for primarily the oil and gas industry. We have ventured out to university/ government research and development as well as into the food industry and chemical industry.

I am proud that we have grown steadily and have done so without the need of credit. Everything is paid for. For the past three years, we have seen many of our competitors fall by the wayside. I too am proud that our vendors and customers trust us enough to pass our name around to their contacts.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Houston is a great place to start a manufacturing business. The talent pool is still pretty good. There is plenty of technical support, tooling, equipment, etc.

The infrastructure, however, is laughable. The roads are pretty much crap. We must purchase used street lights from Burma or something because they seem to always go out or are on timers. And the people that plan our roads should be asked to go back to engineering school. They still do not understand the concept of the placement of entry/ exit ramps.

Contact Info:

• Address: 8926 Solon Rd.
  Houston, TX 77064
• Website: rpitex.com
• Phone: 281.890.9331

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