| GREENHOUSE GROWER (MAY 2004) |
Rough Brothers, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH, has made huge strides in greenhouse engineering and manufacturing in the last 20 years, and further still since it was established in 1932. Judging by the physical expansion of its headquarters alone, since 1983 (pictured above), the greenhouse manufacturer has grown exponentially, along with the rest of the floriculture industry over the last two decades.
Twenty years ago, Rough Brothers' product line was primarily standard glass and polyethylene film greenhouse structures. Today, the company offers the broadest product line in its history - everything from a simple shade structure to technologically advanced open roof glass and poly structures. Rough Brothers has evolved into an engineering/design-to-order manufacturer with capabilities in place to build any number of structures using any number of coverings: glass, polycarbonate, film, and more. Rough Brothers also offers heating, shading, cooling, benching, ventilation, and irrigation systems.
Its product line evolution is evident in the number of customers Rough Brothers has attracted, increasing its client base by 100%. Twenty years ago, Rough Brothers was working on approximately fourty to fifty projects per year. In 2003, it is scheduled for 400 to 500 projects.
Technology Breakthrough
Just as the computer has turned the rest of the world upside down and completely revolutionized the way every company does business, so has the computer been the single biggest development incorporated into Rough Brothers Inc. within the last 20 years. With computers on every single desk and throughout its production facilities, Rough Brothers' president Richard Reilly estimates that before long, every one of Rough's job sites will require computerization.
"We use computers to assist in design, engineering, estimating, material controls, and several other aspects of our day-to-day operations," Reilly says. "We use them on projects from inception through completion. Computers have made us far more efficient. They have helped to improve our accuracy and detail with design projects and have given us a far greater overall design capacity."
Keys To Longevity
A company of great history and integrity, Rough Brothers attributes its success over the years to its commitment to building the highest quality environments in which growers can produce superior crops. That commitment shines through in its team members and employees at every level, who live by the company's mission statement: "Rough Brothers is committed to building the world's greatest places for plants. To accomplish this, the company is committed to reaching new, measurable levels of operational excellence and customer satisfaction," Reilly says.
"The rewards of our success will be unparalleled value created for our customers, profit sharing for our employees, and substantial growth for our company as we identify and meet the ongoing needs of the industry," he says. "We believe that we attract and retain the best people in the industry."
Rough Brothers Profile
Year Founded: 1932
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Phone: 513-242-0310
Fax: 513-242-0816
