RUPES is a family owned and operated Italian company, founded in 1947 in Milan. Since its inception, RUPES’ commitment to product innovation and quality manufacturing has defined the company as a worldwide benchmark manufacturer of professional electric and pneumatic tools, accessory items and vacuum systems. Four production sites located within our headquarters near Milan and one in Houston, Texas, USA, as well as two wholly owned subsidiaries, one each in Germany and Netherlands, 60 Agents and Regional Sales Manager, and more than 70 authorized distributors worldwide ensure RUPES a widespread presence all over the world.
The focus on research and development has been the driving factor in the success of the company. Over the last years, RUPES has developed a wide number of patents and created several solutions, which have contributed to simplify today work and increasing performance.
Interview with Andrea Bruciaferri, Marketing Communication Specialist at RUPES.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Andrea Bruciaferri: RUPES designs, manufactures in-house and distributes professional tools, both electric and pneumatic, dust extraction systems, as well as consumables and accessories. The market in which RUPES became one of the main players is the treatment of painted surfaces in the automotive industry, both in car detailing and in the car body shops. From sanding to polishing, RUPES provides complete systems made of tools, accessories and consumables that are meant to be used together to achieve the best results.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
A.B: 2022 is being a very important year for RUPES. We launched on the market several new products in different categories. Starting from a completely new line of iBrid tools, including the HLR75 Mini Polisher and the HS Series Mini Sanders. The Innovative iBrid Technology allows the RUPES iBrid family of tools to be configured to run on either battery or corded power.
Recently, RUPES also introduced new polishing pads, such as the new D-A Microfiber Pads and WAFFLE Rotary Foam Pads, as well as UNO Advanced, Stand Alone Protection & Maintenance Polish.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
A.B: The range of RUPES products goes from professional tools, electric and pneumatic, to sanding and polishing consumables through a wide range of dust extraction systems.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
A.B: Detailers and body shop technicians are the professionals who mostly use our products. These markets have been growing exponentially in the last years due to new technologies and innovations.
Especially when we talk about car detailing, the detailer’s job was until a few decades ago known only in the USA and, to a lesser extent, in the UK. In recent years, however, it has also spread to Europe and Italy, significantly expanding the market and consequently the potential end users.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
A.B: In the last period, the trends in the professional tools market are definitely going towards battery tools. RUPES, on the other hand, does not offer only battery tools, but as mentioned previously, iBrid tools, which can also be used with power cord, leaving the user the choice of the most suitable power supply for each type of application.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
A.B: As RUPES, we are focusing our efforts more on two distinct product categories. As far as professional tools are concerned, we are increasingly developing our patented iBrid technology, which unlike normal battery tools, gives the possibility to use the tool both on battery and cable power thanks to the iBrid adapter. Furthermore, we are focusing on our consumables, including polishing compounds, polishes and polishing pads.