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History
OUR FOUNDATION
Roll-Rite Corporation was incorporated in 1991. Prior to that date, the company was known as Custom Steel Fabrication. Custom Steel Fabrication was founded in 1978 by Timothy and Marlane Searfoss and occupied a 1248 square foot building in Alger, Michigan. As the name implies, the company first specialized in the fabrication of custom metal products.
After the passage of the Michigan tarp law in 1989, many local dump truck operators came to Tim and asked him to build a tarping system that worked better than the systems available on the market at that time. Tim accepted the challenge and designed a system that overcame many of the limitations of those other systems. Features such as the direct drive gear motor and tension bow were innovative enough to earn U.S. patents.
TODAY
Roll-Rite is proud to be A Safe Fleet Brand serving the tarp system and safety solution needs of customers in construction, agriculture, refuse and recycling markets. Learn more about Roll-Rite becoming a Safe Fleet brand here.
MILESTONES
1978: Founded in Alger, Michigan
Roll·Rite origins began as a family business known as Custom Steel Fabrication in Alger Michigan which specialized in fabrication of custom metal products.
1989: Engineering A Better Tarp System
After Michigan's 1989 tarp law, area dump truck operators asked what would become Roll·Rite to build a tarping system that worked better than other systems on the current market. Challenge accepted. A system was designed that overcame limitations of other systems. Roll·Rite direct drive gear motor and tension bow were innovative enough to earn U.S. patents.
1991: Roll·Rite Inc
Roll-Rite became incorporated in 1991 and was awarded their first tarp system patent.
1995: Manufacturing
Roll-Rite became leading tarp system manufacturer dedicated to manufacturing only tarp system products.
1997: In-House Tarp Fabrication
Tarp quality became a problem in 1996. By 1997, Roll-Rite began sewing tarps using premium fabrics and mass production techniques.
2001: In-House Gear Production
After outgrowing suppliers, Roll-Rite began producing gears by early 2001 in a new 12,000 sq ft machine shop increasing manufacturing facility to 53,000 sq ft. The ability to blank, hobb, and heat-treat gears lowered costs and dramatically improved product quality.
2004: Roll·Rite
Roll·Rite became Roll·Rite, LLC.
2014: Relocation
Relocated to 68,000 sq ft facility in Gladwin, MI. Read more here.
2016: Roll·Rite Acquisition
Roll-Rite acquired Automatic Load Cover in Torrington, Connecticut.
2017: Roll·Rite Acquisition
Roll-Rite acquired Pulltarps Manufacturing. Read more here.
2017: New Service Center
Roll-Rite added a service and distribution center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
2018: Roll·Rite Acquired by Safe Fleet
Safe Fleet, a leading global provider of safety and productivity solutions for fleet vehicles, is pleased to announce it has acquired the Roll-Rite group of companies. Read more here.