IPEG acquires Republic Machine

IPEG, Inc., based in Cranberry Township, PA, with sales in more than 120 countries, has acquired Republic Machine, Louisville, KY, a leader in the design and manufacturing of single-shaft shredding machinery in North America. IPEG CEO Chris Keller made the announcement. IPEG, a private company, did not disclose the terms of the transaction. 

IPEG is the parent company of Rapid Granulator, AB, Bredaryd, Sweden, and The Conair Group, headquartered in Cranberry. Keller said IPEG intends to operate the company as a division of Rapid Granulator, maintaining the Republic Machine brand and retaining Republic’s management, including founder George Sotsky. Republic shredders will be sold in North America through existing Republic distribution channels and globally through Rapid and Conair. 

“We’re very excited about this announcement,” said Kirk Winstead, CEO of Rapid.  “Our two organizations share many core beliefs – we have similar beginnings and share a passion for meeting the real needs of our customers through the strengths of an entrepreneurial culture. One of the goals for IPEG and Rapid Granulator is to be the global leader in the overall size-reduction market and this acquisition is an important step to realizing that vision.”

Republic sells a full line of single-shaft shredders used in a wide range of size-reduction and recycling applications involving plastic, wood, carpeting, rubber and medical waste. The company holds several patents. These include the modular Split-A-Part shredder design, which makes it easy to clean and maintain the shredder, and the Zoidal cutting system that prevents film and fiber scrap from wrapping around the rotor, reduces cutter wear and allows for tighter cutting tolerances. 

Winstead says the Republic shredder product line complements Rapid’s granulator offering. 

“This acquisition allows us to expand beyond plastics scrap reclaim and into the broader recycling market. It means that our customers can now satisfy virtually all of their size-reduction needs through a single source,” he explained.

Republic Welding Company was founded in 1911 in Louisville, Kentucky and was purchased in 1970 from its founder by George Sotsky and Jim Steedly.  Over the next 30 years, Steedly, a metallurgical engineer and Sotsky, an electrical engineer and former engineering manager at the U.S. Naval Ordnance facility, expanded the Republic Welding Family to four companies employing over 250 people – all of which are in business today.  

The original goal of developing a company rooted in engineering and innovation was realized and many successes were achieved in remanufacturing for the surface mining industry, the steel industry and NASA.  That same spirit was integral to the founding of Republic Machine and continues to this day with the production of North America’s most innovative industrial shredders.

“At IPEG, we’re committed to building a portfolio of the most admired brands in the global plastics industry” CEO Chris Keller said. “The acquisition of Republic Machine, and the combination of Rapid Granulator’s and Republic Machine’s expertise and innovation, will position us to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving advances in size-reduction technology. We look forward to honoring the heritage of the Republic Machine brand and investing in the continuing evolution of its product portfolio.”

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