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Welcome to the PFlow Industries Newsroom

Read news releases from PFlow Industries, upcoming event news, and industry media articles about PFlow Industries. 

Click here to read the Milwaukee Business Journal article.

July 22, 2022  – PFlow Industries, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading vertical material lifting solutions, is pleased to announce the shipment of vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) Serial Number 20,000.   

As PFlow founder, Bob Pfleger once said, “Before we could build a business, we had to create an industry”.  Since 1977, PFlow has delivered material handling solutions to a wide variety of industries around the world. “Our 45 years of success and the shipment of VRC Serial Number 20,000 was made possible by Bob Pfleger’s vision to create a safer and more efficient means to lift materials, and through the tireless dedication of our employee-owners and our dealer network, to deliver best-in-class material handling solutions,” said Pat Koppa, President of PFlow Industries.   

 

As the vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) industry founder in 1977 and key author of state and federal codes, PFlow has literally written the book on VRC design and safety. Backed by the strength of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer network, the largest in-house engineering and technical support staffs, and dedicated in-region sales team, PFlow is the industry’s trusted VRC partner. Proudly claiming 20,000 units in operation, PFlow has the experience to ensure your project’s success.  PFlow also designs and manufactures Cartveyor® shopping cart conveyors, which run parallel to escalators and accommodate high shopping cart traffic in multi-level retail environments. For more information visit www.pflow.com and www.cartveyor.com. 

Nov. 22, 2021 – PFlow Industries Inc, (PFlow) an industry-leading material handling solutions manufacturer achieved a significant milestone by completing a stock transaction to become 100% employee-owned through its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).

“This transaction not only honors our founder, Bob Pfleger’s legacy by continuing our commitment to pride in ownership, it also encourages a performance model that is primed for continued sustainable growth while providing the opportunity to spread our wealth among our employee-owners,” said Pat Koppa, PFlow President.

The transition to 100% employee ownership by the 44-year old company reflects the company leaders’ confidence in the employee-owner team’s commitment to the success of PFlow and of one another. As a 100% ESOP company, PFlow employee-owners work and win together and success is shared through employee-appreciation programs and gatherings, family-friendly benefits, career development and advancement opportunities, generous retirement savings assistance, and annual bonus and profit-sharing programs.

“At a time when employee recruitment and retention are challenging, we believe that employee-ownership is a competitive advantage that attracts top talent. Our ESOP provides each employee-owner with the opportunity to directly share in the success that they help create,” said Pat Koppa.

About Employee Stock Ownership Plans

An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is a qualified retirement benefit plan that gives employees a stake in the company through stock allocation. It provides a method for the company workforce to accumulate capital for retirement at no cost to the employee.

According to the National Center for Employee Ownership, there are approximately 6,700 ESOP companies in the U.S., and 14 million employees participating in employee ownership plans.

About PFlow

Established in 1977 by Bob Pfleger, PFlow is the founder of the vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) industry. PFlow Industries custom engineers and manufactures VRCs for diverse applications. VRCs are intended for the safe and effective vertical movement of materials between multiple levels in mezzanine, balcony, through-floor, interior and exterior applications and, can lift loads from a mere 10 pounds to over 200,000 pounds.

PFlow also designs and manufactures Cartveyor® shopping cart conveyors, which run parallel to escalators and accommodate high shopping cart traffic in multi-level retail environments.

For more information, visit www.pflow.com.

With over 5,000 U.S. workers killed on the job each year and over 3 million sustaining serious injuries, it’s never been more important to ensure employees are properly trained in safe workplace practices.  

Workplace safety and wellness is a year-round focus for PFlow Industries. We want our employee-owners to be safe at work and at home.  To help highlight the importance of a safe workplace, PFlow was recognized for their participation in the annual Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OHSA) nationwide event called, Safe + Sound Week.  Safe + Sound week helps to proactively engage employees in workplace safety and wellness by increasing their safety awareness and their ability to identify hazards and reduce risk, while recognizing them for their safety successes.

Being Proactive is Key

Identifying workplace hazards before they can cause injury or illness is crucial.  Safe + Sound Week provides another opportunity for PFlow’s safety committee to educate staff on common and not-so-common hazards, how to spot them, how to report them and, how to take corrective action. During Safe + Sound Week 2021, employees were provided with daily safety messages, informing them of simple things they can do or, are required to do, to ensure they are safe, their co-workers are safe, and everyone goes home safe.

 

Dedication to Safety

PFlow is dedicated to developing a safety culture in which employees care enough about each other and themselves to commit to conducting our business injury free.  In addition to PFlow’s participation in Safe + Sound Week, we have a safety committee that is dedicated to keeping PFlow a safe place to work.

 

Rewarding Safe Behavior

To encourage safe workplace practices and to help continuously improve our safety protocols, PFlow celebrates those who work safely and who call out “near misses” (a condition that has the potential to harm). Each month, employees are nominated for a PFlow safety award and rewarded with PFlow swag and/or gift cards.

 

At PFlow Industries, the health and well-being of our customers, employees, partners and community are of the utmost importance. We continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation and adjust our operations based on guidance of the Centers for Disease Control. As of now:
  • All PFlow manufacturing and business operations are fully operational.
  • Installation and service scheduling are fully operational. Our service technicians in the field have been instructed to abide by the guidelines set by the CDC and our customers.
  • We understand concerns by companies to keep their businesses running effectively during the difficult time, and we remain available to assist you in that goal.
  • PFlow operates as a critical manufacturing facility pursuant to U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidelines.
  • We have full access to inbound and outbound transportation.
  • Contingency plans are in place to manage non-manufacturing activities as remotely as needed.
  • Travel to PFlow Industries by non-PFlow personnel, and non-essential travel by PFlow employees is suspended until further notice.
We will announce updates to our response to the pandemic via our website, social media accounts, and other outreach and direct contacts.

Visit PFlow Industries at MODEX 2020, March 9-12 in Atlanta.

MODEX 2020MODEX is the leading trade show for supply chain, manufacturing and distribution industries.

PFlow staff will be at Booth 4424 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

See details in our MODEX listing.

Pat Koppa started his role as President of PFlow Industries (pronounced “Flow”) on Oct. 31, 2019.

Pat Koppa, PFlowHe will provide strong leadership to the entire workforce, establish short and long term goal plans and strategies, and manage budgets to ensure resources are properly allocated.

PFlow, established in 1977 by Bob Pfleger (pronounced “Flay-ger”), is a trusted provider in the design and manufacture of custom lifts and conveyor systems for material handling, and is a successful ESOP company with a strong history of passion and commitment from its employees that translates into exceptional service and commitment to its customers.

Prior to PFlow, Mr. Koppa served as president of Power Test, Inc., an industry leader in the design, manufacture, and implementation of dynamometers and test control systems. At Power Test, he empowered the workforce through the EOS process and was instrumental in the establishment of a highly collaborative, aligned, and accountable leadership team.

Mr. Koppa, a Wisconsin native, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987. He then served seven years as an officer in the United States Navy’s nuclear attack submarine force. Following his military career, Mr. Koppa attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he obtained his MBA in Operations Management in 1997. He then spent 16 years in diverse leadership roles at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, which included managing the U. S. independent dealer network as National Sales and Service Director. Mr. Koppa was also responsible for the $400M “Motorcycle Accessories” business unit at Harley-Davidson and successfully reversed a declining revenue trend and drove growth in a flat market.

Throughout his career, Mr. Koppa has built effective relationships in which all parties “win” and organizations move forward with a unified plan and an agreement about priorities. Colleagues in his professional and personal life attest to his ability to energize a team and accomplish great things in a positive way.

See coverage in Industrial Equipment News.

A lift designed and manufactured by PFlow Industries is an integral part of the siting of a telescope atop a mountain in Chili.

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), under construction atop 8,737-foot El Peñón peak in northern Chile, is a partnership project of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE).

The LSST is scheduled to be fully operational in 2022.

Installation of this telescope, and continued access for maintenance, is made possible by a custom vertical lift designed and manufactured by PFlow Industries.

Watch a video to learn more, or read our case study about the project.

March 22, 2017 – PFlow Industries recently sold its 17,000th vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) worldwide, an achievement unmatched in the material handling industry.

Since 1977, PFlow has been dedicated solely to the custom design, engineering and building of VRCs for a variety of commercial, industrial and special-use applications.

The company offers custom-engineered hydraulic, mechanical and fully automated systems, lifting 100 lbs to 100 tons.

VRCs transport materials between two or more levels for mezzanines, balconies, through-floor, interior and exterior applications. VRC’s conform to ASME B20.1 safety standards and have their own national code.

PFlow Industries guarantees code compliance in every state.