Reynolds French is committed to provide technical expertise, backed by years of experience, to offer the best possible value in services and products to its customers in the large equipment and energy industries, with complete honesty and integrity, while providing its employees well-compensated careers.
Even as a two-man operation in 1944, Reynolds-French set its sights on becoming a world leader in casting repair service. With each successive year, services have expanded, the company has grown, and the goal has become reality.
Today, Reynolds-French is recognized as the leader in repair of cracked or damaged castings, in field machining, in alignment, and in consultation for equipment problems.
The attainment of this dream, and every other Reynolds-French goal throughout the years, has been made possible by people. Highly trained specialists at REYNOLDS-FRENCH are encouraged to innovate on an endless array of equipment problems faced each day. Support staff supplies coordination and countless other backup operations. Through combined people efforts, the Reynolds-French team provides its valued customers with the best service in the industry. Period.
With our proud history, Reynolds-French is ever committed to finding better ways to serve customers. Possible solutions to problems are analyzed to determine if they will extend equipment life, reduce down time and costs, and if they are the most economical solutions, all things considered – in other words, to give you the most value in equipment repairs.
Fueled by pride and backed by the strong Reynolds-French tradition and reputation, it is our employees who are dedicated to carrying on the tradition and further build upon the fine reputation of Reynolds-French & Company. Reynolds-French expertise and experience assures customers that all problems will be properly analyzed and the best solutions executed in a most proficient manner.
Earl Reynolds co-founder of R-F, is pictured after this turbine case repair was completed. A repair of this magnitude was unbelievable and unheard of in 1945. It was the “moon shot” of its day.
REYNOLDS-FRENCH & COMPANY began in the early 1940’s as one of several small companies that repaired cracks in castings with a method of metal stitching that included small locks and overlapping threaded dowels, called “lacing”. This proved to be successful on relatively low-stress areas on some castings. In the first five to ten years the Company operated as a two to four man business.
During the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s, REYNOLDS-FRENCH explored new methods of repairing damaged castings which could not be held by the conventional method of locking and lacing. In fact, a very small percentage of the many companies who were limited to locking and lacing were able to survive.
The new methods used in high-stress areas or on very badly damaged castings included combinations and variations of several repair techniques which REYNOLDS-FRENCH pioneered, including the following:
Much larger locking devices made in our shop to be custom-made in size, shape and type of materials for the particular job, according to the level of strength needed, temperature, and amount of parent material available. These larger locks required a completely different method of installation from the conventional method used for the smaller locks.
Installing high-strength steel bolting in such a way that the bolt shank (between the bolt head and the threads) spans the crack. The crack is pulled together as the bolt is heated and installed, further increasing the effect of the tightening. This method transfers the load from the cracked area to the bolt threads and the areas below the bolt.
Replacing sections where holes have been knocked out or there are so many cracks to make locking impractical. Steel is cut and hand-fitted to an area of the casting which has been cut out and removed. It is then secured in place without welding.
In several extreme cases, it has been necessary to totally remove a part of a casting. We will then bring in a pattern maker, cast a section, stress- relieve it, and install it with one or a combination of several methods.
Reinforcing the walls of the casting with steel plate. This is secured by bolting. The steel is hand-fitted for a maximum contact. Steel pieces, often very many, are cut, fitted, and installed in such a way that the damaged area, which was previously overloaded with stress now is relieved because the steel is transferring the load to a different area. The steel pieces can be welded together.
Because of the high costs of equipment downtime and assembly/disassembly for our customers, the repair philosophy of REYNOLDS-FRENCH & COMPANY has always been to do everything feasible to reclaim strength of the casting, usually resulting in some combination of the above listed repairs. For instance, most every job includes a certain amount of locking and lacing. We feel that it is largely due to this philosophy that our success rate on repairs, our growth, and reputation have become what they are.
REYNOLDS FRENCH ESTABLISHES ON-SITE SERVICES FOR MACHINING
Beginning in the late 1960’s, we started a Field Machine Division that can travel with portable boring bars and portable milling machines to reclaim precision surfaces and alignment. Our Field Machine Group can work on strictly machining-type (in-place machine work, engine alignment, etc.) jobs or work hand-in-hand with our Repairmen when necessary. On these combination jobs, having one company do both portions has tremendous advantages over separate companies. First, the coordination due to optimum communication greatly improves overall job efficiency and lowers downtime. Second, if any problems relating to the overall job were to arise, the customer would not have to ferret out the responsibility.
The Field Machine Group has grown in size and reputation to a point that it rivals our Casting Repair Group. The Company has grown from a company known as good “crack patchers” to a full-service Casting Repair company. REYNOLDS-FRENCH always uses our own trained personnel to do our work. Most of our field personnel have at least five years experience.
In the 1980’s, Reynolds French added onsite Crankshaft Services to its growing capabilities. We could now turn crankshaft journals, straighten crankshafts, and polish rod pins without crankshaft removal. This has been a mainstay of R-F services, and in fact, in the 1990’s, Reynolds French pioneered the equipment and technique to successfully machine and polish main bearing journals in place.
REYNOLDS FRENCH RECOMMENDED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES AND ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
Perhaps the greatest feathers in our cap are the strong recommendations given to our customers by insurance carriers, who must be assured of regaining the full operability of the insured equipment. The same can be said of the confidence displayed through recommendation of REYNOLDS-FRENCH by the Original Equipment Manufacturers under Warranty situations. In both cases, the confidence level must be at the highest; otherwise, they face the prospect of complete replacement of the equipment. Indeed, in many cases, we can honestly say that we are putting back in more strength than the equipment originally had.
REYNOLDS-FRENCH has served almost every industry but worked more for the energy industry than any other. We have successfully repaired thousands of pieces of equipment (in our Tulsa, OK facility and on location) from coast to coast, in Canada, and occasionally, overseas.
In addition to industry-leading service, Reynolds-French has also expanded to distribute and even manufacture outstanding products like:
Since June 1980, we have been distributors of an epoxy grouting product line that we had always felt was the very best. This is ITW/Philadelphia Resins (now ITW Performance Polymers) Chockfast which has many advantages for both deep pour foundation grouting and excellent pour-in-place chocking. As this part of our business grew, many other foundation products came into the growing list of products readily available to meet the needs of our customers.
During the 1990’s, we added adjustable chocking system products, complete anchor bolt systems, cementitious grouting products, a complete line of Epoxy Coatings and Repair Compounds. Since the early 2000’s, Reynolds French has now acquired both CWC Epoxy Grout and Escoweld Epoxy Grout, through ITW Performance Polymers, to its stocking products list.
In addition to those products, we now have in stock thin-pour epoxy grouts, cement grouts, and what we consider the ultimate grout, Versaflow, which has superlative properties of flowability, effective bearing area, and pumpable aspects.
In the late 1990’s, Reynolds French began manufacturing its own line of cast epoxy pipe supports. Unique in design, this engineered product line allows for pipe to be supported without corrosion, without fretting, and without the vibration of the traditional metal supports. Often referred to as TPS (Tulsa Pipe Supports), they are easily removed for pipe inspection, easily adjustable, are made from high strength epoxy material and corrosion-free zinc plated hardware, with no painting required. Pipe sizes fitted for this product goes from 2” to 54” inclusive.
It was not long after this product proved to be what many customers needed (early 2000’s) that R-F began manufacturing the TPS Pipe Clamps to meet customer demands. Standard design sketch with a corresponding standard dimension schedule were developed, along with the stocking of Fabreeka liner material to be used to protect the pipe from fretting, vibration, and corrosion. Reynolda French also makes, stocks, and sells custom-built clamps for each pipe support and clamp size.
In 2006, due to specific requests from customers, Reynolds French worked on an engineered Flywheel Lock that could be more reliable than other designs being used, could be set to any desired position of the flywheel or crankshaft in the complete 360° turn radius. In short, they needed a Variable Position Flywheel Lock, which is the Patented name we gave this invention. And Safety had to be our top priority, as men and equipment inside engines would completely depend on it.
Reynolds French now has many of these installed for customers, with many more orders pending. We design, build, test, and install the Variable Position Flywheel Lock to custom fit the flywheel of the customer’s engine. This Flywheel Lock is easily positioned using the R-F supplied spin wrench.
Reynolds French entered the field of lubrication for engine and compressor reliability in 2017. This includes virtually all Parts, Complete Systems, Installation, Inspections, Training, Testing, Design and Fabrication for virtually any equipment needing any kind of lubricating. This also includes Oil Mist systems. Over 80 combines years of experience among their personnel assure top-level service and the top quality products.
In 2018, Reynolds French began a partnership with AMOT Controls. This seemed to fit in with the more high-tech products they had gotten into like the Lubrication systems. It made perfect sense to expand its focus on reliability due to their experience with these products. Although many products are in the catalog of this manufacturer, the primary products Reynolds French has focused on are Temostatic Valves, Metal Particle Detectors, Bearing Temperature Sensors and Fuel Shut-Off Valves.
Reynolds French has always had its same capabilities in the Tulsa shop facilities that it had in the field. Generally, the cost will be 20-50% less when done in the shop, although that requires equipment removal and shipment from the customer.
In-Shop demands from R-F customers have necessitated, from those early days in the 1940’s, moving to a new, much larger shop in 1970, doubling the shop space with a building addition in 1975, building and moving again to a much larger shop facility with much greater crane capacity in 1980, and making several additions and improvements since then, in floor space capacity, in equipment upgrades, and in job capabilities.
One major equipment addition worth noting is the large capacity Horizontal Boring Mills. Complete engine machining can be done on these machines, as well as many other special machining jobs other than engines.
Safety Program
Reynolds-French & Company is committed to maintaining a safe workplace both in our machine shop and in the field. Through safety training in house and the Association of Reciprocal Safety Training classes, we have shown great emphasis regarding safety. We also participate with the online compliance management databases such as ISNetworld and National Compliance. Each of these steps has helped keep our experience modification rate stay low.
Reynolds French is proud to have maintained an Experience Modifier Rating (EMR) of under 1.00 for the past several years, as computed by our insurance underwriter.
Drug and Alcohol Program
Reynolds-French has an Alcohol Misuse Prevention Plan and Anti Drug Plan which meet DOT standards. We have a contract with Community Care Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to help DOT covered employees with drug or alcohol abuse. Testing for Pre-employment, Random Testing, Reasonable Cause, and Post Accident is routinely practiced.
Subject to the repaired equipment being operated under normal conditions and properly maintained, the repairs will be guaranteed to be free from defective materials or workmanship for a period of TWELVE months (“Warranty Period”) from the date the repairs are completed. This Warranty is part of the consideration for the purchase of the repairs and the sole and exclusive remedy for the breach of this Warranty shall be the reworking of the defective repair. REYNOLDS-FRENCH & COMPANY MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
REYNOLDS-FRENCH & COMPANY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DISASSEMBLY OR RE-ASSEMBLY OF THE EQUIPMENT, OR FOR LOSS, DAMAGE OR EXPENSE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING FROM THE USE OF THE EQUIPMENT OR ANY INABILITY TO USE THE EQUIPMENT EITHER SEPARATELY OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS, OR FOR DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE EQUIPMENT, OR FOR OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE REPAIR, OR FOR ANY OTHER SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL THERE BE ANY RECOVERY AGAINST REYNOLDS-FRENCH & COMPANY BEYOND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECTIVE REPAIR MADE BY REYNOLDS-FRENCH & COMPANY.
Reynolds French & Co.
12525 E. 60th St.
Tulsa, OK 74146
info@r-f.com
(918) 252-7545
(918) 252-7540
