Since 1971, RAE Corporation has stuck with their founding commitment to their customers: “Never try to persuade the customer to adapt their needs to standard equipment and systems”. From the beginning, the privately-held corporation has been dedicated to manufacturing compressorized equipment and heat transfer coils for the HVAC, refrigeration and industrial markets.

RAE Corporation was founded in 1971 by Mr. J.D. Swank. It was through Mr. Swank’s vision that RAE Corporation became a reality. Believing that Oklahoma had a strategic advantage for shipping and labor, he began making plans for what was to become RAE Corporation. With its manufacturing facilities located in the 7,000-acre Mid-American Industrial Park, located in Pryor, Oklahoma, RAE has planted roots deeply in the heartland of America. The low-cost utilities, excellent labor resources, and central location of RAE have long been considered to be major contributors to its continuing success.

After nearly 30 years at the helm, J.D. Swank officially retired in 2000, handing the reins and title of President over to his son Eric. Well-suited for the position, Eric learned his way through RAE from the ground up, beginning at the age of 15 as a janitor. Like his father, he shares the vision for RAE Corporation. “I want to grow the company ... to be a leader in the industry,” Eric said recently. “I want it not just for the challenge, but for the opportunities that will arise for all those who work here.” Eric wants success not only for the RAE Corporation name, but for every individual that is a member of the RAE family. “The work ethic in middle America is different,” Eric said of his workforce. “The people here ... they work harder; they’re more honest. Everybody wants to be a success. I want RAE to be successful, so everyone who had a part can know success as well.”

The marketing structure of RAE Corporation has the advantages of dedicated sales, marketing and engineering groups for specific market needs, and a member of a larger, more diversified corporate entity. Thanks to its corporate structure, RAE Corporation is able to continue its history of personal involvement with each of its customers. RAE Corporation’s products are marketed nationwide with more than 120 sales offices maintained from coast to coast; ready to work with the customer on their special needs and applications.

RAE Corporation has four sales divisions all involved with the HVAC, industrial/process, heat transfer coil, acoustical and refrigeration industries. The divisions include Century Refrigeration, RAE Coils, Refrigeration Systems and Technical Systems.

RAE offers a complete line of products, including air and water-cooled condensing units, air, water, and evaporative-cooled chillers, air-cooled condensers, fluid coolers, heat transfer coils, industrial coils, unit coolers, dehumidifiers, pumping systems, corrosive environment equipment, acoustical equipment and an assortment of other engineered cooling systems. All equipment is either UL- or ETL-approved, and the control centers are UL 508 certified. Heat transfer coils are backed by years of engineering and the quality ARI standards and certification.

In addition, RAE Corporation has been a leader in research and development of new products to meet the most difficult applications. Waterside economizer systems, “common skid” chiller and pump package combinations, evaporative condenser chillers, ultra-large profile unit coolers, and natural gas engine driven chillers are just a few of the many products being developed by RAE.

And though Eric shares his father’s vision, he wants to plot his own course in the history of RAE Corporation. “I don’t try to fill my father’s shoes,” Eric said. “They just cannot be filled...so I’ll walk in my own.” That by itself shows how much the two are alike ... for it was his father, Jim, who stepped out on his own many years ago armed with a vision. Believing in the importance of this vision, in 2008 Eric set out to refine his desires into RAE Corporation’s “Vision of Excellence”. Today with great direction and pride, RAE Corporation now states its Vision of Excellence as:

"Excellence in our People, Relationships and Products"

To insure RAE Corporation’s ongoing success Eric has defined eight corporate foundational principals, and he believes this Vision of Excellence will become a reality as we ...

• Embrace entrepreneurial attitude and personal accountability
• Empower people to solve problems through effective communication with other departments
• Equip self-motivated people to improve themselves, relationships and products
• Develop effective partnerships with our representatives and customers
• Know we provide what our customer expects and values
• Provide outstanding quality, reliability and on-time performance
Continuously improve processes for rapid customization
• Quickly transform market opportunities into innovative solutions