Since its inception in 1941, the manufacturing company Randolph and Baldwin Inc. has maintained ‘can do’ attitude to meet the constantly evolving expectations of its clients in the defense and aerospace industry. Agile and adaptable, Randolph and Baldwin is renowned for its ability to deliver the best-in-class product in an on-time and cost-efficient manner. Focused on high-quality and compliance, the company is continuously updating its systems and processes to meet the ever increasing industry demands of specifications, documentation, and audits, all while working to reduce costs and delivery times through process improvements.

“We have the reputation of being a problem solver,” says Luke Balchunas, president of Randolph and Baldwin. “We focus on solutions that can make it happen and our customers appreciate the energy and attitude we bring to tackle challenges. Our engineering staff thinks outside the box and our production, quality, and materials teams make it happen.” Luke is more than proud of the company’s 78-year history, but he’s quick to point out how staying ahead of the curve is what gives Randolph and Baldwin a significant edge in today’s defense and aerospace industry. “It comes down to reinvestment, and we are doing that continuously,” states Balchunas.

In the past five years Randolph and Baldwin has spent over 2.5 million in developing a state of the art welding and integration facility, with laser measuring technology and an ERP system that dramatically improved the operation and workflow communications. The underground utility design allows for immediate and quick reconfiguration of Bluco precision welding tables as necessary.

Thinking ahead lead Randolph and Baldwin to incorporate high-efficiency solar panels which when coupled with geothermal HVAC make it a net-zero user of fossil fuels.

While quiet and unassuming, Balchunas is driven to meeting customer scheduling complexities. Graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he sailed as an officer on US Naval supply ships for 10 years. Their schedule was mission critical. Words meant little, it was action that spoke, thus the company’s motto—“Acta Non Verba.” Something ingrained and found in every employee.

From small hardware for first generation radars and missiles, Randolph and Baldwin has evolved into very large integrated weldments that require the use of a 10-ton crane to maneuver through the production cycle. “We can handle very large items—if the item can make it through those 20 foot doors, we’re on it,” extols Balchunas.

Balchunas shares a case study: the Navy’s AN/AQS-20 Sonar program for mine hunting operations. The customer had designed a platform to hydraulically deploy and retrieve the sonar from an autonomous vessel. After being launched from a Littoral Combat Ship, the unmanned boat enters the search area with the sonar which is smoothly deployed off the stern with the system’s upper trolley. After retracting to a towed position and completing its critical mission, the platform extends into a similar way allowing for a steady and flawless retrieval.

Randolph and Baldwin was tasked with the urgent need to manufacture the first two preproduction units. The company’s engineering team quickly leveraged their expertise and worked closely with the customer’s engineers on mid-stream design changes and manufacturability improvements to complete the project on schedule. The complex 20-plus foot assembly uses custom large format extrusions, structural aluminum weldments, titanium, specialized stainless, UHMW plastics, and hundreds of machined components and custom hardware solutions. “We worked tirelessly and paid attention to every detail and engineering feedback to streamline manufacturing and quality of the product,” states Balchunas.

Moving forward, Randolph and Baldwin sees 3D printing ahead and the further development of engineering expertise to meet the needs of the war fighter and maritime operations.