Since 1946, the auto parts sector and motoring in general have evolved in a way we could never have imagined back then.
Throughout its 77-year history, RIO has participated closely in this evolution, taking stock of each new development, every technological revolution and marking each chapter of this journey with a lot of motion and passion for innovation.
In 2023, there is no better way to celebrate another year of Rio’s orange flame continuing to burn bright than to reflect on what we have achieved since back when RIO was still Riosulense Metallurgy. Come take on this journey through time with us!
OUR HISTORY – 77 YEARS IN MOTION
1946
Our story begins one year after the end of World War II, more precisely in 1946. This was when Riosulense Metallurgy was founded in the city of Rio do Sul (Santa Catarina), Riolsulense’s original business activities included providing basic mechanical services to the timber and cassava starch industries, which were prevalent in the region at the time.
1947
João Stramosk — who was only 20 years old at the time — began working in Riosulense Metallurgy’s office. Riosulense was the first company at which the son of farmers from Rio do Oeste could get a job in the city of Rio do Sul and turned out to be a place at which he would dedicate his life’s work.
1956
10 years later, we took an important step towards our growth and began operating in the market for automotive parts, with a specific focus on the manufacturing of valve guides. This was the start of the Orange Quality that we know today.
1980
The start of the 1980s saw an important change in Riosulense’s market positioning: the production of auto parts became our main business activity.
1990
After more than 30 years, as part of efforts to expand Riosulense’s activities and offer our employees an improved structure, we inaugurated our new headquarters, which we continue to occupy today. Riosulense’s headquarters are home to an industrial park totaling more than 12 thousand square meters and an inventory of more than 5,000 items.
1992
Riosulense’s new plant led us to being awarded an Incentive Prize for Productivity and Quality from the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).
2000
Riosulense’s high degree of production excellence allows the company to establish itself as a supplier to large manufacturers of light and heavy-duty lines, such as Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Volkswagen, among many others.
2001
At the turn of the 21st century, we received ISO 9001 certification — technical standards used to establish an organization’s management and quality model.
2011
In 2011, Riosulense implemented a new production line and began supplying products on the market for the replacement parts in the railway industry.
2012
Riosulense’s cylinder liner plant began operating and is marked by a high level of productivity and technology.
2014
We were the first casting foundry in Brazil to receive international certification under the Transportation and Power Generation program, which seeks to improve the qualification of processes used by suppliers for the railway industry.
2016
Two years later, Riosulense was recognized for its contribution to the development of people management practices with the Prêmio Ser Humano (‘People Award’), from the Brazilian Human Resources Association (ABRH-SC).
2017
2017 was truly a year of transformations. We adopted a new market position through the definition of new principles and a new purpose, in addition to undergoing a change in management culture and structure.
2018
Riosulense received IATF 16946:2016 Certification, a supplementary ISO 9001 standard that certifies that a manufacturer’s production and products adhere to international standards for quality in the automotive industry.
2019
Riosulense Metallurgy was rebranded as RIO. And the news didn’t stop with our rebranding. As part of our goal to keep the industry moving, RIO we inaugurated its Prototype Facility, which makes use of 3D printing technology.
2020
In 2020, we experienced a period of difficulty due to the Covid-19 pandemic but were still able to celebrate some key achievements. In 2020, RIO was named the winner of the Neoway Advisor Award (Discovery category – Sales & Marketing) for it use of Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence technology.
2021
We believe in our people and their talents. With these values always at the forefront, RIO was named the winner of the Santa Catarina Innovation Award (FAPESC) in the Innovation in Service or Process category, in addition to receiving Great Place To Work certification.
2022
2022 saw a number of challenges, but also many important achievements. Between the release of new engine codes for our light and heavy-duty lines, we participated in several trade fairs and events within the auto parts and innovation sectors. To learn more about these important events, make sure to check out our 2022 retrospective.
You can continue to count on RIO as we write another chapter of our history!
Throughout these 77 years, you, the Expert, have always been our main source of motivation. All of our products, releases, news, content, and other materials are aimed at making your day-to-day life easier.
After all, it is our passion for engines that brings us together and gives us our drive to continue to offer innovation, quality and technology in the auto and engine parts sector. And we can guarantee you one thing: you played an important role in helping RIO to write its story.
We hope that 2023 will be a year full of success and achievement. Here on our end, we will continue working to be a company that you can always depend on.
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