Rocheleau Tool & Die Co., Inc.
Established
in 1938, Rocheleau Tool & Die Co., Inc. is a
3rd-generation family business that is preparing to transition to
the 4th generation of the Rocheleau family. The company is a
manufacturer of blow molding machinery, blow molds and automation
equipment for the worldwide plastics and packaging industry.
Rocheleau has 65 employees at its headquarters in Fitchburg.
Historically, export sales have been as high as 40 to 50% of the
company’s business.
Rocheleau’s first international customer was in Mexico, and the company has been collaborating with their Mexican representatives in mutual support of Mexican customers since the early 1990s. This relationship became the cornerstone of Rocheleau’s international expansion, and Mexico went on to become the largest export market for the company, with 40 customers in 19 Mexican states. As the Rocheleau’s international ambitions grew, the company expanded into other markets, including countries in the Caribbean and Asia. As the third generation of Rocheleau owners was taking over, the company was seeking to develop deeper expertise in export operations and export regulatory compliance, as well as learn about the resources available to small manufacturers that were seeking to expand internationally.
Since 2007, the Massachusetts Export Center has been continuously engaged with Rocheleau Tool & Die, providing assistance that involved periodic export documentation and export operations review and guidance, classification updates, origin determination for shipments to several international markets, customer due diligence, establishment of export compliance policies and procedures to avoid violations, export clearance and Foreign Trade Regulations, as well as handling of repairs and returns. Rocheleau Tool & Die also became a member of the Massachusetts Export Center’s Compliance Alliance initiative in 2009 to connect with and learn from export compliance professionals from other area companies. Rocheleau remains a member to this day.
In 2011, Massachusetts Export Center successfully nominated
Rocheleau for Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ International
Trade Achievement Award. In addition, the Export Center helped with
the company’s applications for the STEP grant, and Rocheleau
received several STEP grant awards that the company used to exhibit
at Plastimagen, the plastics industry’s premier expo in Mexico City
for the Latin American region. As the 3rd generation of the company
owners transition to retiring, the Massachusetts Export Center
continues to work with the company on a broad range of international
business issues. Rocheleau is actively engaged in doing business
internationally, having sold to customers in over 40 foreign markets
including Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Dominican
Republic, Jamaica, Bahamas, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama,
Peru. Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad,
Ukraine and many others.
