In its third generation of family ownership, R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. Inc. has offered manufacturing and design services for park, campground, and streetscape furnishings and equipment since 1959. The company fabricates all of its Pilot Rock® products in the USA at its facility in Cherokee, Iowa. Named after a local landmark, this product line consists of commercial-duty equipment that the company has developed to withstand heavy use as well as environmental conditions and wildlife.
R.J. Thomas Mfg. provides numerous custom options for its products, from accessible and bear-proof designs to various sizes, colors, and materials. Focusing on both safety and comfort, the company offers equipment such as:
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Charcoal grills
- Campfire rings
- Trash and recycling receptacles
- Bike racks
With an emphasis on automation, the company works with 3D CAD programming, CNC forming machines, robotic welding and metal fabrication equipment, and fiber laser cutters. The team also has capabilities for custom metalworking and can take on client jobs, working closely with customers in designing, cutting, fabricating, welding, and finishing operations.
Over the past six decades, R.J. Thomas Mfg. has developed a diverse client list of facility or property managers, landscape architects, businesses, events organizers, and more. Pilot Rock products are suitable for a variety of applications, including:
- City-, county-, state-, and federal government-run parks and campgrounds
- Private or business-owned parks and campgrounds
- Military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) operations
- Residential condos and homeowners association properties
- Vacation rental properties
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Recreation facilities
- Amusement parks
- Golf courses
- Fairs and festivals
- Boy and Girl Scout organization properties
With the help of more than 90 employees and an extensive online catalog, R.J. Thomas Mfg. produces its benches, grills, tables, and more for customers in all 50 states and internationally.
This article is sponsored by R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. Inc., the company responsible for the Pilot Rock® product line of park, campsite, and recreational equipment. To learn more about the company’s featured products, contact R.J. Thomas Mfg. or visit their website at www.pilotrock.com.
