Our History
R.L. Zeider, Inc. is a family‑run manufacturing company built on precision, adaptability, and a long tradition of taking on work others could not. Since its founding in the 1960s, the company has evolved across generations by expanding its capabilities, adopting new technologies, and responding to the changing demands of the industries we serve—while remaining hands‑on and owner‑operated throughout.
Robert & Arti Zeider
The Foundation: Craftsmanship and Reputation
The company began with Robert Zeider, a highly talented hand engraver whose skill quickly earned him a national reputation. His work was so respected that many companies specified directly on their drawings that only R.L. Zeider could perform the engraving. Alongside his wife, Ardi, Robert founded R.L. Zeider in 1960, using his craftsmanship to establish the company’s name and reputation.
One of the company’s earliest and most impactful projects came during the Vietnam War, when Robert collaborated with his brother, Punk, who owned a machine shop. Punk was approached with the idea of producing stainless steel POW bracelets to raise awareness of the growing number of prisoners of war. Punk’s shop produced the bracelet blanks using presswork, while Robert engraved each bracelet by hand. The response was overwhelming, and the bracelets became widely known. By the end of the project, Robert had personally engraved millions of POW bracelets, demonstrating both precision and the ability to scale meaningful work.
As demand grew, Robert moved the business into its own building. During this period, Robert and Ardi employed approximately twenty engravers, producing a wide range of engraved components using pantographs. The company was highly successful during this era and began expanding into the type of work Punk had previously handled—tool and die press work and milling to support tooling production—laying the groundwork for broader manufacturing capability.
Bill & Linda Zeider
Expansion Through Technology and Innovation
In the 1980s, Robert’s son, William Zeider, joined the business. While looking for ways to better the company they found the Wire EDM. This investment significantly improved the company’s ability to produce high‑precision parts and expanded the complexity and accuracy of its tool and die work.
During this same period, William met Linda, who would go on to play a critical role in the company’s growth and long‑term stability. Linda became deeply involved in the business, helping manage operations and providing the organizational and operational support that allowed the company to expand while remaining family‑run.
In the 1990s, R.L. Zeider was approached by a golf club designer familiar with Robert’s engraving expertise. The industry was struggling with engraved faceplates that lost definition during polishing. Robert developed a more efficient engraving method that required less polishing while improving appearance and durability. This work led to years of involvement in the golf industry and the company becoming widely known as Zeider Golf.
Building on decades of experience engraving and evaluating golf clubs, William decided it was time to develop a superior product. Rather than relying on mass‑produced cast clubs, he designed tooling to form golf club heads from titanium, improving accuracy, strength, and durability through work hardening. The result was a high‑performance product that went on to win three World Long Drive Championships and was used by numerous professional‑level golfers.
At the same time, William expanded the company into the medical and aerospace industries, producing tool and die work for medical implants used in various surgical applications, as well as aerospace components used in everything from aircraft to space shuttle programs.
Resilience Through Change
The NAFTA Years
Like much of American manufacturing, R.L. Zeider was heavily impacted by the passage of NAFTA in 1995. The company lost nearly 90% of its work as major customers moved production overseas, and the golf industry followed. William made the difficult decision to discontinue the Zeider Golf brand as production shifted out of the country.
These were challenging years, but the company endured through resilience and versatility. With advanced equipment and the ability to perform nearly all work in‑house, R.L. Zeider adapted by taking on any work available—producing everything from automotive components to small consumer items—anything necessary to keep the business operating. During this period, the company found a stable niche producing western‑style sheriff’s badges, which helped keep the doors open.
Throughout this time, Linda played a vital role in keeping the business afloat, helping manage operations, finances, and day‑to‑day continuity during one of the most difficult periods in the company’s history.
As overseas manufacturing revealed quality and reliability issues, work gradually began returning to the U.S. By continuing to invest in modern equipment and maintaining broad, in‑house capability, R.L. Zeider was well positioned to support this shift. By the mid‑2010s, the company had once again established itself in the medical and aerospace sectors and grown back to its pre‑NAFTA strength.
Zack & Adriana Zeider
Modern Precision and the Future
Today, R.L. Zeider, Inc. continues to build on decades of experience while intentionally preparing for the future. The company’s focus remains on precision, versatility, and the ability to adapt—principles that have carried it through changing industries, technologies, and economic cycles.
In recent years, Bills son Zack is working along side him and together they are looking to take the the business into to future using the foundation that has been forged by decades of hard work. R.L. Zeider, Inc. remains at the front of innovation and ingenuity and continues to invest in its CNC, automation, and employees. These efforts help ensure that the company’s knowledge, standards, and capabilities are not only preserved, but strengthened.
