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Home  Company Info Res-Q-Jack History
Res-Q-Jack History
Hello, and thank you for taking a moment to review the Res-Q-Jack® Vehicle Stabilization System. Following is a little history behind the development of what many consider the best in vehicle stabilization equipment. I’ve told pieces of this story on different occasions, but I’ll try to put it all together for you here.
Following a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Clarkson University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Binghamton University, and several years in the consulting and design engineering field, I began Cepco Tool Company. I’ve been in the business of designing tools for several years now. We started with a product for use in the installation of warped decking boards, plywood, and tongue and groove materials. This product, the Bowrench® Deck Tool, is another product that does what it does the best ! It is quite often on the best selling hand tools list at amazon.com.
The deck tool brought about a product called the QuikJack® Hardwood Flooring Jack. Once again, a product that performs its job better than anything available on the market. After building Cepco Tool Company to a point where I realized I could exercise a little freedom, I finally did something I’ve had the desire to do for as long as I can remember. I joined our local fire company. When my pager trips, there’s no keeping me in the office !
There are some seriously cool tools in the fire service. However, I saw there was room for improvement, particularly in the field of passenger vehicle stabilization. I was always frustrated when we responded to a roll-over type MVA. I was never comfortable with the degree of stability we achieved with the resources we had available. I then took part in an auto extrication training course offered by New York State. I mentioned to the instructor that I had designed a flooring jack, the QuikJack® discussed earlier, that would lend itself to roll-over stabilization with some modification. He expressed interest and encouraged me to provide him with a working model. After several months of prototyping, we developed the first Res-Q-Jack® Model RJ1. At the time we did not know there was a lot more to come as the original intention was to simply supply our own department with adequate tools for stabilization.
After the development of the RJ1, our neighboring department asked us to build them a set. From there, Ron Moore of Firehouse Magazine and Plano Fire Dept. in Texas caught wind of what we were up to via an email from a local fire chief. He called me to inform me that he was working on an article focusing on stabilization and would like to test our design and include his findings in Firehouse Magazine. This basically launched us head first into the market. Ron’s input throughout the development has been a great encouragement, and we give him many thanks.
Since the RJ-1 model, we built the RJ-2, RJ-3, and RJ-4 models. We realized many ways in which the product could be improved to maximize the tool’s versatility, increase setup speed, make it more user and patient friendly, and keep it affordable. These features were thrown into the RJ-2 design. The RJ-3 was identical to the RJ-2 in design with the exception of its ability to handle a greater capacity. The model RJ-4 was a kit to convert a farm jack into a pivotal stand for use as a buttress strut. The RJ-4 was soon eliminated due to lack of interest in such an item and the inherent “jumping” characteristic of the jack unit which is an undesirable feature eliminated by the smooth acting side-wind jack of the RJ-1,2, and 3 models. It was then discovered that the side-wind jacks of the RJ-3 unit double as a handy light-duty ram. We then decided to focus all efforts on the cream of the crop - the Res-Q-Jack® Model RJ-3. Our sales indicate that this was definitely a good move.
I’ve always felt pretty good about making contractors’ lives a little easier with the tools we produce. However, I feel infinitely better about producing a product that makes a rescue person’s job easier, or better yet assists in saving a life !
It is now 2006 and the company has developed into much more than I had ever imagined.
Over the years, the Lord has so blessed my family and this business. He has pulled us through some difficult struggles and given me the peace only He can give to get through. Without Christ in my life, I am confident that none of the above would have turned out quite the way it has – my nature would have prevented it. I am also very thankful to my family and friends. I have made many new wonderful friends along the way, and I look forward to working with you as this company grows even further.
Cris
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
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