Highlights from the Record-Breaking CAT Tech Conference at Rottler HQ

We just wrapped up our annual CAT Tech Conference at Rottler Manufacturing’s global headquarters in Kent, Washington, and it was our largest and most successful gathering yet!

Over three packed days, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Center (CRC) professionals, machinists, and industry guests joined us on the shop floor for hands-on equipment demonstrations, interactive tech seminars, and in-depth discussions on the latest CAT remanufacturing tools and techniques. Our goal with every presentation was simple: give engine builders and reman specialists practical skills and strategies they can take straight back to their shops to improve daily precision and productivity.

Adding to the week’s excitement, the NHRA Northwest Nationals took place right down the road at Pacific Raceways during the event. We had the pleasure of hosting both Rottler-sponsored race teams—Chad Green Motorsports and Hartford Racing—who brought their race cars directly to our facility. Attendees got an up-close look at the high-performance vehicles and plenty of photo opportunities throughout the conference.

A huge thank you to everyone who made the trip to Kent and helped make this year’s conference such an incredible success!

Scroll through the photo gallery below to see key highlights from the three-day event.

Looking Ahead to Next Year

Planning for next year’s CAT Tech Conference is already underway! We want to make sure the next event delivers maximum value for your team. If you have specific topics, machines, or technical challenges you’d like us to cover, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to hear your ideas!

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Timothy “TR” Cummins, General Services Manager

TR brings a wealth of hands-on technical and international experience to this new role. Over the past two years, he has traveled the globe servicing Rottler customers and successfully leading international sales initiatives. Known throughout the organization and the industry as a natural leader, team builder, and motivator, TR has a proven track record of strengthening client relationships and optimizing technical processes.

In his new role as GSM, TR is charged with taking Rottler’s service department to the next level. Backed by a substantial corporate investment in advanced training, modern systems, and state-of-the-art equipment, his mission is to deliver the highest level of customer support with rapid response times from highly skilled, expert technicians.

A Proactive Approach to Machinery Maintenance

Under TR’s leadership, Rottler is shifting the industry standard from reactive support to a proactive service model. The global service department will begin rolling out predictive maintenance initiatives designed to monitor machine health and address potential issues before they cause operational disruptions. This proactive approach ensures that every Rottler machine, in every shop around the globe, continuously operates at peak performance.

Cutting-Edge Training Programs

In addition to elevated service standards, TR will spearhead Rottler’s cutting-edge customer training programs. Rottler has dedicated specialized equipment right on the floor of the brand-new training center located at its Kent, Washington headquarters.

Customers are invited to visit the facility for hands-on learning experiences. Under the direction of TR’s team, the center will host advanced training courses designed to help machinists sharpen their skills, maximize shop throughput, and take full advantage of the latest Rottler innovations and techniques.

Fully Committed to Customer Success

Rottler President David Bianchi emphasized the scale and importance of this organizational shift:

“This a big deal… as a team, we are completely “in” with service and are getting behind the department and technicians to support our customer’s success like no one else in the industry.”

The appointment of a Global Service Manager and the rollout of these advanced training and predictive service programs represent just the beginning of Rottler’s next chapter in customer-focused innovation.For more information about scheduling a session at the new training center or to learn more about our updated service programs, please contact the Rottler service department or visit our contact page.

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Neill Bafus, CFO of Rottler Manufacturing

SEATTLE, WA — Rottler Manufacturing, LLC, a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced CNC machinery for the engine building and remanufacturing industries, today announced the appointment of Neill Bafus as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This milestone marks the first time in Rottler’s history that the company has established a dedicated CFO role, signaling a major step forward in its long-term corporate growth and operational scaling strategy.

Mr. Bafus brings more than 20 years of robust financial, accounting, and operational leadership to Rottler. His extensive background includes public accounting tenure at KPMG, followed by more than a decade of executive-level private industry experience managing complex treasury operations, asset-based lending arrangements, and long-range corporate strategy under private equity ownership. Most recently, he served as CFO for Work World and previously held senior financial leadership positions, including Vice President of Finance and Director of Finance, at Bedrock Manufacturing Co. and Filson.

“We are thrilled to welcome Neill to the Rottler family,” said David Bianchi, President of Rottler Manufacturing. “As our business expands globally and our machinery becomes even more integral to high-volume industrial remanufacturers and performance engine builders alike, our corporate infrastructure must evolve to match that growth. Neill’s ability as a team leader and his proven track record of driving operational excellence make him the perfect fit for this new role.”

The appointment of Mr. Bafus rounds out a newly structured, high-powered executive team at Rottler, following the recent appointments of President David Bianchi and Chief Operating Officer Ryan Thompson. Together, this new C-suite leadership team is positioned to enhance Rottler’s supply chain efficiency, support larger corporate enterprise clients, such as major diesel OEMs, and accelerate product innovation.

“Rottler has an incredible reputation for engineering excellence and deep-rooted customer loyalty,” said Bafus. “I am excited to step into the role of the company’s first CFO during such a pivotal era of growth. My focus will be on strengthening our financial and operational foundation to ensure we continue delivering world-class solutions to our customers and partners worldwide.”

Mr. Bafus holds a Master of Accounting degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Washington State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

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Nick Jenkins, General Sales Manager at Rottler Manufacturing

We are thrilled to announce that Nick Jenkins has been promoted to General Sales Manager at Rottler Manufacturing.

Many of you may be familiar with Nick and his helpful expertise specifically with High Horsepower Diesel applications. During his time at Rottler as an Applications Engineer, Nick set out around the globe with one goal, to build the best infrastructure in Rottler history to support the mining, marine, and natural gas industries. Nick took a top-down approach, fostering relationships with OEM level customers at CAT, Cummins, Komatsu, and MTU. From there Nick parlayed the knowledge and experience gained to help every Rottler EM100 customer, no matter the engine, no matter the machine, Nick has committed his career to the industry finding ways to optimize processes, improve machine up-time and ultimately save customers time and money with better equipment.

Stepping Into Big Shoes

Nick is taking over the role previously held by David Bianchi, who was recently promoted to President of Rottler. David’s time as GSM was defined by a “boots-on-the-ground” approach to customer success. Nick embodies that same face to face approach and ensures that Rottler’s sales department will continue to lead with a “belly-to-belly” customer facing approach long term. David hand picked Nick as his protégé 3 years ago and has spent the past 3 years mentoring Nick to inevitably fill his shoes.

Technical Grit and Real-World Experience

Nick brings a rare blend of high-level engineering and hands-on mechanical experience to this new role. Nick graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington with his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, but his story is far from that of a college grad shoe-in. Prior to pursuing his degree, Nick completed a 2-year degree in automotive technology and was whole-heartedly considering a career in the automotive maintenance industry. Nick’s passion for engines and engineering lead him to where he is today, but most importantly he cares about relationships and that’s what made him the perfect pick for General Sales Manager.

Whether you’ve swapped stories with him at a trade show or worked alongside him on your own shop floor, you know that Nick is more of a technical partner than a typical “salesman”. In his new capacity, he’ll be traveling even more extensively to act as a company ambassador helping you solve unique machining problems and ensuring your facility is running at peak efficiency.

At Rottler, we don’t just sell equipment; we partner with the people who keep the world’s engines running. With Nick Jenkins at the helm of our sales team, you can expect the same hands-on, expert-level support that has been our hallmark for decades.

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Ryan Thompson, COO of Rottler Manufacturing

If you’ve spent any time at PRI, caught a Rottler YouTube tutorial, or watched Ryan walk through a performance build on the Engine Performance Expo, you know he’s not one for sitting behind a desk. For nearly eight years, Ryan has been on the shop floor with you, translating complex mechanical engineering into the real-world wins your shop needs to stay profitable.

Today, we are proud to announce that Ryan is taking on a new challenge as Rottler’s Chief Operations Officer (COO).

This move is a key part of a larger mission here at Rottler.

Following the recent promotion of David Bianchi to President, appointing Ryan as COO reinforces our commitment to being the most customer-centric business in the industry. We aren’t putting “corporate types” at the helm; we’re putting the people who actually know how to build engines and run CNC machinery in the positions where they can do the most good for you.

Ryan’s path to this role wasn’t a climb up a corporate ladder; it was a journey through every technical corner of our factory. He started with us nearly a decade ago managing special projects and was the brains behind creating our Applications Engineering department. Under Ryan’s leadership, the department has grown into a powerhouse, becoming the most innovative team in the industry.

Whether he was personally designing 5-axis post-processors to make our machines more versatile or developing custom tooling “specials” to help a customer hit a deadline, Ryan has always focused on making sure the technology serves the user, not the other way around.

Working alongside David, Ryan has been a driving force behind Rottler’s championship mindset and becoming the world’s leading CNC machinery manufacturer for engine builders. As COO, he’ll be overseeing our global operations and infrastructure with the same detail-oriented, “hands-on” approach he used when he was a Lead Application Engineer.

He might have a new title, but Ryan is still the same engineer who listens first and solves second. He’s still focused on making sure your shop has the best tools and the best support in the industry.

Please join us in congratulating Ryan on his new role. He’s still only a phone call or email away.

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Matt Hartford after his Gatornationals win

The win ended a 40-race drought for Hartford and marked his first national event victory since 2023. Driving the Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro, Hartford sealed the deal in the final round with a strong 6.530-second run at 210.41 mph against six-time world champion Greg Anderson.

It was an impressive run through a stacked field. On the way to the trophy, Hartford defeated Kenny Delco, Aaron Stanfield, and reigning world champion Dallas Glenn before lining up for the final.

Rather than chasing the quickest qualifying times, Hartford’s team focused on building what racers call a “Sunday combination”—a setup designed for consistency and reliability as track conditions change throughout race day. That strategy paid off round after round.

The victory carried special significance for Hartford and his team. Unlike many of the larger multi-car operations in Pro Stock, Hartford Racing is a small, family-run organization. Hartford has often said he prefers the close-knit nature of his crew and the pride that comes with winning as an independent team.

For Rottler Manufacturing, the moment was especially gratifying. We’ve been proud supporters of Matt and his team for years, and we’ve admired their perseverance through the ups and downs that are part of any racing program. Seeing their hard work pay off on one of drag racing’s biggest stages was something the entire Rottler family celebrated.

The win was Hartford’s ninth career national event victory and his first ever Gatornationals title—an achievement made even more special as the NHRA begins its 75th anniversary season. The victory also earned Hartford the first “Diamond Wally” trophy awarded in the Pro Stock category this year.

Congratulations to Matt Hartford and the entire Hartford Racing team on a well-deserved win.

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Karin Rottler, Head of Communications and Marketing

Great companies are built around people who care deeply about their customers.

At Rottler Manufacturing, that belief has been part of our DNA for more than a century. One of President David Bianchi’s core principles is simple: every customer should feel like they are Rottler’s most important customer.

To help us continue delivering on that promise, we’re excited to welcome Karin Rottler as our new Head of Communications and Marketing.

Karin’s story is a little unique. She grew up around the shop in Seattle, spending time with her dad Andy and her grandpa Don, two people who helped shape Rottler into the company it is today. Those early experiences gave her a real appreciation for the people behind the machines and the customers who rely on them every day.

But what stood out most when Karin talked with us about this role wasn’t family history—it was her passion for the customer experience.

Her goal is simple:

• Strengthen relationships with customers around the world
• Make every customer feel welcomed and excited to work with Rottler
• Share more of what happens behind the scenes at our manufacturing facility
• Highlight the people, the craftsmanship, and the fun that goes into building the best machines in the industry
• Help inspire the next generation to explore careers in machining and manufacturing

Karin brings a fresh perspective and a lot of enthusiasm to an industry that is evolving quickly. Today’s engine machining world blends precision manufacturing, robotics, and advanced CNC technology with the performance and durability demanded by everything from racing engines to the machines that power modern industry.

And yes, she also happens to love loud, fast cars, good rock music, and dogs.

Please join us in welcoming Karin to the Rottler team and congratulating her on her new role. We’re excited about what’s ahead.

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David Bianchi named president of Rottler Manufacturing

Big news at Rottler.

After more than 30 years of industry leadership, we’re proud to announce that David Bianchi has been named President of Rottler Manufacturing.

Andy Rottler moves into the role of Chairman, and will continue to be actively involved, marking an exciting next chapter in our 100+ year history.

David’s story at Rottler goes all the way back to 1994, when he started as a Sales Engineer installing machines and training operators in engine shops around the world. Since then, he’s helped grow Rottler into the world’s leading CNC machinery provider for engine builders and remanufacturers.

If you’ve ever:

• Called Rottler for advice
• Watched one of our YouTube training videos
• Attended the Engine Performance Expo
• Worked with our Applications Engineering team
• Or been featured in one of our customer spotlight videos

…you’ve seen David’s fingerprints on it.

He believes Rottler succeeds when our customers succeed — period. That mindset isn’t changing with a new title.

In fact, it’s doubling down.

David remains as accessible as ever. If you have his number, you can still call it. If you see him at a show, he’ll still stop and talk shop.

Change in this industry doesn’t always feel comfortable. But this is change for the better: built on continuity, experience, and an even stronger commitment to supporting engine builders of every size.

Please join us in congratulating David on his new role.

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