From RJR Engineering to Encorus Group

RJR Engineering, P.C. was founded in 1996 as Robert J. Runge II Consulting Engineers. Formed around the capabilities of Robert J. Runge, P.E., the company primarily provided civil and structural engineering services to support local design and construction projects.

In 1998, the company moved to its current office location in Springville, NY.

In 2001, Dana Pezzimenti, P.E. joined the company as Vice President. Dana brought a mechanical engineering arm to the firm, as well as important industrial clients. Together, Bob and Dana also leveraged their expertise and experience with Department of Energy legacy nuclear waste and environmental remediation projects and began providing engineering services to support operations at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) in West Valley, NY.

In 2002, RJR Engineering, P.C. (RJR) was formed to provide a more robust foundation for future growth. To better support our clients at the WVDP, and to further build a foundation for providing quality engineering services, our ASME NQA-1 compliant quality assurance program was implemented in 2003. This enabled RJR to become involved in technically challenging and complex projects involving the environmental remediation of legacy and active Cold War sites across the country. Steady and sustained growth has allowed RJR’s original civil and mechanical engineering capabilities to be augmented over time by structural, electrical, and fire protection engineering, architecture, and other design expertise.

In 2011, Joseph Lowry, P.E. was named President and the company became certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) – a designation which provides access to a variety of different Federal and State contract opportunities. To achieve further diversification, our engineers received forensic engineering training and the company began formally offering this service to its clients.

In 2016, a new office location was established in Buffalo, NY to house our new Civil Material Testing and Inspection Services. And in December of 2016, we added Non-Destructive Testing services to our comprehensive list.

The continued expansion of the firm led to the 2017 decision to rename and rebrand from RJR Engineering to Encorus Group. This change was made to better communicate our new service offerings and diversified team of engineering, testing and inspection service professionals.

Encorus Group began offering radiographic testing (RT) services, including a mobile darkroom that allows our technicians to provide this service on-site. RT can be used on a range of items, such as pieces of pipe, tanks, or parts, and can show defects and irregularities such as cracks, corrosion, or weld imperfections.

Encorus Group was accredited as an Authorized Inspection Agency by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, giving us the ability to provide inspections required by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. These inspections ensure compliance with safety standards, assess equipment integrity, and contribute to overall safety.

Encorus Group celebrated its 25th anniversary! Robert J. Runge II Consulting Engineers was founded in 1996, and has been in its current Springville office since 1998.

Our Butler, PA field office was opened, creating a home base for our inspectors while working in the Pittsburgh area.

After the renovation of Encorus Group’s new office and lab location in West Seneca, NY, the civil testing and mechanical integrity groups moved in, along with some of our design staff.