Just a few years ago, Zero RPM was looking for a place to get started with a new technology aimed at saving money and reducing pollutants from high-use vehicles.

In August, the success and unique technology of Zero RPM will receive a much-deserved statewide award as one of three winners of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Innovation Awards.

While the research and technology were in place before the company found a home, efforts by the Cullman Economic Development Agency and Wallace State Community College gave the company a starting place at the college. The effort was part of a business incubator program in the state and laid the groundwork for an impressive success story.

After five years, Zero RPM has amassed large contracts that place its vehicle idle mitigation systems in bucket trucks, ambulances, law enforcement vehicles and armored cars. Those types of vehicles are often idling during long emergency or work situations and can drain fuel, emit excessive amounts of pollutants, and suffer wear and tear. The Zero RPM system allows the vehicles to remain operative without all of those problems.

At the local level, there is a lot be proud of with Zero RPM. The company’s Chief Executive officer Lance Self and much of the team are Cullman County natives. 

They chose to operate in the local area and established a research and development center, which is a valuable economic development component and enticement for other companies to be a part of the business and industrial community. 

The company’s products are also made locally through an agreement with HH Technologies, creating another valuable partnership.

The emergence and success of Zero RPM is encouraging news for the Cullman area. 

As the economic team looks to create more diversity in the local economy, companies that engage in research and development are highly desirable in establishing a healthy blend of professional and skill jobs. 

Several companies now have research and development centers in Cullman, which aids the recruitment of more companies and spurs expansions in the industrial base.

Looking back to Wallace State welcoming Zero RPM in its beginning, and the effort of the economic development staff in this important step, the planning foresight of everyone involved deserves a lot of credit.

We also congratulate Zero RPM for its upcoming award. The company came forward with a highly tested, unique technology that has expanded in a brief time. 

The award is a compliment to the determination and innovation of the company and the community’s commitment to economic development.