Who We Are
Since 1984, R.L. Scott & Associates has helped customers navigate processing and packaging equipment challenges with confidence.
A Family Legacy of Industry Experience
R.L. Scott & Associates was founded in 1984 by Bob “R.L.” Scott. Bob started his career in technical sales and worked up through corporate sales management roles, spanning many industries—medical, oil, gas, nuclear, chemical, and the food industry—across the West Coast. While many sectors fluctuated with the economy, the food industry always remained steady, because “people have to eat.”
Being a natural problem solver, Bob conducted in-depth market studies of the industry and dug right in—driving all over the Northwest making site visits, getting meetings that turned into inquisitive questions, and coaxing people into giving him plant tours simply so he could learn more about what they did. Through this, he discovered that many companies faced the same process and packaging challenges, which piqued Bob’s desire to find solutions that solved real problems to help real people. His technical background fueled his desire to become the technical subject matter expert, providing genuine value to his customers beyond that of a typical salesman. Knowing how it works was more important than knowing it does work. This philosophy is what inspired the company motto: “Providing Value Through Our Experience Since 1984.”
Bill Scott joined the company in 1990 after graduating from college. Originally planning a career in medicine to fulfill his passion for helping people, he agreed to take a break to help his dad “for a year.” Much like his dad, Bill jumped right into the technical side, quickly established relationships, and started solving complex process and packaging problems.
He discovered the same personal gratification in helping his clients that had initially drawn him to medicine—which ultimately cemented his career in the family business.
In 2003, after thirteen years of establishing himself in the business, Bill purchased R.L. Scott & Associates and continues to lead the company today. Under his leadership, the business has continued to grow with the same founding principles. We have been blessed in that our customers are not merely clients and partners but, more importantly, our friends. Regular visits to the grocery store, where he sees his clients’ products on the shelves, created—and still creates—a sense of personal pride.
Today, our footprint includes an installation base exceeding 2,000 clients and over $700 million in completed projects across the United States and globally, wherever our clients’ operations take us. Our corporate office is headquartered in Eagle, Idaho, with an additional field office operating in Hubbard, OR (just south of Portland) to seamlessly cover the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The RLS mark — a family name, carried forward.
Built on decades of real-world application experience
Our customers often start with the same questions:
- What’s the right way to do this?
- Are there solutions available to solve this problem?
- How do we know which manufacturers are truly viable?
- What are the proper steps to sourcing a solution?
- What should I know to make a solid decision?
- How much will this cost?
We bring clarity to those decisions by evaluating process requirements, throughput goals, product characteristics, facility constraints, and long-term serviceability, so customers have confidence to invest in equipment and systems that work best for them.
From handling bulk ingredients to finished packaged goods, we bring deep application knowledge across food, nutraceutical, chemical, mineral, plastics, and related industries. Our involvement spans the full project lifecycle, from early concept and system layout through equipment sourcing, project coordination, installation oversight, and startup support. The manufacturers we choose as exclusive or preferred partners have been thoroughly vetted by our team for leading technology, top quality, performance, reliability, and long-term support.
A 42 year presence in the Pacific Northwest doesn’t happen by accident. Many of our customer relationships span decades, a reflection of trust earned through a commitment to doing what is right.
- Advise on process and packaging equipment decisions
- Evaluate products, processes, facilities, and constraints
- Recommend vetted equipment solutions
- Source, supply, and coordinate equipment
- Integrate complete lines and systems
- Support projects from early concept through startup
