Friday, November 6, 2026
Marco Island-Robin F. Wissing (Rob) 81, of Marco Island, passed away on December 5, 2025, after a year’s battle with cancer.
Rob was born on August 24, 1944, in Geelong, Australia. He graduated from Gordon Institute of Technology in Australia with degrees in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
Rob had a creative forte. Always designing things ahead of their time. During the 60s, Rob had aced the Mechanical Engineering Technicians Course five years in a row at the Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong, Victoria, and his first job was with Indesco Pty Ltd., a local manufacturer of Hydraulic Presses. At the age of 21, Rob had advanced from being a Design Engineer to the position of Works Manager. In 1966 Rob adventured to the tropics and joined Vickers Hydraulics in Brisbane. He lived on the Gold Coast for three years then moved to the USA as Sales and Service Manager for an Australian manufacturer of Shears and Press Brakes. They went bankrupt and left Rob stranded. A survival plan was needed.
In a matter of weeks, he had completed the design of the “Hydrapower” 10 gauge and ¼” shears.
Rob founded HYDRAPOWER in Brisbane, Australia, in 1969. He registered that company as Rockwell Australia Pty Ltd.
He moved to Norfolk, Virginia, and the name was changed to Rockwell Hydrapower Corp. in 1972. In 1973, Rockwell International purchased the rights to use the Rockwell name in Australia. It then became Hydrapower International Inc., and the HYDRAPOWER trademark was also registered.
Between 1972 and 1974 Hydrapower’s sales had grown rapidly, creating a backlog of over 200 machines. Demand was more than he could supply so manufacturing was also established in Canada with a license agreement with Lupien Machinery.
Meanwhile, Hydrapower’s Press Brakes were being developed and introduced and in 1974, Hydrapower exhibited America’s first working CNC Press Brake at IMTS using a 2-axis control made by Delem in the Netherlands.
With continued demand,Hydrapower established licensed manufacturing in 1979 with Jackson Industries in Birmingham, Alabama. It was a huge manufacturing facility with capacity to spare. Unfortunately, Union disputes forced the owner to decide to retire in 1980 and they closed the plant.
In 1982, Rob moved back to Australia to set up a license with AMC in Perth. The next year the government eliminated all import tariffs, and the Asian manufacturers took over the Australian machinery market.
In 1983, he finished building an advanced Deep Hole Drilling, Boring, Skiving, and Honing machine. He received a government grant in 1984 and won the Outstanding Design of the Year award presented by the Department of Science and Technology. Another creation many years ahead of its time.
Simultaneously, in 1984 Rob moved back to USA and had a contract with GE to develop a robot which very precisely applied the insulation tape on high-capacity generator coils. He moved to Atlanta where he designed and manufactured the robot for GE. Following the closing of the Alabama plant, a licensed manufacturing agreement was established with Hydrapower Machinery Corp and manufacturing began in 1989 in Palmetto, Georgia.
The designs of the Hydrapower range of Press Brakes expanded rapidly and a 180 ton x 42’ was built for Walker Metal Products Inc., in Atlanta in 1991 and became North America’s biggest followed by a 500 ton x 42’ Press Brake built for GEA Rainey Corp., Tulsa, OK. At that time, it became North America’s biggest, then, in 1992, a contract was received from Autocrane in Russia for a 42’ x 2000 ton CNC Press Brake which became North America’s biggest until it was shipped and became Russia’s biggest.
In 1995, Grupo Polesa in Guadalajara, Mexico, issued a contract for a complete pole manufacturing plant consisting of a 50’ x 2000 ton CNC Press Brake which became North America’s biggest and a tandem 600 ton x 25’, a 1000 ton x 50’ and a 12’ x ½” Shear. They became North America's biggest fabricating facility.
In 1997, Taller Industrias Pionero S.A. in Escobedo, Mexico purchased a manufacturing license and built a 2500 ton x 40’ and it became another of the biggest in North America.
More orders for big machines were received including a major purchase from SMGT Pty Ltd, Singapore for 13 Press Brakes 3000 tons x 42’ shipped to 11 different countries during the next 5 years.
With the recognition of Rob’s advanced designs, users sought out bigger machines. By the 90s machine lengths had increased to 50 feet and tonnages had increased to 3000 tons. Five of North America’s biggest machines were built by Hydrapower.
In 2009, he developed the range of V Groovers, which are the world’s most advanced.
He turned the “Hydrapower” brand into the largest Product line in the world of metal working machinery.
His most significant creation is the Smart Vane Wind Generator which can produce electricity, cost-effectively, in mild conditions and can close its doors to withstand hurricanes.
He is an honorary member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
He was always known as the “quiet achiever.”
His two passions in life were designing on his drawing board and racing.
It was at that time in Georgia in1984 he decided to pursue his passion for racing. He graduated from the Jim Russell British School of Motor Racing in Charlotte, NC, and was on the lookout to purchase a race car. After visiting several plants, one of which was the Van Diemen plant in London, he purchased in 1984 a 1981 Van Diemen formerly owned by Michael Andretti. His first race was in Daytona at the end of that year, and the racing bug set in. He won many races and was the Southeastern Formula Ford champion in 1986 and also in 1991. He retired from driving and started teaching driver’s school.
He moved to Marco Island in 1996 and enjoyed the warm weather, boating, and the beach.
He is predeceased by his father, Frederick Wissing, mother Thelma “Schmidt” Wissing, brother Alfred Wissing, and sister Glenys Jerinic.
Rob is survived by his devoted wife Carol of 38 years and loving son Christopher, brother-in-law Paul Pankiewicz of Rhode Island and first cousin Shirley Johnson of Alabama and also his family in Australia, brother-in-law Joe Jerinic, sister-in-law Flip Wissing, nephews Farley Jerinic, niece Fiona Jerinic and nephews Owen, Mark and Dean Wissing.
A Mass of Christian burial at San Marco Church, 851 San Marco Rd, Marco Island, FL, will be held on January 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at Marco Island Cemetery, 489 W. Elkcam Circle, Marco Island, FL.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Avow Hospice Care Center in Naples, avowcares.org.
January 1, 2026 Coastal Breeze News
