Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | August 24, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 9 producer. Prices range from $65 to just over $100 per ball, depending on make and model. Candlepin balls are 4.5 inches in diameter, with a maximum weight of two pounds, seven ounces. Beyond his repair-related inno- vations, Emilio invented a method to produce vibrant and attractive colored balls. His contributions to the sport led to him being inducted into the International Candlepin Bowling Association's Hall of Fame in 1987. Paramount- and EPCO-branded balls were ubiquitous on Aug. 15 at the Atlantic Candlepin Singles Tour championships, held at Ryan Family Amusements in Millis. e rise of the ACST shows the sport's continued popularity, as it has grown from a handful of bowl- ers when it launched about a decade ago, to more than 150 bowlers today. Matches are oen broadcast live on YouTube. e support of candlepin by the Parrellas has been key to its success, said Paul Grant, an unofficial ambas- sador for the sport and a play-by-play announcer for matches on YouTube's Candlepin Bowling Network ac- count. "ey'll do anything to pull up the sport," Grant said, speaking in between matches at the ACST championship. "ey try to obviously sell their products, but they're really professional about it." Bowling balls account for about 35% to 40% of the companies' busi- ness, Robert said, with the companies producing balls for duckpin bowling, another variation of the game found mostly in southern New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Boche and billiard balls are among its other sports-relat- ed products. Diversification Robert and Richard call themselves the world's worst marketers, but the firms' ability to produce precise and balanced balls has spread via word of mouth. One of the first steps the broth- ers made when they took over the business was diversification of its products. e brothers deliberately avoided entering the crowded market for 10-pin bowling products. "Now our problem is we can out- produce the entire small bowling ball market in six months," Richard said. "Rather than get into and compete with 50 million other companies, we said 'Let's do what they don't do.'" at strategy led EPCO into pre- cision ball manufacturing for NASA rocket nose cones, trackball devices for early Atari video game consoles, submarine navigation systems, and military guidance technology for Virginia-based defense manufactur- er Raytheon. EPCO has produced novelty items, including crystal balls for fortune-tellers. Robert said outside companies oen approach EPCO because of its reputation for precision work for balls that must meet exact specifications for balance, roundness, and tempera- ture tolerance. Automotive shi knobs have become especially significant, now representing roughly 45% of the com- pany's business, made under license for firms like Ford, Toyota, General Motors, and Peterbilt. Richard said the best thing the state could do to support local manufac- turers is eliminate red tape. Beyond bureaucracy, the company has had to navigate COVID-related disruptions and the unpredictability of President Donald Trump Administration tariffs. Supplier consolidation has made red dye – among the company's most expensive and difficult materials to source – harder to obtain, forcing EPCO to buy India-sourced products in far larger quantities than it previ- ously needed. John's son, his son-in-law, and one of Richard's sons are among the next generation of workers at the com- pany. Richard sees them either taking over the firm at some point or serving as guides to a hypothetical buyer. With EPCO approaching its 75th anniversary next year, Emilio's legacy lives on. "My father was 14 when he came to this country, "Robert said. "is is the land of opportunity. Come here, do the right thing, work hard, and you'll get rewarded." W A great banking relationship? You'll know it when you see it. Pictured: Elyson dos Santos, Rockland Trust Business Banker Marc Catanese, Owner of X-Golf Worcester Member FDIC To learn more, visit: RocklandTrust.com/BusinessSupport E. Parrella Co. Inc.'s Medway facility can produce precise and balanced spheres of all shapes and sizes. PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT $0.0 $0.3 $0.6 $0.9 $1.2 $1.5 $0.72 $0.80 $0.70 $0.90 $0.65 $0.97 $0.94 $0.70 $1.05 $1.00 $1.34 Global price of rubber (dollars per pound) 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Rubber prices One challenge facing bowling ball manufacturers like E. Parrella Co.. Inc. is the rising cost of rubber. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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