Our Company

Nothing Happens Unless You Make It Happen.

TPM, Inc. is a leading technology company headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. TPM is proud of its reputation of providing cutting-edge solutions to the engineering and design community for the past 40 years.

Integrity is the foundation of our company. Being a family business with strong Southern values, TPM expects nothing but the best from our employees. At TPM, we expect our representatives to ask themselves every day to do the right thing on every design, printing job, project and contract. We expect them to embrace change, become experts in the field, and provide our customers with exceptional leadership in the design and print industry-and they do.

Our History

1973

TPM was founded with $700 in 1973 by a man who does not lose. The sheer will of Jerry Cooper made TPM the business it is today.

Jerry credits his passionate, driven spirit to his father, a mill worker and part-time minister. Jerry’s father encouraged strong morals and a positive outlook. Jerry grew up just south of Piedmont, South Carolina, with a close-knit family that valued service to community and country, faith in people’s inherent goodness, and doing the right thing. This foundation continues to guide TPM, along with another Cooper family dictum: never stop learning.

Jerry’s experience, insight, and character would allow him to identify and embrace promising business opportunities later on. While working as a draftsman, Jerry realized printing blueprints could be lucrative to pay for college and pursue an engineering degree. Already dedicated to embracing change, Jerry purchased his first blueprinting machine, set up shop, and just like that, TPM (The Print Machine) was born.

1985

TPM liquidates drafting supplies and moves into providing technology.

1985

TPM begins selling and leasing wide-format printers, accessories, software, and supplies.

1985

TPM opens its second office in Columbia, SC.

1989

TPM introduces Autodesk design software and training.

1992

TPM ColorLab division was launched to provide large-format graphic solutions.

1993

TPM creates its Manufacturing division to support manufacturing customers with 2D mechanical design solutions.

2000

TPM introduces SOLIDWORKS as part of its product offering and training and support for the software.

2001

TPM expands into 3D printing to support the ABS rapid prototyping and product modeling needs of manufacturers.

2006

TPM introduces a brand new logo and branding.

2009

TPM expands its document and printing solutions offerings with the introduction of the Canon line of small-format printers.

2009

TPM expands into the Charlotte, NC area by acquisition – becoming a significant provider of plotters, Autodesk, and printing solutions in the area

2009

TPM opens its third office in Charlotte, NC.

2012

TPM expands its area of SOLIDWORKS offering into North Carolina through acquisition.

2016

TPM expands its 3D printing product offerings with the Markforged line of 3D printers.

2018

TPM launches its 3D printing division to better support 3D printing customers.

2018

TPM expands its 3D printing product offerings with the HP line of 3D printers.

2021

TPM expands its 3D printing product offerings with the 3D Systems line of 3D printers through acquisition.

2021

TPM expands its 3D scanning product and services capabilities by offering Artec 3D and Leica Geosystems 3D scanners and 3D scanning services.

2021

TrebleHook, TPM’s sister company, is launched as a CRM solution, improving project pursuit processes for architects, engineers, and construction professionals.

Our Mission

We strive to satisfy our business partners’ needs in a manner that exceeds their expectations for product value, service, support, and training. Customers are not loyal to companies; customers are loyal to persons who are friendly, fair, honest, professional, and who “GO THE EXTRA MILE.”

Trademark: Thinking

Our Company is built by people who agree to be a “Professional Thinker.” Every employee is empowered to provide superior customer service and is expected to treat each customer as he or she expects to be treated.

Great Expectations

“Nothing happens unless you make it happen.” Not only is the market changing, but the speed of those changes is increasing weekly. We must embrace the change; Never Stop Learning

Our Success Principles

WE Make Our Customers Truly Successful

WE Lead by Example

WE Employ & Develop the Very Best People

WE Believe in Being Unique

WE Protect Our Culture

WE Drive Sustainable & Profitable Growth

WE Communicate Openly & Courageously

WE Leverage Our Engine

WE Value Relationships

WE Keep It Simple