The Rollon Group, the world's leading Italian manufacturer of linear guides and systems for linear movement, is constantly expanding its Linear Technology Portfolio with company acquisitions as of some time ago IMS. Now the parent company has Timken can Nadella group taken over. The portfolio linear axes, guide rail, telescopic rail and Heavy duty guidance is constantly growing. Click here for this and other news.

Rollon Dusseldorf

Content:

Nadella acquisition expands product portfolio

27.06.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX | After Rollon took over the Nadella Group in April, the solution provider exhibited at the Automatica already joint products. Rüdiger Knevels, CEO of the Rollon Group, gives us an interview behind the scenes of the next portfolio expansion, which incidentally is particularly complementary. We asked him the following questions at Automatica 2023 in Munich: 

  • How is Rollon? economically by 2023?
  • What does the takeover mean Nadella Group for Rollon?
  • What is the essence of this complementary product range? 
  • How did you Integration planned for Nadella's 450 employees?
  • How far are you on the way to Global player, leading international provider of customer-specific solutions and digital services?
  • What New Products will Rollon present at Automatica 2023?



Timken Group acquires Nadella

04.05.2023 | On April 04, 2023, the Timken Company announced the acquisition of Nadella group completed. Nadella is a leading manufacturer of linear guides, telescopic slides, linear axes, ball screws, rotary bodies and other specialized industrial system solutions that will round off and expand Rollon's product portfolio in the field of linear technology.

Nadella is based in Italy and employs 450 employees. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Europe and China coupled with a global distribution network. It achieved sales of around 2022 million euros in 100.

"The addition of Nadella to the Rollon and Timken families allows us to expand our product offering into attractive, growing end-market sectors," commented Rüdiger Knevels, CEO of the Rollon Group.

Nadella brings long-standing client relationships, deep technical expertise and unique operational capabilities that demonstrate why the company is an ideal complement to Rollon and its parent company Timken represents.

Both companies manufacture products for highly complementary end market sectors such as robotics, automation, logistics, medical technology, food and beverage and packaging. According to Rollon, all customers would benefit from the expanded range of products and services and the strength of the combined companies.

Rollon takes over American linear technology specialist IMS

Aug 24.08.2021, XNUMX | Rollon has himself for more than 40 years specialized in developing and producing linear motion systems. Intelligent Machine Solutions Inc. (IMS) is a US manufacturer of standard and custom linear assemblies for the Automation

"The acquisition of IMS builds on our many years of engineering know-how and enables us to increase our competitiveness and realize new sales in the area of ​​linear heavy-duty applications," explains Rüdiger Knevels, CEO of Rollon. "This deal expands our product range and creates new opportunities for us in the growing, approx. € 600 million segment for robot travel units."

In addition to the very high load capacities These traversing axes and linear axes for robots are suitable for automation in many industries. The modular, application-specific, adaptable linear technology makes Rollon applications simple, easy and quick to assemble. Their robust steel construction, the high positioning accuracy based on the rack and pinion drive with servodriven as well as the standard multi-axis configurations are further advantages for the user.

Digital knowledge platform for even greater customer proximity

13.07.2021/XNUMX/XNUMX | Rollon is now sharing its know-how and knowledge from Rollon applications with its customers. After the Rollon philosophy was previously focused on customer orientation, application advice and individual solutions, the specialist for linear systems for movements is now going one step further. On his new blog Design together the company continues to expand its close proximity to customers.

  • How can automation be advanced with linear technology?
  • How does the designer select the right linear guide or linear axis in his daily work?
  • What factors should be considered when designing a 7th axis? In polluted environments, why should a linear guide be used with rollers?  
  • How can companies save costs?

For example, there are questions like this the new blog von Rollon under the motto "Designing together: Innovative solutions for linear movements and automation" answers.


The whole world of igus robots


The blog gives development engineers and designers access to the extensive specialist knowledge and valuable experience of the linear technology experts. You will gradually add information to the blog and the digital knowledge platform expand and maintain everything to do with linear technology. Various categories and filters as well as a keyword search guide the reader to the appropriate article. A monthly newsletter informs about new articles.

Linear technology creatively moves countless applications

20.04.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX | Offers on a modular platform Rollon Linear Technology an extremely wide range of services for countless markets. Especially Niche applications the employees meet with a high degree of creativity and flexibility for a high degree of individual adaptation to the application of their customers. The video gives an insight behind the scenes and a look into the Future the Rollon linear technology. 

 

20.02.2020/XNUMX/XNUMX | On the way to becoming a global player, we have Rollon Sales Manager Jorg Lillpopp asked about strategy, economic development, timken integration and much more. In times of Brexit, trade war USA-China and Co. the develops Linear Technology Specialist from components to system provider from linear guides and linear axes and works on models where electrical and mechanical linear technology does more than just move. In Predictive maintenance and Condition monitoring one sees great opportunities for Rollon Lineartechnik, Industry 4.0 helping to shape the next generation.

 

Content of the interview with the following questions: 

Economic development of the Rollon Group

What is the sign of Rollon in the 45th year of its existence? What is currently challenging you and your employees?

In order to transform a company with worldwide locations into a global company, we are working intensively to organize the Rollon Group accordingly. One of the measures is that Conversion into a matrix organization for the most important areas of sales, marketing, business development and production.

Another task is the construction and expansion of other locations for localization. This is necessary in order to meet the requirements of the markets and thus our customers with fast response times and short delivery times. The process of technical development, product design and the use of innovative manufacturing technologies that our product range is currently going through are also very exciting.


Igus linear guide as a quiet, maintenance-free alternative


The difficult political and economic environment is another challenge for us. 2019 we were able to show an increase in sales compared to the previous year, which was an exception in our industry. But this did not pass us by completely without a trace. In 2020 Our business model certainly helps us to assume that we will grow again this year.

Rollon has been part of the Timken Group since 2018: How far are you with the integration?

The word 'integration' only fits to a limited extent. Rollon remains independent to a very high degree. We find ourselves in the MPT division of the Timken Group, in which several other companies from the division Mechanical power transmission operate. Integration mainly only takes place in the administrative areas of human resource and finance. Here we like to benefit from the professional concept of the Timken Group with regard to employee development, talent development programs and incentives.


We are not experiencing any change in sales. Timken is convinced of our successful business model and allows us to pursue and expand it.

Timken is also very well organized in the USA, and the Chinese market is also very well penetrated. We will certainly use the existing network to strengthen Rollon and penetrate the markets.

How do you think Timken benefits from Rollon?

Our business model has Timken interested and ultimately bought us for that reason. Modularity and customersation are the topics that can certainly be used as a model in other companies in the MPT Group. Rollon is in this area and continues to expand in the area Drive Technology play a role.

What impact do global, political and economic developments have on your business?

Well, we cannot influence the political situation and we have to face the daily challenges of the respective situation. Our main business in the UK is done through global companies and we therefore expect little to no impact on our business. We also think that the US-China trade dispute is less of a burden for us.

Our local presence in these countries and less the trade between the countries will support us. Of course, we have to consider and compare the impact of possible trade tariffs on our customers in these countries, which could ultimately also affect us.

Otherwise, the global is still positive Transportation and logistics trend recognizable. High investments in the aviation and rail way sectors, but also the strong trends, the changed purchasing behavior and the rapid availability of any product, whether in the consumer sector or in industry, mean that strong growth can be expected in these market segments. These are already our markets and we will continue to invest in them and grow with them.  

Technical developments at Rollon

In the spirit of Industry 4.0, companies are increasingly relying on customer-specific products. How does it look at Rollon?

Here we are already talking exactly about our business model of customer-specific solutions and the trend that companies are moving away from components to System providers develop. This is our world, we will continue to adapt to these requirements from our customer area, be it for handling, Robot or cobots or other automation areas.

We are working on models in the field of 'Condition Monitoring' and 'Predictive Maintenance' for automation. Details cannot be discussed here and now. But we see in the subject Industry 4.0 still big challenges around the topic Big data management and also opportunities related to the topic Services as a possibly new business model. A topic to which we give many possibilities in our strategies.

How is Rollon positioned in terms of online marketplace in the Amazon age?

Online marketplaces are a minor issue for us right now. Distribution through a own webshop as a further channel is of course part of our customer journey strategy. In connection with our promotion of customeration for products that require explanation anyway, some roadblockers have to be eliminated beforehand. Customer satisfaction must be guaranteed even with such a large project.

In the online area, we are initially concentrating on providing a good basis for the right product selection. Here we are already working with a specially developed preselection tool, calculation program and code creator.

These tools are currently in the test phase. The goal, of course, is to make it accessible to our customers online.  

That brings the future at Rollon Lineartechnik

What innovations are you exhibiting at the 2020 spring trade fairs?

It will be one Product launch provide with innovations and product extensions in the field of components and linear axes systems for linear movements for our roll-on applications in various sectors such as industry Automation, Rail Way, Logistics, Aviation, vehicle technology, Medical Technology and Technical Building Services.


Cobot with a higher range thanks to the linear axis Rollon


Rollon creates a uniform design for its products. Personally, I'm really looking forward to what we're about to see at the Logimat in Stuttgart, the Aircraft Interiors in Hamburg, the Interpack in Düsseldorf, the Interschutz in Hanover and the Automatica will perform in Munich in the first half of the year in Germany. We also exhibit at some trade fairs abroad, such as the Progetto Fuoco in Verona or the Metalloobrabotka in Moscow and the IMTS in Chicago.

What goals has Rollon set for the new decade?

We want a big one under Timken and in the field of MPT Platform for linear guides offer, use the meaningful overlaps with the other companies in the group and expand them further. We want to operate globally as a roll-on and produce globally. We want to develop Rollon Lineartechnik into the leader of customer-specific systems, also taking into account the requirements of Industry 4.0.

We are already dealing with the topic and continue to do so Next Generation, Our company must remain interesting as an employer for the next generation. We want to prepare the company well and with foresight for all requirements such as products, markets, services in connection with next generation. 

Editor's note: The interview with the linear technology specialist was actually supposed to be a video, but hurricane Sabine thwarted our plans. Many thanks to Klaus Hermes, Marketing Manager at Rollon, who put Jörg Lillpopp's interview preparations into words.

Who is Rollon?

The Rollon Group is a global manufacturer of linear guidance technology with headquarters in Vimercate, Italy near Milan. Based in Düsseldorf and with 110 employees, Rollon GmbH, founded in 1975, is part of the Rollon Group (approx. 600 employees) and offers not only the production of standard products, but also customer-specific solutions. With 14 sales engineers in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, the company supports its customers across the board. The product portfolio includes linear guides, telescopic guides, linear axes and multi-axis systems. Website: https://www.rollon.com/deu/de/

You might also be interested in...

linear guide | Precise, light, durable

linear guide | Precise, light, durable

With a linear guide, linear or rectilinear movements in machines and...
Cobot | Discover collaborative robots as a new employee

Cobot | Discover collaborative robots as a new employee

The introduction of cobots or collaborative robots into production halls is in full swing. This revolutionary...
Linear axis | Precision and drive diversity

Linear axis | Precision and drive diversity

The linear axis is a core component in automation and precision measurement technology. Here we present you...
Telescopic rails | For furniture, cars, industry

Telescopic rails | For furniture, cars, industry

Telescopic slides are essential elements in a wide range of applications, from kitchen pull-outs to industrial...
Heavy duty rails | High loads welcome

Heavy duty rails | High loads welcome

For the transport of heavy loads and large masses such as in fire brigade or military vehicles, on the train, in...
Linear rail + linear axis also for heavy loads

Linear rail + linear axis also for heavy loads

Rollon has always focused on the needs of its customers with the aim of offering them high added value and...