Roto Inside 24 (EN)

Roto Inside | 6.2013 2 | In the hot seat Roto Inside: A little over a year ago, Roto Frank AG acquired the Canadian hardware manufacturer Fasco. In April it an- nounced the acquisition of the Brazilian aluminium special- ist Fermax.What makes a company an interesting takeover candidate for the Roto Group? Dr. Keill: Two things: on the one hand, its regional market and, on the other hand, its product know-how. The Roto Group is a global player, but it does not yet have an equal presence in all regions of the world. Canada and Brazil, for example, are clearly among the markets in which we want to and are able to grow. That’s also why we want to produce there. With Fasco and Fermax we have purchased a company in each country with good access to the market and product know-how that expands our expertise. Roto Inside: Like in the case of the takeover of Gluske-BKV in 2008? Dr. Keill: Yes, exactly like that. In over 75 years of company history, Roto has matured into the world market leader for Tilt&Turn hardware. However, the Roto Group is naturally far more than that today. That’s due in part to the successful acquisitions and integrations carried out over the past several years. For example, by purchasing Gluske-BKV five years ago, Roto become an extremely attractive partner for door manufacturers. The entire product range from a single source – today Roto is the only supplier world-wide that can fully equip a manufacturer of high-quality doors with door hinges, multi-point locking systems, door thresholds and glazing packers. Today we are harvesting the fruits of the successful integration of Gluske-BKV. By purchasing Fasco we have also added products to our portfolio which have made Roto attractive for new customers. Our colleagues at Roto USA are already benefiting from this. And we expect the same effect in Brazil. Roto Inside: According to the management’s taste, what products still need to be added to the portfolio of the Roto Group? Dr. Keill: It’s not so much a question of taste as a clear product strategy. If you want to understand the world market for win- dows, it can, for example, be divided according to the types of window opening mechanisms. In markets in which opening is carried out by turning and tilting, there’s no doubt that Roto tradi- tionally has a lot to offer for window manufacturers. However, we want to grow with the products for sliding windows and doors. Fasco and Fermax both have excellent products and customer contacts that help us. Roto Inside: What role do the people in the companies play with regard to the acquisitions? Dr. Keill: They have the know-how in terms of products and the market. However, perhaps more importantly, they enjoy the trust of window manufacturers. Naturally, we also want to benefit from that trust. Up until now we have succeeded in making many employees of the acquired companies enthusiastic about Roto. They have become valued new employees in the Group’s teams, and they make an important contribution to strategic and opera- tive work. That is of major importance for the success of a growth strategy that is also based on acquisitions. If the specialists of a company are lost following a takeover, then it’s not only regret- table with regard to the people involved; it also means a measur- able loss in value. Roto Inside: Doesn’t the investment in additional markets and production sites involve a certain risk, especially now in view of a possible downturn in the world economy? Dr. Keill: We don’t foresee a massive downturn in the global economy. However, very difficult conditions in some markets are to be expected due to the national debt crisis. And that doesn’t make our life any easier. Nevertheless, at Roto we always try not to lose sight of our mid and long-term goals. We always live in a growth market, i.e. the market for “air-tight, convenient windows and doors”. And that’s why we are strong and consistent in our actions, even when the wind is against us. Although sailing against the wind is more difficult, sometimes it’s necessary – and it’s always possible. A discussion with the Board Chairman of Roto Frank AG, Dr. Eckhard Keill ■■ New at Roto If you want to find out about hardware and locking concepts in door technology, the experts at the Roto Competence Centre Door in Austria’s Kalsdorf are just what you need.You can quench your thirst for knowledge in a newly set-up exhibition, which is being used as an information and training centre by more and more customers. All conventional door variants can be viewed on an exhibition area of over 100 square metres. There are currently 17 door exhibits, which allow the visitors to see how different Roto hardware and locking concepts work when installed – from classic multi-point locking systems for single and double- leafed doors to electronic locking systems and door hinges, thresholds and accessories for timber, aluminium and PVC doors. “For many years, the Roto site in Kalsdorf has stood for our expertise when it comes to doors. We want to ensure our customers and partners in trade and industry can experience this expertise”, says Heiner Dolinar, Director for Product Marketing Door and the head of the exhibition in Kalsdorf. “With the newly installed exhibition, we can present a large variety of systems and solutions for different market requirements to visitors from all over the world.” Unique production depth The already high visitor volume does not surprise Heiner Dolinar: “The production, which adjoins the exhibition and seminar rooms, offers more, really interesting insights. Many of our visitors are particularly impressed by the production depth which is used to manufacture the systems that they use later on.” Roto Door exhibition in Kalsdorf Everything new – Right there! Visit the exhibition on-screen If you really can’t wait to see the exhibition, Heiner Dolinar can take you on a virtual tour through the new rooms. A German video, also available with Polish and Russian subtitles, can be found on www.roto-frank.com. && Visiting Roto – the video of the new showroom in Kalsdorf can be found at: www.roto-frank.com/en/door Roto Frank Russia Award for best medium-sized business ■■ New at Roto For the third time, the Russian-German Chamber of ForeignTrade, based in Moscow, has awarded the Otto-Wolff-von-Amerongen-Mittelstandspreis. Roto was awarded the prize for best German company with business activity in Russia.The prize is awarded every two years to one company only. The Roto Group has been active in Russia since 1996. Since then, the group has invested 30 million euros. One of the group’s many investments was the establishment of a modern factory in Noginsk, which led to the creation of approximately 500 new jobs. The Roto company group was chosen because the jury felt that it had built a valuable bridge between the German and Russian economies. In their opinion Roto played a part in the development of partnerships and collaborations with medium-sized companies in Russia, and worked sustainably and ecologically. Furthermore, with their high direct investments and social involvement, Roto made a valuable contribution to the development of the Russian real economy. Exhibition and training centre in one: the newly designed presentation rooms of Roto Competence Centre Door in Kalsdorf. There are currently 17 door exhibits, which allow the visitors to see the how different Roto hardware and locking concepts work when installed. In 2008, Roto opened a new factory in Noginsk, which now employs around 420 people. Matthias Eberlein, Roto Market Director for Russia, accepted the Otto-Wolff-von-Amerongen- Mittelstandspreis in the Russian-German Chamber of Foreign Trade in Moscow on 25 April 2013 for the best German company with business activity in Russia.

Roto Inside 24 (EN)

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