RotoMetrics: A 50-Year History

ST. LOUIS—This year, RotoMetrics celebrates its 50-year history in the die business. In 1957, Richard R. Rosemann, the founder of Roto-Die, later to become RotoMetrics, began designing and manufacturing simple rotary dies in St. Louis, Mo., for the earliest flexographic press manufacturers. In the 50 years that followed, those first Roto-Die tools would continue to have a presence in the global industry.

Throughout the years, the RotoMeterics product offering grew and evolved from hardened blades and chrome-plated dies in the 1960s, to fully hardened tool steel dies, print cylinders , and other rotary tools in the 1970s. From the late 1970s through the early 1980s, RotoMetrics automated its processes by adding CNC machining capabilities, which ultimately replaced the pantograph for die manufacturing. With the later addition of EDM manufacturing techniques and other technologies, RotoMetrics effectively ushered in a new era of automation, and set a new industry standard for delivery times.

RotoMetrics also led the way toward industry globalization in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. With the opening of RotoMetrics International in the U.K. in 1989, RotoMetrics became the first manufacturer of rotary tooling to open an international office. Locations in other countries followed, leading to the global presence RotoMetrics enjoys today, with offices and representatives in Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and India.

After 50 years in business, what does the future hold for RotoMetrics? Continued innovation and leadership, the company says, like working with evolving filmic materials and increasingly thinner liners and face stocks and planning for the challenges of tomorrow, such as RFID labels, laser die cutting, new manufacturing, order management, and delivery technologies.