Leading Linear Motion with Selection, Delivery Time and Digital Tools

Manufacturing companies are becoming quick-change artists. The automotive industry, for example, is experiencing swings in demand between electric and gas-powered vehicles, forcing them to reconfigure their factories more frequently. 

Those factories are automated, which means linear motion providers like Rollon by Timken play an important role, providing the heavy-duty robot transfer units (RTUs) and gantry systems that extend the range of large robots. Rollon stands apart from other providers because its engineers can customize and deliver those systems in a matter of weeks, rather than months — so customers can reconfigure their factories much more quickly to keep up with changing markets.

It’s not just automotive, and it’s not just RTUs and gantry systems, however. “Today many industrial sectors, including medical equipment, semiconductors, rail, aerospace and material handling require the kind of customized linear motion solutions that Rollon provides,” says Rüdiger Knevels, president of Rollon, “and they often need them on an expedited timeline.”

To build a linear motion platform that serves Rollon’s growing customer base, Knevels has led the expansion of its product portfolio to include a wide range of linear components, actuators and systems, ball screws and rotational units. The Rollon team builds each addition into a modular product platform — a business model they pioneered 20 years ago — so that every customer benefits from short customization and delivery times.

“We have a high flexibility today to do whatever customers require, whether it’s a customized linear guide, a three-axis actuator system, or a fully equipped system solution. We innovate for our customers and continue to grow.”

Rudi Knevels
President, Rollon By Timken

Comprehensive linear motion solutions with industry-leading digital access

Rollon became part of The Timken Company in 2018 and has grown dramatically since then. Building on its beginnings as a niche player selling linear components, it now serves as the cornerstone of Timken’s expanding linear motion platform. 

Intelligent Machine Solutions (iMS) joined the platform in 2021, expanding Rollon’s Seventh Axis capabilities with the heavy-duty RTUs and gantry systems that automated factory and warehouse customers find indispensable today.

Nadella Group joined in April of 2023, expanding the breadth of heavy-duty linear motion engineering that Timken customers can rely on — and it brought five other top-notch brands with it. Shuton and Ipiranga produce high-precision ball screws for high-load applications. Durbal and Chiavette Unificate offer rod ends, spherical bearings, linkages, and angular and axial joints. 

Rosa Sistemi joined in October 2023 offering high-precision roller guides — popular with machine tool, metrology and medical equipment customers.

Today, Timken is a one-stop shop for customized linear motion solutions. Rollon’s global salesforce supports the entire product range and soon, customers will be able to access the full portfolio of brands on the MyRollon digital platform. “With MyRollon, customers can identify, select and size products for their applications without calling on our engineers,” says Knevels. “It’s a huge platform, setting us apart as a leader in our market.”

The future remains modular, for more agile customers

Rollon’s expansion and its future are driven by a relentless focus on customers. “We have a high flexibility today to do whatever customers require,” says Knevels, “whether it’s a customized linear guide, a three-axis actuator system, or a fully equipped system solution. We innovate for our customers and continue to grow.”

Because customized, customer-driven solutions are such a big focus for Rollon, the team adds hundreds of new linear motion solutions to the platform every year. To provide localized expertise and on-site problem solving for global customers, plans are in the works to add more Rollon manufacturing facilities around the world. Going forward, customers can also expect to see Rollon products equipped with sensors to support Industry 4.0 initiatives. 

Through its expansion, Rollon’s business model remains its guiding principle. “Whenever we add a brand or a product to our range, we think first about building them into a modular platform,” says Knevels. It’s a model that helps customers act quickly in the face of changing markets, and it’s a winning strategy for Rollon.

The expansion of Timken’s linear motion platform parallels its expansion into precision drive technologies — also in high demand by manufacturing customers. Read more.

Published: 2025/03/9