Rosta celebrates 80 years: Engineering excellence, globally recognized

The original Rosta headquarters in Switzerland

For more than 35 years, Canadian manufacturers have counted on Rosta Inc. for its world-renowned rubber-suspension products for industrial equipment. In a global context, this is a tradition that actually goes back for eight decades: Rosta’s parent company in Switzerland is observing its 80th anniversary this year. That is more than three-quarters of a century of making top machine components for businesses everywhere. But like those of all large corporations, Rosta’s history stems from humble origins.

Alternative to standard axle suspension

It all started in 1944, in the village of Staufen, Switzerland, where an entrepreneur named Ernest Rohr was commissioned to produce a simple, efficient solution for supporting axles in truck trailers. He developed a new kind of rubber spring element, which he created to support, dampen, and suspend vehicle axles. After patenting this alternative to standard axle suspension, Rohr established a new business, both owned and operated by his family. He christened the company with a unique name that blended his own surname, Rohr, with the name of his hometown, Staufen: Rosta.

The company expanded rapidly over the next decade. This growth was so quick that the headquarters had to move to a bigger plant in Hunzenschwil in 1955. Soon, Rosta expanded to other countries, and its rubber-suspension solutions became the international standard in general mechanical engineering.

Rosta founded its Canadian affiliate, Rosta Inc., in Goodwood, Ont. in the late 1980s. This subsidiary continues to function as a sales and distribution entity for Rosta’s rubber-suspension elements today. Rosta Inc. has succeeded through a wide network of sales personnel who know how to satisfy the needs of end users across the country.

Today, Rosta still maintains its global headquarters in Hunzenschwil, and it continues to thrive in Canada while remaining an international force in rubber-suspension, oscillating-conveyor, and tensioning technology. The company owns six subsidiaries around the world, with dozens of distribution partners, and exports more than 90 per cent of its solutions. With additional locations in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Australia, China, and the United States, Rosta exerts a strong influence over a wide international network.

To learn more, contact Rosta.

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