Rototilt sets new standards to provide maximum compatibility to customers

In 2020, Rototilt introduced a new generation of QuickChange™ automatic quick coupler as well as the Open-S standard for hydraulic couplers. Patrik Eder spoke to Wolfgang Vogl, CEO Rototilt GmbH, about these solutions, economic goals, future development of the market and promising partnerships.

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PE: The pandemic situation negatively affected the business of many companies. How severe have been the economic impacts for Rototilt?

WV: There was a minor impact at Rototilt. We certainly did not meet our ambitious growth targets for 2020, but we ended up more or less at the same level as in 2019, which is a fantastic result under the given circumstances. By 2021 we will be back on a growth path, both in terms of personnel and sales. This may be driven by QuickChange™, our fully hydraulic quick connect system, which was introduced as Generation II in early 2020.

PE: What are the main features of the Rototilt QuickChange?

WV: QuickChange™ allows an automatic coupling of hydraulic and electric functions within seconds and directly from operator’s cab. The completely new developed Generation II of QuickChange™, which received the German Innovation Award 2020, allows an extended oil flow compared to Generation I and is in series equipped with our quick coupler safety system SecureLock™ (patent pending) which received the German Innovation Award 2019 and is aided by BG Bau in Germany as especially safe quick coupler system. In addition, it can be combined with all products of the openS initiative.

PE: Can you provide more details on the Open-S standard? How successful has the initiative been so far?

WV: The openS initiative is based on the firm will of the participants to provide all customers with a reliable standard in order to be able to buy the components of a fully hydraulic system (attachment frame, quick coupler, etc.) from different suppliers without having to fear incompatibility. This is based on coordinated dimensions, tolerances, etc. which, similar to the S standard for hydraulic couplers, ensure full compatibility. In this way, the customer gets back his freedom to select his preferred partner instead of being dependent on one dominant supplier. Overall, this initiative is gaining more and more interest and besides the founders there are also various other applicants, not only from Scandinavia, but also from other European countries.

PE: What is your opinion on the development of the attachment sector in Europe? Can we expect further growth?

WV: Rototilt expects a growth in the attachment sector, especially as tiltrotators are becoming more and more common also outside the Nordic countries. Driven by the new flexibility provided by tiltrotators, excavators have a wider range of applications and also a growing need for diversified attachments, optimized for special applications. Beside that the strong growth of fully hydraulic couplers, which allows changing attachments fast and easy drives the demand for user specific respectively application optimized solutions.

PE: What do you expect from the global partnership with Volvo CE?

WV: Rototilt expects to strengthen its position as preferred supplier of dealers and customers worldwide on top of already existing factory supply agreements with other brands. Besides that, a technical integration always optimizes the performance of two systems working together, especially when clearly defined interfaces allow e. g. the use of excavator systems like DigAssist together with the tiltrotator like one unit.

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Company overview

Rototilt is a Swedish company established in 2007. It has been a leader manufacturer of tiltrotators for more than 30 years. Moreover, Rototilt's portfolio consists of other heavy machinery attachments such as couplers, grapples, buckets or compactors.