Rol-Tec boosts offerings with Axis Machine purchase

GREEN BAY, Wis.—Rol-Tec Inc. has significantly expanded its capabilities and product portfolio with the acquisition of high precision grinder Axis Machine Co.

Axis Machine, which is based in a 20,000-sq.-ft. facility in Green Bay just one block away from Rol-Tec's headquarters and plant, will operate as a division of Rol-Tec out of its present factory.

Rol-Tec produces rubber and cast urethane roller coverings, tungsten carbide roller coatings, urethane molded parts and laser engraved rubber coverings, and is a provider of roller machining services. The deal extends its offerings to include precision-grinded chrome, tungsten and metal rollers with the acquisition, said Matt Umentum, Rol-Tec president and CEO.

He added that the equipment needed "to do this type of work is large and very expensive. We will now also have expanded surface grinding capabilities."

Financial details of the transaction, which closed May 1, were not disclosed.

Five of the six Axis Machine employees have been retained; the sixth has reached retirement age and is moving on from the company. Umentum said he anticipates up to 10 additional jobs will be added within the next year.

"We will retain the office staff so orders continue to flow smoothly," he said. "The previous executive team will not be retained. We will be bringing in Rol-Tec management to 'cross pollinate' our systems and culture to Axis Machine along with our sales and customer service teams."

Umentum will serve as president and CEO of both operations.

He said the acquisition allows Rol-Tec, which operates out of a 70,000-sq.-ft. plant in Green Bay and employs 70, to be a single source provider for both rubber covered and precision ground rollers, both of which are used in many industrial applications.

"One of the major assets that Rol-Tec will bring to Axis Machine is an experienced team of sales and customer service advisers," Umentum said. "Our team is proficient in identifying those customers and industries that can benefit from the umbrella of unique services Rol-Tec offers.

"In the past, we have identified industries such as flexographic printing or blown film, and made targeted efforts to acquire equipment and experienced people to provide complete roller services and molded parts to these specific industries. The Axis Machine acquisition helps us complete our offerings with skilled metal grinding craftsmen to many targeted industries deeper in the supply chain."

Axis Machine has more than 20 years of experience in outside diameter, inside diameter, cylindrical and centerless grinding, and can precision-grind rollers more than 20 feet in length. It produces metal rollers and machine parts used in flexographic printing, paper making and coating operations.

An added bonus for Rol-Tec is that Axis Machine's offerings are used by many of the same customers that Rol-Tec serves.

"Axis Machine has been a longtime valued supplier to Rol-Tec and is widely recognized as the highest quality precision grinding company in the region," Umentum said. "The most important assets are the people. It takes years to become a roll finishing expert."

He said that now more than ever, manufacturers "are seeking suppliers that can handle all of their needs in a given category. The Axis Machine purchase helps us achieve a comprehensive product offering of precision rollers and parts to critical original equipment manufacturers and manufacturers throughout the world."

Umentum acknowledged it might seem to be an odd time to purchase a company, "but we have been working on this acquisition for quite some time. Many of our customers are adjusting production to make critical personal protection products to stem the COVID-19 pandemic. This acquisition allows us to more efficiently service those customers and to help keep their operations going."

Overall, because rubber roller companies serve many essential manufacturers in the U.S., the rubber roller market has been doing well, he said. "Some industries that we serve, like oil and gas, have been slow, but other markets have been extremely busy and have more than filled the gaps."

Rol-Tec has seen orders rise dramatically from producers of paper products and film, Umentum said. "At the beginning of the pandemic, our sales orders spiked with businesses scrambling for rollers and parts to fully stock their spare parts inventory. Now, as the end of the crisis nears, we are seeing sales ease back to a more reasonable level."