In 1957, Richard R. Rosemann began designing and manufacturing simple rotary dies in St. Louis, MO, USA, for the earliest flexographic press manufacturers. The company that he founded — Roto-Die, later to become RotoMetrics — would grow to be one of the most prominent tool and die manufacturers in the world.

“As we’ve taken a look back during our 50th anniversary year, RotoMetrics is proud to say that we not only helped to create an industry, but have always remained at its forefront by helping our industry grow, prosper and thrive,” says Steve Lee, vice president and director of technical support. “From offering hardened blades and chrome-plated dies in the 1960s, to adding fully hardened tool steel dies, print cylinders and other rotary tools to our product line in the 1970s, RotoMetrics products defined rotary tooling during the industry’s early years, and they continue to do so today.”

From the late 1970s through the early ’80s, RotoMetrics was the first manufacturer of rotary tooling to automate its processes by adding CNC machining capabilities, which ultimately replaced the pantograph for die manufacturing, Lee says. “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,” Lee notes. “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,” says Steve Lee. “We’re embracing the challenges of today, like working with evolving filmic materials and increasingly thinner liners and face stocks. We’re also planning for the challenges of tomorrow, such as RFID labels, laser diecutting, as well as developing and embracing new manufacturing, order management and delivery technologies. And as we have since 1957, we’ll also be keeping an eye out for unforeseen opportunities that may take our industry in directions we can only imagine today.”