Willkommen bei Von Roll

Background

The industrial boom involving electricity had only just begun. The first decent dynamos saw the light of day around 1870. After 1880 the first small hydroelectric power stations came into being and the first electric motors were built. In 1891, the first transmission of a three-phase current of around 25,000 volts took place over a distance of 175 km in Lauffen, Germany.

1903 The early days

Wood, rubber, glass and textiles were the main materials used to provide electrical insulation. Albert Borer from Büsserach saw his big chance in crystallized mineral mica, which boasted high thermal, chemical and dielectric properties.

In January 1903 he founded the The Swiss Insulating Works factory in Breitenbach, Switzerland and - with three employees - started for the very first time processing mica splittings glued together layer by layer to act as an electrical insulator. This was totally innovative in the electrical and mechanical engineering industry at the time. The fledgling business developed quickly, as the demand for Isola's mica products steadily grew year by year. In 1905 the company was in a position to enlarge its factory.

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1909 Development of new insulation materials

It was not long before the electrical engineering industry made new demands on insulation materials, and new products were developed to meet market requirements. An oil-based paint factory was built with facilities for dying textiles and paper. An administrative building was also built during this period.

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1918

Soon after, a second product range was added: paint-insulated copper wire for the production of windings and coils in the manufacture of electric motors and high-voltage machinery. This expansion of the product range necessitated the construction of another production facility.

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1919 A fresh start for Europe

The First World War proved to be a testing time for Isola, the company's efforts being hampered by export problems and shortages of raw materials. As soon as the war ended, the priority switched to reorganizing exports. Since national protectionism was becoming rife in foreign business dealings, the sister factory Usines Diélectriques Delle (UDD) was founded in France.

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1922 The premature death of the company's founder, Albert Borer

On 19 October 1922 Albert Borer, a director and Chairman of the Board of Directors, died at the early age of 47. Following the death of the company's founder, the Board of Directors elected his brother, Josef Borer, to replace him as Chairman of the Board and company delegate.

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1926

Establishment of the sister factory Isola SpA in Milan for the production and marketing of mica-based electrotechnical insulation materials.

"Step by step in the right direction"

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1930

In the 1930s, technological developments gave rise to the first synthetic materials. PVC, synthetic resin and paint gradually replaced previously used natural materials, opening up countless new possibilities. The natural raw material mica survived, however, and even today its superior properties are indispensable, especially in high-voltage insulation. Also in the 1930s the range of products expanded again to include wire, Litz wire and cable insulated with cotton, silk and paper. Rubber was increasingly replaced by PVC insulation as a conductor.

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1934

Founding of the company Aismalibar for the production of winding wire in Barcelona, Spain by a former employee of Isola Breitenbach, helped by the company's founding Borer family.

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1936

Founding of the sister company Safi-Conel SpA in Milan for the production of paint-insulated winding wire.

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1938

The new material polyvinylchloride (PVC) turned out to be highly appropriate for conductor insulation. The brand name Soflex quickly made a name for itself, so the Soflex department developed very rapidly, so much so in fact that a new building had to be erected for this successful branch of the company.

Founding of Elektro-Finanz AG as the holding company of all the companies belonging to the international Isola group.

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1940

1940 saw the start of the production of the ceramic insulation material dubbed steatite. During the war years, the Swiss electrical industry's steatite factory proved invaluable as no deliveries were received from abroad. Steatite production was discontinued in the 1970s.

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1945 Fresh impulses, innovative products and new production plants

The rapid recovery after World War II brought with it new technologies and methods of application in the electrical engineering sector. Chemistry and physics played an ever-increasing role in advancing all kinds of dielectric insulation technology. The international Isola group's production sites were modernized and expanded. Exports were boosted to over 50%.

Construction of a modern high-voltage laboratory in Breitenbach was begun.

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1947

Creation of the company Società Italo-Svizzera Metalli Iniettati SIMI and the launch of production in Milan, Italy. The company's aim was to implement a license agreement with the company Injecta AG in Teufenthal, Switzerland regarding the production of precision injection molding components made of aluminum, zinc and other metals. The company was sold in the early 1980s.

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1949 From compressed split mica dies to endless mica paper sheets

The French scientist, Jacques Bardet, discovered that after thermal and chemical treatment, a substance similar to paper pulp could be produced out of small mica fragments. Following this discovery, the company's own technicians developed the process to produce Samica mica paper in endless sheets. Thanks to this major technological leap forward, all types of insulation materials can be produced in the form of ribbons, films or sheets, combined with a very wide range of different base materials to increase the mechanical stability. This innovation opened up completely new possibilities for insulation technology in the electrical and mechanical engineering industry and paved the way for Isola's long-term success.

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1950

Launch of mica paper production in the new Samica factory in Valdoie, France. The technical values and high quality of its products are recognized worldwide, as reflected by the products' universal application.

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1951

Founding of sales companies in the USA.

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1960

Construction of a new administrative building. In 1961 the company acquired a state-of-the-art application laboratory. In 1962 a central research and development center outfitted with the most modern equipment opened in Breitenbach.

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1963

Planning and construction of a cable and wire factory and expansion of the factory area into the municipality of Büsserach. The building was completed and cable and wire production were launched at the end of 1963.

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1966

Installation of the first, IBM/360 computer system.

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1967

Construction of a new factory for paints, resins and similar products.

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1971

Founding of a sister company in England.

1975 Global expansion overseas and in India

The company's global presence in the high-quality mica market was considerably boosted by the acquisition of the American Samica Corporation, based in Rutland, Vermont and the establishment of the joint venture Lakshmanan Isola Ltd in Bangalore, India in 1976.

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1982

Acquisition of the Isola group by United Technologies Essex Group.

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1984

Start of mica paper production in Brazil in conjunction with BBC (Brown-Boveri, Switzerland).

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1988

Acquisition of Essex Isola by Von Roll.

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1989

Acquisition of the German company Dielektra, which played a leading role in the production of circuit boards and perfectly complemented the existing Isola product line: Basic materials for printed circuit boards. This company was resold after a strategic supply-side reorientation process.

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1992

Acquisition of the insulation materials division from the Berlin-based LEW locomotive construction and electrical engineering facilities, and relocation of the sales organization for electrotechnical insulating systems from Cologne (ISOGRUP) to Berlin.

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1994

Acquisition of mica paper and mica tape production in Brazil (see 1984).

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1995

Acquisition of the former General Electric insulating materials business in Schenectady, NY and reorganization of the distribution network on the American continent. Sale of the cable production sector in Breitenbach to the cable company Cortaillod, which was later taken over by Alcatel.

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1996

Acquisition of Calidus in South Africa, a production company and supplier of complete insulation systems (VPI process). Acquisition of German company, Ferrozell, a producer of composite materials for the electrical and mechanical engineering industry. Joint Venture in Singapore in order to establish Von Roll Isola Singapore Pte Pltd which will turn into Von Roll Isola Asia Pte Ltd in 1999.

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1997

Acquisition of two magnet wire manufacturers (Austral) in the United States. Acquisition of British magnet wire manufacturer (Wire Tech).

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1998

First steps in application-driven plant construction for the electrical industry with the newly established companies Von Roll Isola Meier in Germany and Von Roll Isola Beltec in Switzerland.

Acquisition of two magnet wire manufacturers (Pearl) in India.
Acquisition of two composite material manufacturers (BWT and Pemarc) in Brazil.
Acquisition of Alstom's insulating materials business in Meyzieu, France.

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1999

Acquisition of a company manufacturing mica splitting products (Midwest Mica) in the USA.

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2000

Establishment of a joint venture for composite materials with Isola AG in Düren, Germany under the name Isola Composites.

Sale of magnet wire manufacturer Safi-Conel SpA in Milan.

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2002

Sale of the Aismalibar factory producing copper-clad laminates in Spain.

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2003 Isola feiert hundertjähriges Bestehen!

Purchase of Isola Düren Ltd’s 34% share in Isola Composites GmbH (Isola Düren Ltd exercising the put option from the 2000 joint venture contract). Transfer of magnet wire production from El Paso, Texas, to Douglasville, Georgia. Sale of the 50% stake in Lakshmanan Isola Pvt. Ltd in Bangalore, India, to the company’s previous partners. Increase in the shareholding in the magnet wire plants Pearl Insulations Ltd and Pearl Metal Products, Bangalore Pvt. Ltd in Bangalore, India, from 51% to 63.25%. Acquisition of minority interests in Austral Von Roll Isola Inc. (exercising a put option). Merging of two production sites in the Milan area, Italy. Management Buy-Out of the Algerian sales branch Sàrl Von Roll Isola Algérie, Algier. Expansion of the distribution network in North America and Mexico to a total of 77 sales locations through cooperation with two new sales partners.

Introduction of a simplified organizational structure through the Electrical and Industrial Business Units, with the clear goal of greater customer orientation and the simplification of procedures!

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2004

Von Roll Isola divested of two production units in its effort to focus on strategically important and profitable market segments: The unit in Sao Paolo, Brazil, producing composite materials was sold to a locally active company, Eletrisol. Von Roll has retained its sales activities in the electrical insulation sector as well as the production of mica-based material in Brazil. In Düren, Germany, Von Roll Isola sold the production of filament-wound tubes to Xperion. All other business activities in Düren will be continued.

In addition, Von Roll Isola strengthens its position in the North-American industrial motor market with the acquisition of the flexible laminates and coated products lines of Bedford Materials Company, Inc., USA.

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2005

Von Roll sells its share in Calidus Von Roll Isola (Proprietary) Ltd. This company is engaged in the distribution of various insulating and composite materials in South Africa made by the Von Roll companies.

Von Roll Isola is renamed Von Roll.