The development of Walter Roller GmbH & CO began in 1939 with research into laminated evaporators in his parents' tinsmith's shop, before Walter Roller founded his company of the same name in 1946. For three generations now, we have been passionately developing, producing and selling innovative air cooler, air conditioners and heat exchangers for all refrigeration and air conditioning applications.
Walter Roller - The company's development
Walter Roller founds the company
In 1946, Walter Roller founded a company in Stuttgart-Gaisburg to manufacture fin systems for refrigeration technology. As an engineer, he used the existing possibilities of his parents' plumbing business. As a friend of well-known company founders in refrigeration technology such as Göldner, Baader, Bock and Schaufler, who had devoted themselves more to refrigeration machine construction, Walter Roller worked on the transmission of cooling power via various fin systems.
Kurt Reule takes over as commercial director
The business, which was initially run by skilled craftsmen, took off very quickly, not least due to repairs to refrigerators and cold storage facilities for the American occupation forces. Therefore, a qualified businessman was needed to handle the commercial matters, which were rather unloved by technicians, and this was found in the person of his son-in-law Kurt Reule (left).
New residence in Gerlingen
At the Stuttgart location, the space resources were exhausted, so that work could be generously continued in Gerlingen with the construction of an approx. 6000m² manufacturing hall. By 1960, the site had been expanded in eleven construction phases to 17,000m².
Manufacture of the first high-performance evaporator
The first HV high-performance evaporator with built-in fans and HVT evaporators with the self-developed wire heater defrosting system for the deep-freeze sector are manufactured and meet with an outstanding response from refrigeration system manufacturers.
Successes also in exports
The products also sold well abroad. First in the neighbouring countries - the air coolers were very popular. Partnerships with the trade and plant construction emerged.
Expansion of the product range
Customers place more and more value on tailored solutions. This is how heat exchanger geometries and special air coolers are created, some of which still exist today.
Development of air conditioning units
The American occupation troops stationed in the Baden-Württemberg area were used to air-conditioned rooms. So Roller developed the first air conditioning units with up to 15 kW cooling capacity.
Ceiling air coolers gain popularity
With the introduction of the ceiling-mounted air cooler for small cold rooms, Roller has triggered a trend for flat evaporators. The innovative highlight is the variable use as a ceiling or wall unit.
The HVS: the symbol for Roller air coolers
For many customers, the proven HVS high-performance evaporator, suction, is synonymous with Roller quality. There was continuous further development and in 1983 a major expansion of the product range. In-house produced fans were used.
Joachim Reule joins the company
Joachim Reule, grandson of the company founder Walter Roller, joins the company. Thus, the third generation of the family is active in the company.
Expansion of the Gerlingen site
The economy is running at full speed, so the increased tasks require a new building for administration, reception and training.
Mourning for company founder Walter Roller
A pioneer of refrigeration technology, who was dedicated to the prosperity of the company until the end, dies at the age of 83. The great tinkerer and technician leaves his successors the aspiration to continue offering customers efficient products that are reliable in the long term. Joachim Reule takes on this task as the new managing director.
Development of the FHV/T series
To meet the dynamically growing market, Roller develops the modular FHV/T air cooler series.
First digital selection programme
With the introduction of the digital selection programme, Roller offers the possibility of an precise product design according to individual requirements at an early stage.
Increased performance due to inner finned tubes
The use of inner grooved tubes increases the performance of the evaporator series by an average of 30%.
Change in the Management Board
Kurt Reule retires after more than 45 years of successful work as Managing Director. Werner Rose, a long-time member of the Executive Board, is appointed as another Managing Director besides Joachim Reule.
Upgrade to EC ventilator technology
Roller is one of the first air cooler manufacturers to upgrade its entire evaporator range to energy-efficient EC fan technology. Following the company's philosophy: "High performance with minimum energy consumption".
Complete corrosion protection for commercial refrigeration
The different types of corrosion have long been underestimated in commercial refrigeration. Roller is the first company to implement a broad range of standard corrosion protection for these applications.
New warehouse and logistics centre opened
The logistics centre with its high rack warehouse ensures high availability and rapid dispatch of many evaporator series and sizes, as well as urgent spare parts.
Design type test for heat exchangers
Roller is the first manufacturer to receive a type examination for heat exchangers from TÜV. This certifies the high efficiency of closed-loop systems.
Roller also cools in maritime applications
Food cooling and air-conditioning tasks are also reliably carried out at sea. For the AIDA club ships, air coolers for all cold rooms on board are manufactured in a special hygienic design.
Plug and Play
Roller makes it easy for its customers and installs the control system at the factory on request. This guarantees quick and easy start-up and maximum energy efficiency of the system.
Own foothold in Asia
The sales activities in Asia have a long, successful history, which are now being continued with a joint venture as Roller Thailand Ltd in Bangkok.
Krenn complements management
Wolfgang Krenn (centre), sales manager for many years, takes over the managing director position from Werner Rose (right), who is retiring. Until today, the company is managed by Joachim Reule (left) and Wolfgang Krenn.
Expansion of production capacity at Plant II
Plant II with its assembly lines for the DLK and HVS evaporator series goes into operation. The aim is to maintain a continuous stock of units available at short notice in the Roller warehouse.
Optimised fin system for CO2 deep-freeze applications
For the use of CO2 in deep-freezing, Roller has developed an optimised heat exchanger system for evaporators that meets the specific requirements of CO2 (PS 80bar!) for small tube diameters of 9.52 mm, coupled with a maximum fin spacing of 12 mm.
Plant III goes into operation
Roller puts another assembly hall into operation after only 2 years. The series production units are now manufactured in this hall. The expansion is an important milestone in further increasing overall production efficiency.
As an internationally active family business with headquarters in Gerlingen near Stuttgart, Walter Roller has stood for quality, performance and trusting partnership for 75 years. As a future-oriented traditional company, we will continue to take responsibility for our future with our wide range of energy-efficient heat exchanger products, from furnature evaporators to industrial air coolers.