Leader in industrial locking systems RST Roztocze

LEADER IN INDUSTRIAL LOCKING SYSTEMS

RST Roztocze, a company from Tomaszow Lubelski in Poland, is a leading European manufacturer of industrial locking systems. This year it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Dariusz Balcerzyk reports.

“IN the early 1990s we created a new branch of Polish industry, which did not exist before. Since then the world has changed enormously in terms of technology, and we have had to adapt to these dynamic changes. We have been growing together with our customers. Initially, we cooperated with small-scale customers, then we had bigger partners, and now we work for major, global companies from dozens of countries around the world. Our portfolio of customers consists of 1500 companies, including 300 foreign businesses,” says Roman Rak, the owner of RST Roztocze.

The company’s success is also based on constant investments in the latest technologies. In the past eight years it has spent a total of €3 million annually on various investment projects.

The company is a leading member of the business group owned by Mr Rak. There are two more companies in the group: WSK Tomaszow Lubelski is an experienced manufacturer of components for the aerospace industry; ZWG Lubaczow is a fancy metal goods producer with great traditions in galvanising. Mr Rak is the sole owner of RST Roztocze and WSK Tomaszow Lubelski, and a significant shareholder of ZWG Lubaczow.

The group’s history goes back as far as 1991. “I started my own business in a small garage, with second-hand lathe and milling machines. For first two years I was my only employee,” laughs Mr

Rak. “However, the business soon developed beyond my imagination. Now the whole group employs more than 750 people, including 70 highly specialised engineers.”

Experts in locking systems

RST Roztocze’s core competence is the production of locks, hinges, locking systems and V-Klema screw clamps for the energy, machine building, telecommunication and automotive industries. Its product range includes about 5000 items, from simple to very complex locks – for example electronic locks. It specialises in such technological processes as: ZAMAK die-casting on hot chamber machines, plastic material processing and machine cutting. Moreover, it has a tooling department with a technical office, which creates moulds for die casting, plastic materials and tools for metal pressing.

Direct exports make up 35 per cent of the company’s total sales and its products are sold to more than 30 countries in Europe. But if the indirect foreign sales (via other companies operating in Poland) are taken into consideration the export share grows to 90 per cent share. Between 2003 and 2014 the company’s production grew 10 times. In 2015 it amounted to +20 per cent.

Among the buyers and users of locking systems manufactured by RST Roztocze are such big names as General Electric, Bombardier and PESA Bydgoszcz Holding SA, Solaris Bus & Coach and Grupa Apator.

Sky is the limit

WSK Tomaszow Lubelski was founded in 1969 as an integral part of WSK-Swidnik, a well-known producer of helicopters and motorcycles (in 2010 it was acquired by Augusta/Westland and is now the biggest helicopter manufacturer in Poland). In 1992 the company was transformed into WSK Tomaszow Lubelski Ltd, and since then it has operated as an independent company. Mr Rak became its sole owner in 2009.

Today, WSK TL is an approved and certified manufacturer of components for the aerospace and aviation industry, with a range of more

than 4500 parts. It specialises in the production of complex and precision fasteners such as nuts, bolts, elbows, tees, frames and so on.

“I dare to say that WSK Tomaszow Lubelski Ltd is flourishing. It is a major supplier for the aeronautical industry in Europe. We cooperate with such companies as: PZL-ŚWIDNIK SA, WSK-RZESZÓW (a manufacturer of aircraft engines and transmissions, a part of Pratt & Whitney corporation) PZL MIELEC (an aircraft manufacturer, a member of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation), and EADS PZL WARSZAWA OKĘCIE (an aircraft manufacturer). Aviation accounts for 75 per cent of WSK TL’s production. The remaining part of the business is focused on products for the machine, food and automotive industries. Exports make up 95 per cent of the company’s total sales,” says Mr Rak. Specialists in metal goods

ZWG Lubaczow, the third member of the group, is focused on the production of various fancy metal goods, mainly for other companies within the group. It also makes metal zippers with different chain widths, fittings, wire products (frames, D-rings, hooks for hangers), metal buttons and minor pressure-cast zinc elements.

The company provides such services as protective and decorative galvanic coating (nickel, copper, zinc and oxidative in a wide range of colours for steel and brass). It also offers tooling services and high pressure casting on its machines. n

http://www.roztocze-rst.com.pl/