Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH

What Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH does

Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH is a family-owned German manufacturer specializing in premium automated swimming pool covers, headquartered in Bad Tölz, Bavaria, and operating since 1983. The company designs and produces three core product lines — Design Cover PC (premium polycarbonate), Design Cover PVC (economic 4-chamber PVC), and Mini Cover (entry-level) — each customizable across 50+ RAL colors and supported by four installation variants (underfloor, above-floor, lifting systems, and decorative claddings). Underlying technology includes motorized rolling mechanisms, proprietary four-chamber profile designs providing up to 100 kg buoyancy, solar-absorbing profiles delivering up to 4°C of additional heating, TriEx UV-protective coatings, and Hail Class 3 certified materials. All manufacturing takes place in a 5,000 m² facility in Bad Tölz, partially powered by a 213 kWp rooftop photovoltaic system installed in partnership with E.ON.

The company sells exclusively through a specialized dealer network (Fachhändler) across 10+ European countries, supplemented by direct enterprise consultation from Bad Tölz for hotel, resort, and large-scale projects. Customers include luxury hospitality groups (Bio- & Wellnesshotel Stanglwirt, Schloss Elmau), residential pool builders (Pool Aesthetics, Kapfer GmbH, A1 Schwimmbadbau), and pool manufacturers (Niveko). With approximately 50 employees and over 30,000 completed projects, the company maintains a premium positioning validated by multiple industry awards including the Red Dot Design Award 2025, German Brand Award 2023, EUSA Award 2024 nominations, and "Marke des Jahrhunderts" recognition. The website is localized in 9 languages and provides an online configurator and energy savings calculator to support both end customers and dealer partners.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales of custom-manufactured pool covers, supplemented by installation services, rolling systems and motors, and spare parts and accessories. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The business is privately held with no parent company, no external funding rounds, and no public ticker. Management is led by Felix Thormann (Geschäftsführer) and Hannah Thormann, with the Thormann family retaining controlling ownership. The company also maintains a Swiss representative office in Basel for Swiss market operations and holds membership in BSW, ÖVS, and Aqua Suisse industry associations.

Name

Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH

Legal name

ROLLO SOLAR® Melichar GmbH

Website

https://rollo-solar.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH is a family-owned German manufacturer of premium automated swimming pool covers, serving residential, hospitality, and municipal customers across Europe through a specialized dealer network since 1983.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Swimming Pool Covers

akta.pro primary industry

Equipment Installation & Upgrades (Automation, Covers, Sanitizers) (HSAIALAJ)

Keywords

• Swimming pool covers
• Automated pool covers
• Solar pool covers
• Pool cover manufacturer
• Energy saving pool covers

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Tölz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Pool Cover Hardware: Primary revenue stream from bespoke automated pool covers manufactured to exact customer specifications. Products include Design Cover PC (premium polycarbonate), Design Cover PVC (economic PVC), and Mini Cover (entry-level). Each cover is custom-made to fit the pool dimensions and customer preferences.
2. Rolling Systems and Motors: Sale of roller shutter systems, pipe motors (Rohrmotor), and plug-in drives (Aufsteckantrieb) for pool cover operation.
3. Installation Services: Mounting and installation services for pool covers including under-floor (Unterflur), surface (Oberflur), and lifting systems (Hubanlage) variants. Professional installation through certified dealers.
4. Spare Parts and Accessories: Replacement parts and accessories for existing installations including covers, rollers, and drive components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH manufactures premium automated swimming pool covers from its Bad Tölz, Germany headquarters. The company designs, produces, and sells custom-made motorized pool cover systems with solar-absorbing profile technology, available in polycarbonate, PVC, and entry-level variants, installed via underfloor, above-floor, or lifting mechanisms. Products are sold through a European dealer network of professional pool builders.

Product overview

Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH manufactures automated pool cover systems under the Rollo Solar brand. The product portfolio centers on three cover types — Design Cover PC (premium polycarbonate), Design Cover PVC (economic 4-chamber PVC), and Mini Cover (entry-level) — each available in multiple colors including metallic and solar variants. Installation is offered through four variants: underground (Unterflur), above-ground (Oberflur), lifting systems (Hubanlage), and decorative claddings (Verkleidungen). Automated operation is powered by tube motors (Rohrmotor) or plug-in drives (Aufsteckantrieb). Vertical rolling gates (Rolltore) provide pool separation for larger installations. The company also provides a product configurator tool for customers and dealers, plus accessories and spare parts. All products are manufactured in Germany (Bad Tölz) with a production area of 5,000 m², and are distributed globally through specialist trade partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Design Cover PC: Premium polycarbonate pool cover line with solar properties, hail resistance (Class 3), available in metallic finish. Features 5-year warranty and four-chamber design with up to 100kg load capacity.
• Design Cover PVC
• Mini Cover
• Carbon Metallic Solar

Products and services

• Design Cover PC Premium pool cover line made from polycarbonate with four-chamber profile providing up to 100 kg buoyancy, hail resistance certified to Class 3, and TriEx UV protection coating. Available in solar and metallic variants with the longest warranty in the product range.
• Design Cover PVC Robust 4-chamber profile pool cover with very good insulation properties for year-round use. Solar-capable economical choice with a 3-year warranty.
• Mini Cover Entry-level pool cover offering solid quality at an introductory price point, designed for small pools and compact basins.
• Design Cover PC – Carbon Metallic Solar Premium color variant of Design Cover PC with carbon-metallic finish, combining aesthetic appeal with solar heating technology and TriEx UV protection. Recognized with Red Dot Design Award 2025 for Sustainable Design.
• Design Pool Cover PC – Kupfer Solar Copper-colored solar variant of the Design Cover PC line designed to complement wood decks and WPC surfaces.
• Unterflur (Underfloor) Roller System Below-surface roller/covering system installed beneath the pool deck level, concealing the rolling mechanism for a clean aesthetic appearance.
• Oberflur (Above-Floor) Roller System Above-surface roller system installed at pool deck level, making the mechanism visible but simplifying installation and maintenance access.
• Hubanlage (Lifting System) Vertical lifting mechanism for pool covers, enabling the cover to be raised and lowered to open or close the pool.
• Rolltore (Vertical Pool Separation Gates) Vertical rolling gate systems for pool separation, enabling spatial division of larger pools or spas.
• Rohrmotor (Tube Motor Drive) Tubular motor drive unit for automated opening and closing of pool covers, sold as standalone drive component.
• Aufsteckantrieb (Plug-in Drive) Plug-in motor drive unit for automated cover operation, offering an alternative to tubular motor installation.
• Zubehör (Accessories and Spare Parts) Range of accessories and spare parts for pool covers and roller systems including replacement covers, rollers, and drive components.
• Montage & Installation Services Professional mounting and installation services for pool covers delivered through certified dealer network, including underfloor, surface, and lifting systems installation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings: Pool covers reduce energy consumption by trapping heat, providing additional heating effect of up to 4°C
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vivell Schwimmbadtechnik AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Swiss specialist dealer (Fachhändler) that realized award-nominated pool project for EUSA Award 2024. Partner provides professional swimming pool installations with Rollo Solar covers in Switzerland.
• pool aestheticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Specialist dealer that realized award-nominated pool project for EUSA Award 2024. Partner provides high-end pool aesthetic solutions with Rollo Solar covers, operating in Spain (Marbella area).
• E.ONcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Strategic partnership for photovoltaic installation. E.ON collaborated with Rollo Solar to install 213 kWp solar panel system on company headquarters roof in August 2020. Partnership enables the company to generate up to 165,000 kWh of solar energy annually, covering up to 50% of electricity consumption.
• Bundesverband Schwimmbad & Wellness e.V. (BSW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman swimming pool and wellness industry association membership. Provides industry networking, standards development, and connection to European pool associations including EUSA.
• ÖVS (Österreichischer Verband für Schwimmbad & Wellness)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian swimming pool and wellness association membership for regional industry presence.
• Aqua SuisseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss swimming pool industry association membership for market presence in Switzerland.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• APF (Automatic Pool Covers): US-based manufacturer of automatic pool cover and safety cover systems serving residential and commercial pools. Directly comparable as a custom manufacturer of motorized pool covers with comparable product features and installation variants.
• Coverstar: Manufacturer of automatic and manual pool safety covers in North America. Closely comparable product line — automated covers, custom fabrication, and dealer-based distribution mirror Rollo Solar's model.
• Albigés: French manufacturer of automatic pool covers and shutters, a direct European competitor with similar product lines (slatted covers, submerged and surface-mounted systems) and overlapping dealer distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Procopi: French pool equipment manufacturer offering a broad portfolio including pool covers, enclosures, filtration, and heating. Overlaps with Rollo Solar on cover hardware but competes across a wider product range.
• Fluidra (AstralPool): Spanish-listed global pool equipment major whose AstralPool brand spans covers, pumps, filters, and automation. Competes with Rollo Solar across European pool channels and sets the benchmark for distribution reach.
• Desjoyaux: French integrated swimming pool manufacturer and builder offering pools plus equipment including covers. Targets the same residential and hospitality European customers with a broader portfolio.
• Hayward: US-based global pool equipment manufacturer whose portfolio includes pool covers alongside pumps, filters, heaters, and automation. A broad incumbent overlapping on cover hardware in European markets.

Regional players

• Maytronics: Israeli manufacturer best known for Dolphin pool-cleaning robots; complements rather than competes head-on with Rollo Solar's cover line, but shares the same European pool-dealer distribution channel.
• Aqua Cover: French pool cover specialist operating primarily in the French and Benelux markets with comparable slatted/automated cover offerings. A direct regional peer within continental Europe.

Emerging players

• Poolstar: European pool equipment brand offering covers, enclosures, and accessories to residential customers. Comparable to Rollo Solar at a more value-oriented price point, targeting overlapping dealer and end-customer segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rollosolar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rollo-solar
• Instagraminstagram.com/rollo_solar
• Facebookfacebook.com/RolloSolar
• Xtwitter.com/rollosolar
• Pinterestpinterest.de/rollosolar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rollo Solar Melichar GmbH