What Rolla SP Propellers does

Rolla SP Propellers SA designs and manufactures custom marine propellers for high-performance vessels, headquartered in Novazzano, Switzerland, and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Twin Disc Inc. (NASDAQ: TWIN) since May 18, 2004. The company serves racing craft, military vessels (including the US Navy and Israeli RAMTA programs), fast patrol boats, and luxury displacement yachts, with two core product lines: fully submerged propellers manufactured in NiBrAl up to 3 meters in diameter (600–5,000 Hp) and surface piercing propellers in NiBrAl up to 70 inches (600–5,500 Hp) or Duplex Stainless Steel ERO/17.4PH up to 28 inches (250–1,400 Hp). All propellers are dynamically balanced, comply with ISO 484/2 'S' Class standards, and meet Classification rules from Lloyd's Register, ABS, RINA, and BV, with full CMM reporting for Registry purposes.

Underlying the hardware is an entirely proprietary, in-house-developed software stack that integrates hull hydrodynamics and propeller design under one roof. This includes a panel method code for 3-D propeller geometry optimization, a CFD solver for Navier-Stokes equations in 2-D and 3-D with non-stationary cavitation analysis, an HRIC-based resistance prediction service for planing and displacement hulls, and a VOF-based sea keeping simulation for added resistance, accelerations, and pressure impacts. The combination of physics-based design codes, a 60-plus-year empirical database from racing and naval work, and in-house manufacturing is presented as the company's defining competitive advantage.

The business model is custom, project-based manufacturing: each propeller is designed and patterned for a specific application, with pricing quote-based and undisclosed. Distribution is handled through Twin Disc's global network (Europe, USA, Singapore, Australia), supplemented by direct sales from the Novazzano HQ. The firm is a member of the Consortium on Cavitation (originally MIT, now UT Austin) and uses SVA Potsdam Model Basin for surface piercing propeller tunnel testing. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company is privately held via its Twin Disc parent.

Name

Rolla SP Propellers

Legal name

Rolla SP Propellers SA

Website

https://rolla-propellers.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rolla SP Propellers SA is a Swiss designer and manufacturer of custom high-performance marine propellers — submerged and surface piercing — for racing, military, and luxury vessels, using proprietary in-house CFD codes, and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Twin Disc Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Propeller Manufacturing

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Propellers & Waterjets (IMAJAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

Keywords

• Marine propeller manufacturing
• Ship propulsion systems
• CFD propeller analysis
• Surface piercing propellers
• Submerged marine propellers

Headquarters

HQ city

Novazzano

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Propeller Manufacturing: Manufacture of dedicated propellers up to 3 meters in diameter with dedicated design and pattern for each specific application. Propellers are dynamically balanced and comply with ISO 484/2 'S' Class standards.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Rolla SP Propellers designs and manufactures custom marine propellers — fully submerged propellers (up to 3m diameter in NiBrAl) and surface piercing propellers (NiBrAl up to 70" and Duplex Stainless Steel up to 28") — for high-performance marine craft. Each propeller has a dedicated design and pattern, supported by proprietary in-house CFD analysis, sea keeping simulation, and resistance prediction engineering services, with compliance to ISO 484/2 S Class and major classification societies (Lloyd's Register, ABS, RINa, BV).

Product overview

Rolla SP Propellers is a Swiss marine propulsion company (acquired by Twin Disc Inc. in 2004) offering two core propeller product lines — fully submerged propellers (up to 3m diameter, NiBrAl) and surface piercing propellers (NiBrAl up to 70", Duplex Stainless Steel up to 28") — both supported by proprietary in-house engineering services including CFD analysis, sea keeping simulation, and resistance prediction. Each propeller is custom-designed and manufactured for specific applications with dedicated patterns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Submerged Propellers Fully submerged custom propellers manufactured in NiBrAl, available up to 3 meters in diameter with power range from 600 Hp to 5000 Hp. Designed using proprietary in-house computer panel code methods for full 3D geometry study and optimization, dynamically balanced and compliant with ISO 484/2 S Class.
• Surface Piercing Propellers Surface piercing propellers manufactured in NiBrAl (up to 70" diameter, 600-5500 Hp) and Duplex Stainless Steel ERO/17.4PH (up to 28" diameter, 250-1400 Hp). Designed from systematic series based on tunnel testing at SVA Potsdam Model Basin, calculating torque-thrust coefficients, efficiency, and horizontal-vertical force figures for various shaft angles and immersions.
• CFD Resistance Prediction Services
• Sea Keeping Simulation Services Sea keeping simulations for fast yachts using code that solves Navier-Stokes equations with VOF (Volumes Of Fluid) method for free surface deformation. Tests extreme hull movements, analyzes added resistance from regular or irregular waves, vertical accelerations for comfort analysis, and pressure impacts on the hull.
• CFD Propeller Analysis Services Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis for propeller design, retesting, and fine-tuning of thrust and torque using in-house panel method and CFD codes. Includes 3D study and optimization of propeller geometry, wake analysis, and non-stationary cavitation analysis for submerged propellers.

Quantifiable outcome

• RAMTA Dvora Mk III achieved less than 1% tolerance from performance specifications on first sea trial with new hull and new engines

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Consortium on CavitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRolla has been a member of the Consortium on Cavitation, a team formed by MIT Boston (now transferred to UT of Austin). The Consortium aims at developing codes able to analyze cavitation on marine propellers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Michigan Wheel Marine: US manufacturer of marine propellers including high-performance and surface-piercing designs for military, patrol, and recreational craft; comparable product portfolio to Rolla with North American manufacturing footprint.
• Bruntons Propellers: UK-based manufacturer of controllable-pitch and fixed-pitch propellers for commercial, naval, and fast-craft vessels; operates in the same custom-design niche with classification society approvals comparable to Rolla's Lloyd's/ABS/RINa/BV coverage.
• Veem Marine: Australian manufacturer of custom-designed, dynamically balanced propellers for fast ferries, military, and superyacht applications with in-house CNC machining and metallurgical capability — directly comparable to Rolla's high-performance custom propeller offering.
• Nakashima Propeller: Japanese manufacturer of marine propellers for naval, commercial, and high-speed craft with integrated design and large-diameter manufacturing capability — a global direct competitor in the custom high-performance propeller segment.
• Teignbridge Propellers: UK-based custom propeller manufacturer serving commercial, naval, and fast-craft markets with classification-approved designs; competes with Rolla for European naval and superyacht propeller programs.

Broad incumbents

• MAN Energy Solutions: Tier-1 supplier of marine engines and propeller systems (including fixed-pitch and controllable-pitch) for naval and commercial vessels; broader portfolio but overlapping customer base with Rolla in defense marine propulsion.
• Wärtsilä: Global marine technology incumbent offering complete propulsion systems (engines, propellers, waterjets, controls); overlaps with Rolla in propeller design for large commercial and naval vessels but serves a much broader portfolio.
• Brunswick Corporation (Mercury Marine): Global recreational and high-performance marine propulsion incumbent (Mercury Racing) with significant propeller manufacturing capability serving racing, yacht, and military patrol applications.
• Rolls-Royce (Kongsberg Maritime): Major marine propulsion incumbent producing propellers, waterjets, and integrated naval propulsion systems for navies and commercial shipping worldwide; competes with Rolla in the high-end naval and superyacht propeller market.
• ZF Marine: Major marine propulsion systems supplier (sails, propellers, transmissions, controls) with global service network; comparable to Twin Disc at the broader portfolio level — provides context for Rolla's parent-company channel strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rolla-sp-propellers-sa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Rolla SP Propellers