Rota

What Rota does

ROTA Verpackungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG is a German family-owned machinery manufacturer specializing in aseptic primary packaging equipment for liquid pharmaceuticals. The company traces its roots to 1909 and developed the world's first automatic ampoule filling and closing machine in 1925. After a 1995 restructuring in which the flowmeter division was integrated into the Yokogawa Group, ROTA was re-established as an independent family-run Mittelstand firm with approximately 30 employees and has since grown to over 100 employees at its Wehr, Germany headquarters. The company serves pharmaceutical, biotech, and veterinary drug manufacturers across more than 40 countries through direct sales, regional sales managers, and a global distributor network.

The company's product portfolio is a modular set of integrated machines covering the full fill-finish workflow. Core offerings include the RWM400 washing machine, the RT400 hot-air sterilization and depyrogenation tunnel (up to 350°C with HEPA-filtered Class A clean room atmosphere), the FLL301 filling and closing machine (using proprietary seal-less rotary piston or peristaltic pumps for volumes 0.2–250ml), the RE400 labeling machine (up to 27,000 objects/hour), complete integrated lines (K60F series up to 24,000 units/hour), and the xfillR compact small-batch system handling 1 to 10,000 units at up to 1,800 units/hour. Technical differentiators include servo-drive architecture, rapid tool-less changeover, compatibility with oRABS/cRABS/isolator containment, and integration with Austar freeze dryers for lyophilized products. The portfolio addresses FDA, EMA, and GMP regulatory requirements.

ROTA's revenue model is built on quote-based, custom-engineered capital equipment sales supplemented by recurring service revenue. Primary streams are one-time capital equipment sales (machines and complete lines), spare and wear parts (supplied over several decades), maintenance and technical service by trained technicians, and custom format parts for machine adaptation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; contracts are net ex works Wehr with multi-year horizons. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (regional managers in key markets such as Germany, France, and India) with channel partners and distributors across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Distribution is supported by participation in industry trade shows (ACHEMA, CPHI Milan), in-house demonstration events (xfillR Days), and direct digital marketing through the company website and LinkedIn.

Name

Rota

Legal name

Rota Verpackungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://rota.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ROTA Verpackungstechnik is a German family-owned manufacturer of aseptic primary packaging machinery for liquid pharmaceuticals, offering modular washing, sterilization, filling, closing, labeling, and complete line equipment for pharmaceutical, biotech, and veterinary drug manufacturers across more than 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Packaging Machinery

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Aseptic Processing, Fill-Finish & Sterile Manufacturing Tech (isolators, lyophilization interfaces) (HLAAAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drug Product Fill-Finish & Aseptic Manufacturing Services (HLAAAKAB), Filling & Dosing Equipment (Liquid, Powder, Aseptic) (IMALAOAB), Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF), Capping, Sealing & Closing Machines (IMAHAOAG)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical packaging machinery
• Aseptic filling machines
• Sterile fill-finish equipment
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing machinery
• Vial filling systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Wehr

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Capital Equipment Sales: Custom-designed and manufactured machines for aseptic fill-finish operations including washing, sterilizing, filling, closing, and labeling equipment. Machines are built to customer specifications with outputs up to 24,000 units per hour.
2. Spare Parts: Supply of spare and wear parts for every machine over several decades. High in-house production capability and efficient stock-keeping of external components ensures rapid availability.
3. Maintenance and Service: Technical support, inspection, and maintenance services provided by trained and experienced technicians. Ensures long-lasting use of ROTA machines.
4. Format Parts: Custom format parts for machine adaptation when processing requirements change. Cost-effective and quick delivery for different object sizes and closures.
5. Complete Lines: Turnkey production lines combining washing, sterilizing, filling, and closing machines for integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rota Verpackungstechnik designs, manufactures, and services modular aseptic fill-finish machinery for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The portfolio covers washing, sterilizing, filling, closing, and labeling of ampoules, vials, syringes, cartridges, and nested objects, with capacities from 1 unit up to 24,000 objects per hour. The company also provides spare parts, format parts, and maintenance services for its installed base of machines.

Product overview

Rota Verpackungstechnik offers a comprehensive modular machine portfolio for aseptic primary packaging of liquid pharmaceuticals. The core product lineup includes: the xfillR compact aseptic filling system for small batches (1-10,000 units); complete production lines (K60F series) for high-volume manufacturing up to 24,000 objects/hour; standalone machines including the RWM400 washing machine, RT400 sterilization tunnel (up to 350°C), FLL301 filling and closing machine (ampoules, vials, syringes), and RE400 labeling machine (up to 27,000 objects/hour); and nest processing systems for pre-sterilized objects. The portfolio also includes external cleaning solutions (RWA) and service offerings for spare parts, format parts, and maintenance. Machines feature servo-drive technology, rapid changeover, compact footprints, and options for RABS and isolator integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• xfillR: Small batch aseptic filling machine for format flexibility. The xfillR is an innovative multipurpose machine for processing different objects such as vials, syringes, eye droppers, nasal sprays, cartridges, micro-tubes, in nests, trays and in bulk.

Products and services

• xfillR Small Batch Aseptic Filling System

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 24,000 units per hour output on production lines
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Franz ZielmajorTechnology or Integration · 22 June 2023Partner for containment protection solutions at xfillR days events. Franz Ziel provides isolation technology solutions integrated with ROTA's small batch filling equipment.
• Stäubli RoboticsmajorTechnology or Integration · 22 June 2023Robotics partner for xfillR events demonstrating flexible robot deployment in aseptic filling applications. Stäubli provides robotics expertise for automation integration.
• Shehab EngineeringmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 August 2022Sales representative for Egypt and received ROTA Sales Award 2021. Shehab Engineering has been a trusted partner representing ROTA in the Egyptian market.
• Austar Pharmaceutical EquipmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded partnership with Austar complements ROTA's portfolio with freeze drying capabilities, including automatic loading and unloading systems and barrier systems. Austar freeze dryers developed in Germany are widely used in pharmaceutical fields for antibodies, therapeutic proteins, peptides, vaccines, and highly potent compounds.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Optima Packaging Group: German manufacturer of filling and packaging machinery including aseptic pharmaceutical lines for vials, syringes, and ampoules. Direct competitor with similar German Mittelstand positioning.
• Bausch+Strobel: German manufacturer of aseptic filling and packaging machines for pharmaceutical ampoules, vials, syringes, and cartridges. Closest direct competitor to ROTA in pharmaceutical primary packaging machinery.
• Gröninger: German manufacturer of filling and closing machinery for pharmaceutical liquids in vials, syringes, and cartridges. Direct mid-sized peer with similar German Mittelstand footprint and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Syntegon (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology): Global incumbent offering comprehensive pharmaceutical processing, filling, and packaging equipment including aseptic fill-finish lines. Competes with ROTA in integrated turnkey lines and complete production systems.
• Marchesini Group: Italian packaging machinery manufacturer serving pharmaceuticals and cosmetics with filling, capping, and labeling lines. Competes with ROTA in end-of-line packaging and complete line solutions.
• GEA Group: Diversified industrial equipment supplier with a pharmaceutical separation and aseptic processing portfolio. Competes with ROTA in liquid pharmaceutical processing equipment for major manufacturers.
• Coesia: Italian industrial group with multiple pharmaceutical packaging machinery subsidiaries. Competes broadly with ROTA in primary and secondary pharmaceutical packaging equipment.
• IMA Group (Industria Macchine Automatiche): Italian multinational specializing in automated machinery for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food. Overlaps with ROTA in aseptic processing and packaging for injectables.

Emerging players

• Stevanato Group: Italian provider of integrated containment and delivery solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, including glass primary packaging and fill-finish systems. Emerging as a vertically integrated competitor in the aseptic space.
• Aseptic Technologies (Aseptic Group): Specialist in plastic ampoule-based aseptic filling technologies. Overlaps with ROTA in flexible aseptic fill-finish for injectables, particularly in clinical and small-batch applications.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rota-verpackungstechnik
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Rota