1979
1979 RO-FI Edelstahlhandel GmbH is founded by Georg Kuntz and Johann Banko, two former employees of Mannesmann. Both partners are equal shareholders in this joint venture.
1982
1982 By mid of the year, business has expanded to such a great extend that additional manpower needs to be hired and larger premises must be found. At the same time business activities in the Bavarian region are enforced by establishing a new sales office in Munich. This results in new impulses for the company’s future development. Later, the sales office in Munich is closed, due to personnel reasons, and the responsibility for this region is relocated to Kirchheim. Analogous to this process, sales activities in Kirchheim are intensified. Furthermore, a cooperation agreement between RO-FI and selected specialist stockists in the larger Munich area is established.
1987
RO-FI is further focusing on the future by taking decisive steps in the course of the year: a new warehouse of 800 m² and an administrative building of 200 m² are erected in Kirchheim. RO-FI move to their new headquarters one year later, in 1988.
1994
Positive development of sales beyond the region of south Germany necessitates a further location in Hesse. Soon, three additional team members in sales officeRodgau (near Frankfurt) are required to take care of the ever growing demand.
1995
Continuous growth leads to a further expansion of the warehouse and the administration building. The building is extended by two additional floors. At the same time, the ground-floor of the administration building is refurbished to create additional warehouse space (approx. 200 m²). Now, the administration department can relocate to the new floors on top of the building.
Even in the early days of the internet RO-FI presents its own professional website – as one of the first companies in the stainless steel market. Certified quality standard according to DIN EN ISO 9001 is established and has been continuously updated (at present DIN EN ISO 9001:2000).
1998
RO-FI is further expanding beyond the borders of the „old” federal states. More sales offices are founded: Northrhine-Westphalia (Solingen) and Thuringia (Gotha).
Mrs. Provenzano, who has been in contact with RO-FI over the past years, is assigned to take responsibility for the sales office in Solingen. Her extensive knowledge of the stainless steel business makes her a perfect candidate for this assignment. At the same time, Mrs. Provenzano intensifies Export activities with new ideas and impuls. As a result, she now starts to manage the sales office in Thuringia.
1999
Excellent planning soon requires further substantial expansion of warehouse facilities and administration in Kirchheim – even without the need to relocate. RO-FI is on the right track for more positive development and new jobs are created within the headquarter in Kirchheim/Teck.
2005
The required change of generations at RO-FI is carefully prepared and finally implemented in May with the help of a professional firm of business consultants based in Bremen. Mrs. Provenzano acquires the company shares assigned to Mr. Kuntz, who plans to retire at the end of the year. Within this process, Mr. Banko leaves the company. With the acquisition of his company shares, Mr. Provenzano now becomes hole shareholder and Executive Managing Director of RO-FI Edelstahlhandel GmbH. All relevant business divisions – such as administration, marketing, purchase, IT organisation and payroll accounting are relocated to Solingen, the hometown and business base of Mrs. Provenzano.
Much change is implemented under the new leadership of Mrs. Provenzano at RO-FI Edelstahlhandel GmbH. Although the current range of products still represents the core business for RO-FI, back in the 90`s the company’s main activities were strictly limited to the European market. Meanwhile, export activities now extend as far as Asia and it still is a process of growth. The company has successfully established a firm business relationship with a Partner in Croatia, as a local representative of RO-FI. Export activities are further enforced by numerous attendances on all major trade fairs and exhibitions abroad. But also the local market is still just as important and very much in focus at RO-FI Edelstahlhandel. Positive business development and expansion of the company – especially during the past few years – prove that this is the right course to follow.
2007
Since 2007 RO-FI is an training company. Currently, already one person is serving an apprenticeship in the warehouse and logistics department in Kirchheim/Teck. There are definite plans for a further apprentice position within the administrative department. At present the number of employees at RO-FI has risen to a total of 21.
2008/2009
RO-FI celebrates 30 years company anniversary on 1 April 2009. There will be many more anniversaries to come – because the team at RO-FI knows how to enjoy good times. What makes this company so successful? The effort put into a good and friendly working atmosphere is surely half the success - but an equally important factor is a good team of employees on board. With motivation and know-how, the established team at RO-FI is always ahead of others – new team members impress with innovative and fresh ideas. For and together with our business partners, the team’s performance is always at its best.
since 2010
To improve the service, RO-FI investes a lots of in data processing. After the new hardware now is complete, a new software is established in the turn of the year 2010/2011. Also new employees started in spring 2011 in our in Solingen and helps to afford good service. Our office in Gotha is closed in June 2011 an customers will be supported by our team in Solingen in future. |
