Tradition, development, future – our history

In 1948, Reinhold Romakowski founded a woodworking business. The carpentry workshop that grew from it was already based on today’s company site in Buttenwiesen, Swabia. An early focus on food preservation laid the foundation for products that are still partly manufactured today. These included commercial refrigerators and communal refrigeration and freezing systems, but above all doors for cold rooms and freezer rooms.

Production of dismantlable cold rooms and freezer rooms began in 1962. This marked the true beginning of our panel production.

In 1967, ROMA achieved a pioneering breakthrough: the switch to rigid polyurethane foam fundamentally changed the production of sandwich panels. This innovation made it possible to manufacture large panels with excellent insulation, enabling a wide range of room layouts and combinations. Sandwich construction became much more adaptable to customers’ needs, laying the foundation for the company’s continued success.

Strong demand for ROMA products led the company to introduce a new manufacturing process for sandwich panels in 1973. The first double-belt line for the continuous production of sandwich panels for cold stores and freezer stores went into operation. Annual production capacity increased from 40,000 m² to 400,000 m².

Tailored room solutions for different temperature requirements, individual surfaces suitable for their intended use, a wide choice of colours and almost unlimited panel lengths have driven the success of sandwich construction ever since.

ROMA expanded beyond national borders, supplying customers in France and the Netherlands, with further countries soon following. At the same time, the company continuously expanded its production site in Germany and developed into a manufacturer of panels for industrial buildings and halls, with a growing product range that meets the highest requirements.

Market debut: the ROMA quick-build insulated wall panel. The market welcomed the switch to the new double tongue-and-groove joint system. A year later, a powder-coating line for doors, windows and accessories was installed. The new ROMA quick-build panel found numerous applications in refrigeration and freezing technology.

The second double-belt line laid the foundation for ROMA’s development from an established panel manufacturer for cold stores and freezer stores into a manufacturer of panels for industrial buildings and halls. ROMA also began producing roof panels for the first time that year.

Product launch: a new wall panel with concealed fixings entered the market. It offered an ideal solution for customers with high expectations for the appearance and design of their façades. Combined with the new micro-lined profile, it created a more uniform façade. Our office building was also expanded in 1995.

Sustainability was already an important issue for us. In 1997, ROMA installed a foam recycling plant.

Continuous development of our product range for the growing panel market has always been our ambition. In 2008, we decided to expand production again. With an investment of around €35 million, we installed a third polyurethane double-belt line alongside a fourth line for manufacturing mineral wool panels.

ROMA was now well prepared for the future of panels. The next step was to further expand our traditional products. In 2014, the newly built Plant 2 went into operation, manufacturing cold rooms and freezer rooms, climatic test chambers, doors and accessories.

Just a few years later, it was clear that the effort had paid off: 2019 was a record year for Plant 2. Sales exceeded €15 million for the first time.

The MIWO roof panel was also introduced in 2019. Increasing requirements for fire protection and sound insulation drove demand for these panels, leading ROMA to add mineral wool to its range of insulation materials.

By installing a photovoltaic system on the roof of Plant 2, ROMA made an important contribution to environmental protection and improved its carbon footprint. The system can supply up to 550 kW to ROMA’s electricity network for its own use, with surplus power fed into the public grid. Another photovoltaic system at Plant 1 was already being planned.

Mysterious Panoliths appear around the world. A fearless quality inspector and journalist sets out to uncover the truth. What will she find? How is everything connected? What secret will she reveal? Working with a renowned production partner, ROMA created an innovative brand film. Its first teasers appeared in 2022, followed by screenings in local cinemas in 2023.

Brand film

NEW: Type RD roof panel for PV modules

New solutions are needed in the construction industry to make buildings more sustainable and advance the energy transition. ROMA took on this challenge and introduced the forward-looking Type RD roof panel at the beginning of 2023.

Press release Product page Product video

ROMA celebrates its 75th anniversary

ROMA celebrated three quarters of a century with a three-day event for customers, suppliers, service providers, employees and invited guests from politics and business. The celebrations began on Friday, 30 June, with an evening for customers and suppliers. On 1 July, around 600 guests attended the main celebration at the nearby Riedblickhalle. A large open day on Sunday, 2 July, rounded off the anniversary.

Press release Two days of celebrations in Buttenwiesen – the video highlights

To be continued

With further investments worth millions and the development of innovations, ROMA continues to pursue its goal as an insulation systems specialist: supplying a complete range of panels, doors and accessories from a single source. A challenge we gladly embrace every day. So that everything fits.