RONAL Bathrooms
Ronal Bathrooms · Company · History

History of RONAL GROUP

Ronal Bathrooms · Company · History

Discover the milestones, innovations and global expansion of the RONAL GROUP since 1969.

2025

  • RONAL Bathrooms SA (PTY) Ltd is launching sales activities in the South African market.

2024

  • RONAL Bathrooms, former SanSwiss, became the new bathrooms and wellness division of the RONAL GROUP and unveiles it's new brand identity at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2024.

  • The SanSwiss product brand has been renamed RONAL. 

  • The four product brands RONAL, KUDOS, KAROL and GLASS 1989 are united under the umbrella of RONAL Bathrooms.

2023

  • As of October 1, 2023, the RONAL GROUP and the Callista Group have finalized the sale of the subsidiary SPEEDLINE S.r.l., including the brands SPEEDLINE and SPEEDLINE CORSE. Following the transaction, the RONAL GROUP continues to serve the Italian market and support group-wide operations through its newly established company RONAL ITALIA Services S.r.l.

  • In line with its strategic focus on expanding the Bathrooms & Wellness division, the RONAL GROUP has acquired the companies GLASS 1989 and KAROL (Italy), as well as KUDOS (United Kingdom and South Africa), including their associated brands.

2020

  • The RONAL GROUP has introduced the R70-blue – the world’s first carbon-neutral wheel.

2018

  • RONAL TECHNOLOGIE is established in Forst with the aim of strengthening the RONAL GROUP’s position as a leader in innovation and technology.

2017

  • With a second plant in Teruel, Spain, the RONAL GROUP further expands its capacity and now operates 13 production sites.

  • SanSwiss continues its growth: construction begins on additional production, warehouse, and logistics facilities in Jicin.

2016

  • The forged wheel manufacturer APP-TECH, based in Padua, Italy, is acquired. With this move, the Group expands its capacity in the forged wheels segment.

  • At the REIFEN trade fair in Essen, Germany, the RONAL GROUP unveils the innovative RONAL R60-blue wheel. It marks the beginning of a new, environmentally friendly generation of wheels and serves as the ambassador for PLANBLUE, the RONAL GROUP’s sustainability initiative.
  • The RONLOG logistics center opens in Forst, Germany, functioning as the central warehouse for branded products and original equipment replacement parts across the entire company.

2014

  • The third factory in Poland begins operations near the site of the first plant.

  • A second factory in Mexico is constructed in San Luis Potosí, bringing the Group’s total number of production facilities to over eleven worldwide.

2013

  • RONAL unites all subsidiary companies under a single umbrella, establishing RONAL GROUP as the corporate brand.

  • The Group acquires a stake in Carbon Revolution, based in Melbourne, Australia. Together, they launch the first one-piece carbon wheel, the CR-9, on the European aftermarket.

2012

  • RONAL acquires a majority stake in FULLCHAMP, Taiwan, a specialist in forged wheels.

  • SanSwiss Forst relocates to a new warehouse and administration building featuring a modern showroom.
  • SanSwiss Ukraine is established.

2010

  • The product portfolio is expanded to include forged wheels for commercial vehicles through the newly established company SPEEDLINE TRUCK in Italy.

  • SanSwiss opens an additional production site with its own sales organization in Timişoara, Romania, which also serves as a logistics hub for sales in the Balkan region.

2009

  • RONAL celebrates its 40th anniversary.

  • SANI-METAL is renamed SanSwiss and becomes an independent company.

2006

  • The second production plant in the Czech Republic opens in Pardubice.

2002

  • The second Polish plant begins operations in Jelcz-Laskowice.

  • The RONAL GROUP now employs over 3,300 people worldwide.

1999

  • Shower screens are now manufactured in Jicin, Czech Republic, at the site of the wheel production facility.

1998

  • The establishment of RONAL AG designates Härkingen, Switzerland, as the Group’s headquarters.

  • ALRON MEXICANA in Querétaro, Mexico, becomes the first production facility in the NAFTA region.

1994

  • With a workforce of 1,000 employees, RONAL produces 2 million wheels annually.

1993

  • RONAL expands its capacity by establishing its first production plant in Jicin, Czech Republic.

1986

  • RONAL CANADA is established in Stevensville, Ontario.

  • The renowned racing brand GOTTI in France is acquired.

1984

  • RON AG relocates from Oensingen, Switzerland, to its new facility in Härkingen.

1981

  • A new wheel production facility is established in Teruel, Spain.

  • Manufacturing of shower screens begins at the SANI-METAL plant in Bitche, France.
  • The factory in Forst, Germany, is expanded with the addition of two new production workshops and an administrative building.

1979

  • ADCE American Diecast Engineering Inc. is launched in Huntington Beach, USA.

  • For German racing champion Harald Ertl, the company develops the three-piece RONAL RACING wheel, known for its excellent aerodynamics and optimal brake cooling.

1971

  • RONAL receives the first order from an original equipment manufacturer, Ford.

1969

  • Karl Wirth GmbH in Walldorf, Germany, launches the first light alloy wheels under the brand name RONAL—“RON” derived from Karl Wirth’s middle name, and “AL” standing for aluminum. The wheels are produced by an external partner using the sand casting process. By the end of the year, the product range includes 15 different sizes in the RONAL R1 design.