Really it all started when Börje Karlsson, founder of "Börjes Mekaniska Verkstad" now Rottne Industri AB, helped his father to move timber in the forest in Löpanäs just outside of Rottne. The horse had already been relieved of his services and a tractor was used instead to transport out the timber. Nevertheless, loading was still done by hand and this got Börje the genius thinking, “why should the tractor stand here idling and not help while I slave away rolling logs onto the wagon?” Börje then designed his first loader, a basic construction consisting of a pair of plough components, a piece of timber, a winch fitted to the take-off as well as a piece of wire and a pair of timber tongs. This initial loader worked, considering the conditions at the time, very well. So well in fact that word spread about this splendid loader and finally a prospective buyer appeared. Börje was naturally interested in doing business and with a promise of building an even better loader for his father he sold his first design. Other interested parties wanted to buy the revolutionary loader and the number of customers rose quickly.

1955 -1965

Sales started to take off and a new workshop was acquired. Exports to, among others, Denmark and Norway also started to grow. Some of the more unusual export countries at the end of the company’s first decade were Tanzania and Chile. The order to Tanzania went through one of UN’s agents, while the Chile sale was done directly with the customer in the country. How word about Rottne’s products had reached South America is still a mystery. At this time, in the middle of the 60s other companies had started to produce wire loaders, but it was the Rottne loader the Chileans wanted.

1965 – 1975

With the Blondin (Blonde) ROTTNE INDUSTRI introduced its first forwarder in 1968. Together with the wire loaders the Blondin was the product that up until now meant the most for the company’s development. The Blondin was the company’s first complete forestry machine and came to be the best-seller that no one dared dream of. The story of the Blondin could have the heading “When beauty came to the village”. After extensive development work had been invested and a number of prototypes produced, in 1968 it was time for the premiere showing of ROTTNE INDUSTRI’S first forwarder. The venue, the forestry trade fair at Elmia in Jönköping.

The Blondin became more than just a success. It became a terrific success. Unlike its competitors, ROTTNE INDUSTRI had developed a relatively small and versatile forwarder with good load and driving characteristics. It proved to be a hard-wearing workhorse. Both machine owners and operators liked it. It was easy to drive and service and besides it was incredibly reliable. For those wanting a machine with good economy, Blondin was an excellent choice.

1975 – 1985

During a holiday in the Swedish mountains with his family in 1976 Börje Karlsson had the idea for what became the company’s first one-man operated processor. Whether he spent any time on the holiday skiing has never emerged, however we know that the mountain air had a positive effect on the problems surrounding the processor project. The result became the prototype of the 770-processor, which was delivered to customers in 1977.

At last ROTTNE INDUSTRI could offer a fully comprehensive machine range. The company had manufactured forwarders since the 60s, and now ten years on, it was also time to start to produce and sell processors (predecessor to today’s harvester).

1985-1995

When the world’s largest forestry trade fair Elmia Wood was arranged in June 1985, ROTTNE INDUSTRI did not exhibit. A few months later it became obvious why when the bomb dropped in the forest outside of Rottne. The classic, faithful servant and best-seller Blondin was being retired. Its replacement was called Rapid and was based on components, instead of as previously a tractor body.

Seldom or never has interest been as great for a new model series from Rottne as when the Rapid range was introduced in 1985. Forestry people, both in Sweden and abroad, understood that something big was about to happen when ROTTNE INDUSTRI announced that they would not be exhibiting at Elmia Wood, but chose a different marketing strategy. The premiere for the Rapid range took place instead in the forests outside of Rottne. Interest was immense and the visitors were not disappointed. With Rapid, a new idea was put forward where machines were based on components and not, as before, a tractor body.

1995-2005

The new harvester range is without doubt the largest investment ROTTNE INDUSTRI has made on an individual range of models. Through the H-series Rottne showed that they do not want to be just one of many players in the industry, they want to lead development. The successful sales also showed that they had read the market correctly. During the latter part of the 90s, the technicians and designers started work on producing a completely new harvester range. Development within forestry management had moved forwards at a rapid pace over the years and ROTTNE INDUSTRI realised that the existing models would not be as competitive for as long as before.

The demands on the new H-series (H as in harvester) were immense. The bar was set high. This was going to be the best harvester on the market. The operator environment was key. The cab, and everything this involved, would be the best. Machines would also provide excellent overall economy. Accordingly, it was a question of building a machine that could not only fell large volumes, but should also be reliable and easy to service. In other words, the H-series would be a machine that both operators and machine owners would want.

In parallel with the introduction of the H-series, the company decided to upgrade the Solid forwarder range, which they had started to deliver a few years earlier. All in all ROTTNE INDUSTRI now had the strongest and most competitive range of models in its history.

TODAY

ROTTNE INDUSTRI is a completely Swedish and Småland company with all production within Sweden. We are well equipped for the future with one of the best machine programs in the world. We have dedicated staff and good dealer network in Sweden and abroad. Our turnover is approx. 450.000.000 SEK and we have 235 employees in Rottne, Lenhovda and in Stensele. About 50% of our production is exported to Europe, Russia, North America and Australia. Our head office is situated in the beautiful village Rottne in the southern part of Sweden.

Rottne - Model H8 - Harvester Brochure