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Rothenberger Tools?
- Thread starter Rickkyyr8
- Start date
rlitman
Well-known member
It's a good brand equal to Ridgid.
garfieldzzz
Well-known member
It a german brand mainly targeting plumbers.
They are known for pipe wrenches and pump pliers as well as all sorts of special tools for plumbing.
They are known for pipe wrenches and pump pliers as well as all sorts of special tools for plumbing.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
I use their Rotrac and love it; better than Ridgid.
They own Virax and the guillotine cutters are top shelf, but my go-to is still Ridgid.
They also own Super-Ego, Ruko and other brands which all supply good quality in various specialties.
They own Virax and the guillotine cutters are top shelf, but my go-to is still Ridgid.
They also own Super-Ego, Ruko and other brands which all supply good quality in various specialties.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Rothenberger is the Volkswagen of the pipe wrench industry. They have manufacturing facilities all over the planet. I still do not have all of the Rothenberger locations entered in the list. (Thanks for the reminder.)
From reading the material on their websites, it would appear they intend to stay ahead of the curve.
From reading the material on their websites, it would appear they intend to stay ahead of the curve.
neophyte
Well-known member
Rothenberger mostly makes “pipe tools”, ie. tools made for plumbing, both regular and Industrial.
I’ve seen the claim they’re the “largest” pipe tool manufacturer in the world, although I don’t know how true that is.
They seem to basically be the Ridgid or Reed equivalent of Germany.
They’ve been around for decades, and even have been selling tools in the US for decades, probably going back to at least the 1970s.
Certain tools like the pipe expanding pliers with interchangeable dies might have bern invented by them( now more common in the US for expanding PEX using a different shaped die, like the Wirsbo tool)
Rothenberger also makes T-extractors for pulling T-Joints out of pipes.
Rothenberger slso owns Sievert of Sweden, the torch manufacturer, Super-Ego of Spain, who manufactures various tools including plumbing tools, but general stuff as well, and Virax of France( which used to belong to Facom, then Stanley). Virax is basically the Ridgid of France.
The tools seem decently made, although sometimes a bit ruff as far as manufacture.
The directions that come with the tools are absolutely bare minimum, which can be an issue, since at least in the USA, the tool types aren’t really standard for certain tools like the T-extractors and Expanders.
The T-extractors and pipe expanders are made in Germany from what I’ve seen.
The pipe cutters are usually made in Spain, or sometimes the USA, and usually work smoothy, sometimes more smoothly than Ridgid.
The torches are usually made in Sweden.
Rothenberger also owns a Chinese manufacturer or part of one.
Some Rothenberger tools are made in the USA, like some of the pipe cutters, a larger powered pipe threading machine, and some flaring tools. I think they must have bought out a US manufacturer at least for the designs, but am not sure who does the manufacturing on those tools now.
It really depends on what tool you are looking at though.
Ridgid would likely be way easier to get parts from in future if necessary.
I’ve seen the claim they’re the “largest” pipe tool manufacturer in the world, although I don’t know how true that is.
They seem to basically be the Ridgid or Reed equivalent of Germany.
They’ve been around for decades, and even have been selling tools in the US for decades, probably going back to at least the 1970s.
Certain tools like the pipe expanding pliers with interchangeable dies might have bern invented by them( now more common in the US for expanding PEX using a different shaped die, like the Wirsbo tool)
Rothenberger also makes T-extractors for pulling T-Joints out of pipes.
Rothenberger slso owns Sievert of Sweden, the torch manufacturer, Super-Ego of Spain, who manufactures various tools including plumbing tools, but general stuff as well, and Virax of France( which used to belong to Facom, then Stanley). Virax is basically the Ridgid of France.
The tools seem decently made, although sometimes a bit ruff as far as manufacture.
The directions that come with the tools are absolutely bare minimum, which can be an issue, since at least in the USA, the tool types aren’t really standard for certain tools like the T-extractors and Expanders.
The T-extractors and pipe expanders are made in Germany from what I’ve seen.
The pipe cutters are usually made in Spain, or sometimes the USA, and usually work smoothy, sometimes more smoothly than Ridgid.
The torches are usually made in Sweden.
Rothenberger also owns a Chinese manufacturer or part of one.
Some Rothenberger tools are made in the USA, like some of the pipe cutters, a larger powered pipe threading machine, and some flaring tools. I think they must have bought out a US manufacturer at least for the designs, but am not sure who does the manufacturing on those tools now.
It really depends on what tool you are looking at though.
Ridgid would likely be way easier to get parts from in future if necessary.
It all use to be good, stuff varies a lot on where made pending on era, they done some nice adjustable wrenches made in spain that nicer than swedish or german ones .
Lot of it currently not so great and lesser effort/chinese .
Lot of it currently not so great and lesser effort/chinese .
metaldad
Well-known member
they were started to be carried by the various supply houses around here, but, seemed to have fallen off the market.
the few i acquired, tubing cutters, work satisfactorily.
the few i acquired, tubing cutters, work satisfactorily.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
We have a few but not many local suppliers carry them, they really push ridgid around here.