It depends what you mean by “branded”.I have one of the Pico series too. I believe I once read on another thread that many European-branded bit ratchets come out of the same Taiwanese factory. Not sure of the origin of this one.
Very few European tool companies take an “off the shelf” bit ratchet, and put their name on it, although some do.
Some companies have the tools made in Taiwan, but to their design. This is the Facom approach. Although many of these bit ratchet’s are similar, the design of the tool was originally Facom’s (in co-operation with Rotar, Taiwan) as was the design of the sets.
Other European companies (e.g Wera) have similar tools made by Rotar but the designs of the tools are very different.
Unsurprisingly, as Facom are owned by SBD you will see similar sets from all of SBD’s companies, and as patents / agreements have now expired, you will also now see similar sets made by Rotar for other companies, or under their own brand - Toptul (this is more recent).
Many European companies manufacture their own bit ratchet’s, usually based on one of their 1/4” drive ratchet’s. Stahlwille, Hazet, Gedore, and several others all do this, and the tools are generally good quality, and made in their own respective factories.
The problem is, that a regular 1/4” ratchet often has a bigger head than a bit ratchet needs. A dedicated bit ratchet can also include features such as the dishing behind the head to hold the bit in the screw, which are difficult to incorporate in a tool derived from a square drive ratchet.
So yes, some bit ratchets are made by Rotar, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. I have a fair few bit ratchet’s, and the Facom R.PE made by Rotar is one of the most practical.
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