Rockbolt Systems AG (CH-8640 Rapperswil; www.rockboltsystems.com) has taken over the rockbolts business unit of Weidmann Plastics Technology AG (WPT, CH-8640 Rapperswil; www.weidmann-plastics.com) as part of a management buy-out with retroactive effect as of 1 July 2003. Chief executive officer and shareholder of the newly founded company is the previous business unit director Hans Helbling. The remaining shares are held by an undisclosed Weidmann partner and a member of the financial department. Rockbolt Systems plans to enhance its range outside the field of plastics with products such as steel self-drilling bolts and to cultivate global markets more specifically. This would not be possible within the Weidmann group, Helbling disclosed.

Rockbolt Systems specialises in all-thread bolts from glass fibre-reinforced plastics. All bolt products will continue to be marketed under the “Weidmann” brand name. According to company information, the Rockbolts business unit has generated sales near the 10m range (CHF). In selling off this independent business division, the group continues in “persistently pursuing its focus on multiple-component injection moulding and high-quality metal/plastic composites.”