# Ronal > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ronal > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ronal.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronal > Source revision: 1351137774 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Manufacturer of aluminum alloy wheels This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. See our advice if the article is about you and read our scam warning in case someone asks for money to edit this article. (March 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article needs more citations. 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(April 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Ronal Ronal AG headquarters in Härkingen Formation 1969; 57 years ago (1969) Founder Karl Wirth Founded at Forst (Baden), Germany Headquarters Härkingen, Switzerland CEO Alexandra Bendler[1] Staff 7,000 Website Official website **Ronal AG**[2] is a manufacturer of aluminum alloy [wheels](/source/Wheel) for [cars](/source/Car) and [commercial vehicles](/source/Commercial_vehicle) as well as shower solutions and bathroom furniture based in [Härkingen](/source/H%C3%A4rkingen), Switzerland. The company employs approximately 7000 personnel[3] and produces both cast and forged wheels. The company is active in both the [OEM](/source/Original_equipment_manufacturer) and [aftermarket](/source/Aftermarket_(automotive)) for cars and commercial vehicles. In 2023, the former SanSwiss Group became Ronal Bathrooms, the company's bathroom and wellness division. The Ronal Group has 12 wheel production facilities, six bathroom furniture production plants, two factories for tool manufacturing, and a logistics center and has its own sales locations in eleven countries. The company produces approximately 16 million wheels annually for the [automotive industry](/source/Automotive_industry) and its own brands Ronal and Speedline Truck.[4] Ronal AG develops and produces its own production tools. This takes place at the sites [Cantanhede](/source/Cantanhede%2C_Portugal) in Portugal and [Härkingen](/source/H%C3%A4rkingen) in Switzerland. The company also has its own research and development center in Forst, Germany. Ronal also owns Ronal Bathrooms AG (shower solutions and bathroom furniture), based in Gunzgen, Switzerland. ## History 1983 [Volkswagen Golf](/source/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk1) on aftermarket Ronal R10 Turbo wheels Ronal was founded in Germany in 1969 by Karl Wirth.[5] The entrepreneur and [Formula V](/source/Formula_Vee) driver saw a need for aluminum wheels.[6] Wirth thus became one of the pioneers of light alloy wheels on the global market. The first factory was opened back in 1978 in France. In 2007 Ronal AG purchased Italian wheel manufacturer Speedline,[7] which covers the commercial vehicle segment including trucks, trailers and buses. This helped the group expand into the [racing](/source/Auto_racing) and [Formula 1](/source/Formula_1) sectors as well as into weight-optimized [flow forming](/source/Shear_forming) technology. 83 [FIA](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Internationale_de_l'Automobile) titles have been won on Speedline Corse wheels.[8] In 2012, Ronal expanded its range to include forged wheels with the majority stake in Fullchamp in Taiwan. In 2013, Ronal AG joined forces with the Australian company, Carbon Revolution, to launch the first one-piece [carbon](/source/Carbon) wheel on the European market.[9] With the acquisition of APP-Tech from Padova, Italy, the Group expanded its capacity in the forged wheel sector. In 2016, the Ronlog logistics center was opened in Forst, Germany. In 2019, the Ronal Group celebrated its 50th anniversary. In 2023, Ronal and the German private equity company Callista completed the sale of the subsidiary Speedline S.r.l. including the brands “SpeedlineE” and “Speedline CorseE” with legal effect from October 1, 2023. The Ronal Group will continue its support activities for the Italian market as well as Group-wide activities in its new company Ronal Italia Services S.r.l. Ronal acquired the companies with the associated brands Glass 1989, Karol (both Italy) and Kudos (UK, South Africa) for the strategic expansion of the Bathroom and Wellness Division. In 2024, the SanSwiss division was renamed Ronal Bathrooms. The SanSwiss product brand is renamed Ronal.[10] ## Divisions - OEM: Original equipment manufacturing for automobile manufacturers around the world - Cars: Aftermarket parts sold with the brands Ronal, Speedline Corse - Commercial vehicles: OEM and aftermarket parts for trucks, buses and trailers with the brand Speedline Truck - Sanitary: Ronal Bathrooms, specialized in the production of high-quality shower units. ## Technology Ronal AG works to make the wheels lighter with technologies such as flowforming, [forging](/source/Forging) and [undercuting](/source/Undercut_(manufacturing)). Furthermore, Ronal AG uses process for the surface finishing like multi color rim (MCR), [pad printing](/source/Pad_printing), [laser](/source/Laser) and [diamond cutting](/source/Diamond_cutting) and [polishing](/source/Polishing). ## External links - [https://www.ronalgroup.com/division-wheels/](https://www.ronalgroup.com/division-wheels/) - [https://www.ronalgroup.com/ronal-bathrooms/](https://www.ronalgroup.com/ronal-bathrooms/) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Facts and figures"](https://www.ronalgroup.com/en/facts-and-figures/). *ronalgroup*. Retrieved 2025-10-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Ronal AG*](https://so.chregister.ch/cr-portal/auszug/auszug.xhtml?uid=CHE-100.951.982) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160325060914/https://so.chregister.ch/cr-portal/auszug/auszug.xhtml?uid=CHE-100.951.982) 2016-03-25 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Handelsregister des Kantons Solothurn, retrieved 9 March 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ronal AG facts and figures"](https://www.ronalgroup.com/en/facts-and-figures/). *Ronal AG*. Retrieved 6 December 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Ronal AG"](https://www.xing.com/companies/ronalag). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160416092753/https://www.xing.com/companies/ronalag) from the original on 2016-04-16. Schon 1978 wurde das erste Werk in Frankreich eröffnet, heute werden in 10 Werken auf 3 Kontinenten über 19 Mio. Räder pro Jahr produziert. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Oberschmidt, Norbert (2015). "Von der Piste auf die Straße". *Das Rad* (in German). Ronal AG. p. 132. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-89735-869-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-89735-869-0). Als weiterer deutscher Hersteller bot die Karl Wirth GmbH in Walldorf ab April 1969 Räder unter der Bezeichnung "RONAL" an. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** McCourt, Mark J. (June 2015). ["Ronal - This innovative wheel firm quickly became an OEM supplier of choice"](http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hsx/2015/06/Ronal/3748639.html). *Hemmings*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160530115127/http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hsx/2015/06/Ronal/3748639.html) from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016. Surprisingly, he found his potential business clients were more interested in the cast-aluminum wheels that he'd fitted to his Opel; those wheels had been fitted by Norbert Oberschmidt from wheel manufacturer Remotec, where Norbert occasionally worked while studying math and physics. Karl recognized Norbert as a fellow "car guy" and convinced him to join his firm, instructing customers in using Ron-Testequipment. A month after the men joined forces, Karl started selling aluminum wheels, and tasked Norbert with designing wheels in-house. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Ronal History"](http://www.ronalgroup.com/hauptseiteduschen/ueberuns/ronalhistory.pdf) (PDF). *Ronal Group Homepage*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160804010925/http://www.ronalgroup.com/hauptseiteduschen/ueberuns/ronalhistory.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016. The latest and most remarkable development was the acquisition of the majority of Speedline Italy, in May 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Speedline Corse Ltd"](https://www.ronalgroup.com/en/brand/speedline-corse/). *Ronal Group*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190828233742/https://www.ronalgroup.com/en/brand/speedline-corse/) from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2018. In partnership with leading motorsport teams and car manufacturers, Speedline has won 83 FIA sanctioned world championship titles including Formula 1, World Rally Championship, Sports Prototype and Rally Raid. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Achorn, George (4 December 2014). ["Essen Motor Show 2014"](http://www.vwvortex.com/aftermarket-and-industry-news/essen-ronal-polished-r10-r50/). *VW Vortex*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160420223735/http://www.vwvortex.com/aftermarket-and-industry-news/essen-ronal-polished-r10-r50/) from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016. In addition, Speedline shared again its carbon fiber "Carbon Revolution CR-9", a one-piece carbon fiber wheel and the first of its kind to be introduced in Europe. The wheel sets new standards in terms of weight, performance and comfort and is already approved for use in Switzerland and the UK. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["History"](https://www.ronalgroup.com/en/history/). *Ronal Group*. Retrieved 2024-12-06. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ronal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.