In the early 1900s, the grain milling industry faced significant challenges. Machines lagged in efficiency, processes were slow, and the growing demand for quality output remained unmet.
Amid these hurdles, Rotex emerged as an inspiration of innovation and determination.
Founded in 1844, the company has built a nearly two-century legacy of innovation, consistently solving customer challenges and setting industry standards. It has revolutionized agri-business and industrial separation processes by introducing forward-thinking solutions, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and precision.
Over the years, Rotex has grown into a global leader in industrial separation, consistently addressing real-world challenges with cutting-edge technology. This consistent mission has fueled the company’s century-long success and cemented its lasting impact on industries worldwide.
Today, the company’s machines feature its exclusive Gyratory Reciprocating Motion, which combines low-angle screening, long-stroke, and low-frequency characteristics in a single machine. This motion allows Rotex machines to deliver unmatched size-classification performance and efficiency.
A Legacy of Problem-Solving
Rotex’s innovation journey started with a simple yet impactful customer request. In 1912, a milling company using its flour mills expressed concerns about contamination in their flour. In response, Rotex developed its first separator as a favor to the customer. Soon, the demand for this innovation skyrocketed, leading to the company’s long-term focus on industrial separation. This problem-solving mindset continues to be the foundation of Rotex’s approach today.
“We see every challenge as an opportunity to innovate. It’s not about the machines; it’s about creating solutions that make a real difference,” says Lawrence Rentz, CEO.
Rotex’s close customer relationships allow it to refine its solutions continuously. For example, customers processing oil seeds such as soybeans and canola encountered extreme abrasion issues due to the crop’s natural properties. In response, Rotex incorporated specialized linings and coatings to extend equipment service life and improve processing efficiency. Similarly, when customers sought greater flexibility to switch between processing wheat and canola, Rotex engineered unique screening solutions that recover high-value content during transitions.
The Gyratory Motion Advantage
At the heart of Rotex’s success today is its Gyratory-Reciprocating Motion, which enhances material separation. Unlike alternative vibratory motion Screeners, which have a vertical motion component causing particles to be out of contact with the screening surface 50% of the time, the Rotex gyratory-reciprocating motion acts in a horizontal plane only, maximizing each particle’s time in contact with the screen surface and optimizing separation efficiency.
Rotex has expanded this technology to larger Screeners with increased screen area to enable processing of grain at very high rates for receiving and export applications with optimal recovery of cleaned grain and minimal product loss. An example of this is a U.S. export installation where Rotex equipment is cleaning 60,000 BPH of wheat for ship loading while meeting stringent specifications on final dockage and allowable good grain loss.
The company’s solutions have delivered measurable improvements across various industries. Beyond grain, Rotex has been crucial in optimizing fertilizer separation for materials like potash, phosphates, and urea—ensuring precision particle size standards are met to prevent segregation in blends of these critical plant nutrients. Rotex precision sizing has also been instrumental in proppant production for the oil and gas industry. Proppants are a key requirement during fracturing of shale formations to recover tightly held oil and gas deposits. The proppants ‘prop’ open the fine fissures created, enabling the oil and gas retained inside to flow out. Much like in grain, Rotex equipment enables high capacities while optimizing separation efficiency in proppant production. From Agri-business, Chemicals, Food, Minerals and Plastics, Rotex equipment is in operation in over 250 different SIC codes globally.
Customer-Centric Philosophy
Rotex doesn’t just manufacture equipment—it builds tailored solutions based on customer feedback. The company’s Stage Gate Product Development Process ensures that every product begins with customer insights. Rotex gathers extensive data through its CRM system, tracking equipment performance, maintenance history, and application-specific challenges.
This structured approach enables Rotex to develop and refine new solutions in real-world conditions. Strong customer relationships have resulted in frequent partnering to serve as alpha and beta test sites, providing valuable feedback before full-scale implementation.
One such example occurred when a competitor in the grain industry went bankrupt, leaving many of their customers with unsupported equipment. Some of these facilities approached Rotex to replace their existing Screeners, but in several instances the conventional ROTEX® Grain Cleaner couldn’t fit through their existing infrastructure. Rotex responded by developing a modular model that could be assembled on-site, ensuring seamless equipment replacement without costly facility modifications.
Another major innovation driven by customer needs was the APEX™ screen system. Traditional screen replacement required multiple workers to remove stacked screens, leading to longer downtimes. Rotex developed a segmented screen deck with side-accessed pre-tensioned screen panels, allowing one operator to replace individual screens in a fraction of the time.
This ergonomic enhancement significantly improved operational efficiency and safety.
Further, Rotex has embraced its clients’ challenge of reducing environmental impact while maintaining profitability. The company designs machines that minimize energy consumption and extend equipment lifespan. Rotex helps businesses reduce carbon footprint without sacrificing performance by optimizing gyratory motion to lower energy usage. Its durable equipment design also minimizes waste by extending operational life cycles, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
A Legacy of Innovation and Excellence
Rotex’s commitment to innovation extends beyond in-house development—it also embraces strategic acquisitions to strengthen its market position. In 2018, Rotex acquired BM&M, a Canadian company known for its expertise in small-grain and wood chip separation. This merger combined two of the strongest players in bulk particle separation, mainly benefiting the grain and seed industry.
BM&M’s location in Vancouver, British Columbia, near key grain terminals, allowed Rotex to expand its reach and leverage long-standing customer relationships. The complementary expertise of both companies further solidified Rotex’s position as a premier provider of separation solutions in the agricultural sector.
Rotex’s journey from a small company solving milling problems to a global leader in industrial separation is a testament to its customer-first philosophy and technological advancements. Its ability to combine innovation with sustainability has reshaped the industrial separation landscape.
As Rotex looks toward the future, its mission remains clear: to pioneer new solutions, strengthen customer partnerships, and push the boundaries of industrial efficiency. With nearly 200 years of expertise, Rotex is set to lead the industry into the next era of innovation.
Amid these hurdles, Rotex emerged as an inspiration of innovation and determination.
Founded in 1844, the company has built a nearly two-century legacy of innovation, consistently solving customer challenges and setting industry standards. It has revolutionized agri-business and industrial separation processes by introducing forward-thinking solutions, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and precision.
Over the years, Rotex has grown into a global leader in industrial separation, consistently addressing real-world challenges with cutting-edge technology. This consistent mission has fueled the company’s century-long success and cemented its lasting impact on industries worldwide.Today, the company’s machines feature its exclusive Gyratory Reciprocating Motion, which combines low-angle screening, long-stroke, and low-frequency characteristics in a single machine. This motion allows Rotex machines to deliver unmatched size-classification performance and efficiency.
A Legacy of Problem-Solving
Rotex’s innovation journey started with a simple yet impactful customer request. In 1912, a milling company using its flour mills expressed concerns about contamination in their flour. In response, Rotex developed its first separator as a favor to the customer. Soon, the demand for this innovation skyrocketed, leading to the company’s long-term focus on industrial separation. This problem-solving mindset continues to be the foundation of Rotex’s approach today.
“We see every challenge as an opportunity to innovate. It’s not about the machines; it’s about creating solutions that make a real difference,” says Lawrence Rentz, CEO.
Rotex’s close customer relationships allow it to refine its solutions continuously. For example, customers processing oil seeds such as soybeans and canola encountered extreme abrasion issues due to the crop’s natural properties. In response, Rotex incorporated specialized linings and coatings to extend equipment service life and improve processing efficiency. Similarly, when customers sought greater flexibility to switch between processing wheat and canola, Rotex engineered unique screening solutions that recover high-value content during transitions.
The Gyratory Motion Advantage
At the heart of Rotex’s success today is its Gyratory-Reciprocating Motion, which enhances material separation. Unlike alternative vibratory motion Screeners, which have a vertical motion component causing particles to be out of contact with the screening surface 50% of the time, the Rotex gyratory-reciprocating motion acts in a horizontal plane only, maximizing each particle’s time in contact with the screen surface and optimizing separation efficiency.
Rotex has expanded this technology to larger Screeners with increased screen area to enable processing of grain at very high rates for receiving and export applications with optimal recovery of cleaned grain and minimal product loss. An example of this is a U.S. export installation where Rotex equipment is cleaning 60,000 BPH of wheat for ship loading while meeting stringent specifications on final dockage and allowable good grain loss.
The company’s solutions have delivered measurable improvements across various industries. Beyond grain, Rotex has been crucial in optimizing fertilizer separation for materials like potash, phosphates, and urea—ensuring precision particle size standards are met to prevent segregation in blends of these critical plant nutrients. Rotex precision sizing has also been instrumental in proppant production for the oil and gas industry. Proppants are a key requirement during fracturing of shale formations to recover tightly held oil and gas deposits. The proppants ‘prop’ open the fine fissures created, enabling the oil and gas retained inside to flow out. Much like in grain, Rotex equipment enables high capacities while optimizing separation efficiency in proppant production. From Agri-business, Chemicals, Food, Minerals and Plastics, Rotex equipment is in operation in over 250 different SIC codes globally.
Customer-Centric Philosophy
Rotex doesn’t just manufacture equipment—it builds tailored solutions based on customer feedback. The company’s Stage Gate Product Development Process ensures that every product begins with customer insights. Rotex gathers extensive data through its CRM system, tracking equipment performance, maintenance history, and application-specific challenges.
We see every challenge as an opportunity to innovate. It’s not about the machines; it’s about creating solutions that make a real difference
One such example occurred when a competitor in the grain industry went bankrupt, leaving many of their customers with unsupported equipment. Some of these facilities approached Rotex to replace their existing Screeners, but in several instances the conventional ROTEX® Grain Cleaner couldn’t fit through their existing infrastructure. Rotex responded by developing a modular model that could be assembled on-site, ensuring seamless equipment replacement without costly facility modifications.
Another major innovation driven by customer needs was the APEX™ screen system. Traditional screen replacement required multiple workers to remove stacked screens, leading to longer downtimes. Rotex developed a segmented screen deck with side-accessed pre-tensioned screen panels, allowing one operator to replace individual screens in a fraction of the time.
This ergonomic enhancement significantly improved operational efficiency and safety.
Further, Rotex has embraced its clients’ challenge of reducing environmental impact while maintaining profitability. The company designs machines that minimize energy consumption and extend equipment lifespan. Rotex helps businesses reduce carbon footprint without sacrificing performance by optimizing gyratory motion to lower energy usage. Its durable equipment design also minimizes waste by extending operational life cycles, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
A Legacy of Innovation and Excellence
Rotex’s commitment to innovation extends beyond in-house development—it also embraces strategic acquisitions to strengthen its market position. In 2018, Rotex acquired BM&M, a Canadian company known for its expertise in small-grain and wood chip separation. This merger combined two of the strongest players in bulk particle separation, mainly benefiting the grain and seed industry.
BM&M’s location in Vancouver, British Columbia, near key grain terminals, allowed Rotex to expand its reach and leverage long-standing customer relationships. The complementary expertise of both companies further solidified Rotex’s position as a premier provider of separation solutions in the agricultural sector.
Rotex’s journey from a small company solving milling problems to a global leader in industrial separation is a testament to its customer-first philosophy and technological advancements. Its ability to combine innovation with sustainability has reshaped the industrial separation landscape.
As Rotex looks toward the future, its mission remains clear: to pioneer new solutions, strengthen customer partnerships, and push the boundaries of industrial efficiency. With nearly 200 years of expertise, Rotex is set to lead the industry into the next era of innovation.
