Meet the Technical Experts 2: Inside Rotor Clip Germany’s Team Delivering Local Expertise and Innovation
Since 2005, Rotor Clip’s Idstein, Germany facility has been a cornerstone for technical support in Europe. The team of 10 employees includes engineers, technical specialists, distribution sales, and customer service representatives with a combined experience of more than 100 years. They provide on-site engineering, technical consultations, and local expertise to support customers with all their project needs.
Though their role goes far beyond supplying circlips, snap rings, spiral rings, wave springs, and hose clamps. The team’s specialty is guiding customers through design challenges and developing custom parts when standard solutions are not enough. They collaborate with OEMs in industries, especially in automotive, to ensure assemblies perform at the highest level.
As part of the second edition of our Meet the Experts series, we spoke with four members of the Germany team: Markus, European Distribution Sales Manager, Malte, European Sales & Marketing Associate, Elmar, Director European Sales Engineering & German Operations, and Alex, Global Key Account Manager & Sales Engineer, to share how they apply their engineering expertise and knowledge of the market to support customers across Europe.
Q: What do customers value most about Rotor Clip Germany?
Elmar: Customers value trust above everything else. They know we stand behind our products and support them beyond delivery. That trust is built on more than 50 years of combined engineering experience within our German team. When customers work with us, they know they are speaking to a team of people who understand their applications and can guide them with real technical expertise.
Q: What industries do you work most closely with?
Alex: Automotive and e-mobility are the biggest areas we support in Germany, but we also work with aerospace, medical, energy, oil and gas, and industrial automation.
Q: How do you support customers day-to-day?
Malte: For me, it always starts with listening. We stay in close contact with our customers through regular meetings, check-ins, and communication to keep the relationship strong. Those conversations often bring up new questions or challenges, and we guide them through the options step by step. It’s about being a partner they can rely on, not just a supplier.
Q: What makes Rotor Clip’s German operation unique?
Markus: We are local and not a distributor. While many competitors import and resell parts, we provide direct engineering support and customer service from Idstein, backed by our own manufacturing in the Czech Republic and US. This combination gives our customers fast answers, reliable deliveries, and full confidence in the quality and traceability of every part.
Q: What’s your approach to staying ahead of customer needs?
Elmar: For us, it’s about staying close to our customers. We make time for project reviews and technical discussions, so we really understand where their requirements are heading. Being here in Germany, close to a lot of major OEM hubs, helps us stay connected and react quickly when things change. If we can be involved early in the design phase, we can reduce risks and make sure the assembly works the way it should before it even goes into production.
Q: What’s something customers often don’t realize until they speak with you?
Alex: A lot of customers don’t realize how critical these small parts really are. For example, a retaining ring might look like a simple piece of steel, but the wrong choice can lead to extra wear, higher costs, or even assembly failures. What we do is show them how the right part can make their assemblies safer, more efficient, and more reliable.
Q: What trends are you seeing in your market?
Malte: The biggest shift we see is toward electrification. Customers are asking for parts that can handle higher speeds, increased heat, and long service life. At the same time, many projects are under tighter cost pressure, so there’s a real focus on designs that balance performance with efficiency. That’s where we can add value, helping customers meet these new technical and commercial demands at the same time.
Q: How would you describe the team’s strength?
Markus: Our strength is flexibility. Every project is different, and we adapt quickly to provide the right solution. Engineering support, custom design, or logistics, the team works with precision and care to meet the needs of each application.
Q: What innovations have come out of the German team?
Elmar: One automotive customer needed a solution for an electric drivetrain that was experiencing excessive vibration and durability issues. Standard parts could not meet the requirements, so our team designed the InterShim™ Wave Spring to withstand the high acceleration and vibration. This innovation is just one example of how we continuously develop new solutions to help customers overcome complex engineering challenges.
To learn more about our Idstein location and the Germany team, visit Rotor Clip Germany or contact us to discuss your next project.