Digital revolution
Digitalisation has had a major impact on the history of photography. The first commercially available digital cameras, which were still referred to as still video cameras, began to appear on the market from the mid-eighties on. After 1991, digital photography became increasingly more popular, with the launch of the first professional cameras.
Rollei Fototechnic entered the world of digital photography in 1991 with the Rollei Digital ScanPack – an add-on for the Rolleiflex 6008. The images were scanned by means of a high-resolution CCD line sensor, saved on the computer and edited on the monitor. In 1994, the digital imaging system was extended with the high-speed Rollei ChipPack camera back, which was followed 4 years later by the DSP-104 digital camera back.
Parallel to this, analogue photo technology was further advanced during the nineties. In launching the Prego AF in 1991, Rollei presented its first modern compact camera with autofocus. In 1995, the Rolleiflex 6008 integral, with a completely redesigned electronic concept, became the most state-of-the-art professional camera for the medium format. With this camera, Rollei succeeded once again in setting new standards.
In September 1995, “Rollei Fototechnic” was sold to the Korean conglomerate Samsung. Through integration into this globally-active corporation, Rollei hoped for a significantly enhanced competitive position in the high-tech future. The company was proud of the Rollei / Samsung research and development centre that was inaugurated in April 1996. Because of the Asian economic crisis, however, Samsung also soon found itself obliged to sell off its shares in the company. The new buyers in 1999 were Paul Dume and six other managers. In November 2002, the Danish investment company Capitellum, headquartered in Copenhagen, subsequently took over Rollei Fototechnic.
The new millennium brought a host of new product releases. In the spring of 2001, Rollei presented five new compact cameras, followed by the AFM 35 along with two new digital cameras in autumn. 2002 saw the market launch of six new compact cameras, the Rollei d530 flex (a digital reflex camera), the Rolleiflex 6008 AF (first medium format camera in 6x6 format with autofocus) and the digital 35 mm camera Rollei d330 motion. The Rollei 35 RF and the Rolleiflex 4,0 FW wide-angle camera were also introduced at photokina. The years that followed also saw the consistent development of the digital camera lines.
The new Rollei
In 2004, the company Rollei Fototechnic GmbH moved its production to the newly-founded Rollei Produktion GmbH. Digital cameras and MP3 players were presented at photokina under the slogan “The new Rollei”.
In 2005, the company Rollei Produktion GmbH changed its name again to Franke & Heidecke GmbH. Amongst the shareholders were two grandsons of the company’s founders: Kai Franke and Rainer Heidecke. The focus returned to the production of professional medium format cameras, projectors, technical photo accessories and lenses at the old company site. In the same year, the company Rollei Fototechnic GmbH changed its name to Rollei GmbH and moved its company headquarters to Berlin. From 2006, it fully gave up the operative side of the business and concentrated on licensing of the Rollei trademark rights from then on.
In 2007, the Rollei trademark rights were assigned to three product categories, thus re-allocating usage: Franke & Heidecke GmbH received the trademark rights for the professional medium format products, whilst Rollei Metric GmbH took over the rights for the cameras in the aerial photography and surveying technology segment and RCP-Technik GmbH & Co KG the pan-European distribution for consumer electronic products (digital cameras and accessories).
Rollei…made by RCP
Since 2007, new Rollei products have been characterised by their user-friendliness, high quality, modern design and the excellent value for money they offer. The diverse product range includes compact digital cameras in the model lines Compactline, Flexline, Sportsline and the camcorder line Movieline. Since 2009, digital picture frames and photo/slide film scanners have also been included in the range.
The ongoing development and high quality of the products is assured thanks to the company’s own firmware and team of engineers. The Rollei Service and Call Centre guarantee a high level of service quality and customer support throughout Europe.
At the end of 2009, RCP-Technik GmbH can look back over three successful business years. It has succeeded in increasing the market share in the compact camera sector within Germany to 9%. With its digital picture frames, the company rapidly acquired a 10% market share.
Due to the succesful development of the company, RCP-Technik GmbH has acquired the Rollei brand to 1 January 2010, and thus coinciding with the start of Rollei’s 90th anniversary year. The acquisition of the Rollei brand includes the global licensing rights and points the way towards future international activities.
On 1 march 2010 the first subsidiary in Hungary was founded. Distribution to the Balkan region will be continually developed from the Budapest location. RCP-Technik GmbH's Turkish subsidiary will begin operations from Istanbul on 1 April 2010.
Rollei products are currently internationally available in Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Greece, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. The goal is to double the number of countries by the end of 2010.
Marking the start of the anniversary year with the presentation of its Flexline 100 inTOUCH, Rollei has launched a compact digital camera, which convincingly meets the current needs of amateur photographers, thanks to its amazing design and exceptionally user-friendly touch screen. Compact digital cameras are now increasingly-fashionable accessories, which we carry around with us wherever we go so that we can send our snapshots quickly and easily to all our friends via the Internet and social media.
For this target group, the Rollei compact cameras constitute the perfect digital companions. In the future as well, Rollei will be using its products to pick up on the latest trends of the digital age and making these available to a broad price-conscious clientele seeking value for money.
