ROKA HISTORIC LINE - A new start for old craftsmanship

Germany's market leader for mobile catering systems, ROKA Werk GmbH, announces an exclusive collaboration with the last Wagnerei in the country. Wagnerei GmbH, formerly Wagnerei Brohm, is known for its unique vending carts, which are built from the highest quality materials and according to traditional craftsmanship. ROKA is responsible for the national and international distribution of the historic-looking vehicles, which are an excellent fit for hotels, wineries and traditional breweries, but should also be of interest to caterers.

"The Wagnerei manufactures unique vehicles and has high quality standards for the end product. We were immediately able to find overlaps between the two companies, not only in the nature of our products or the target groups, but also in the shared values - and the love of craftsmanship also unites us. It's incredibly great to experience the results of high-quality craftsmanship live and that's what both ROKA and Die Wagnerei stand for. The partnership was simply a logical step and we are delighted to be able to secure the continued existence of a rare craft or even give it a boost," reveals Volker Beck, managing owner of ROKA.

Under the name HISTORIC LINE, the trolleys are now available exclusively through ROKA. The range will initially include the "Small" and "Large" models. The larger trolley has a body length of approx. 3.5 meters and is therefore ideally suited for all food concepts with beverage dispensing, such as those familiar from beer gardens or wineries. Due to their special appearance, the trolleys are also ideal for catering in castles, palaces and estates. The smaller model impresses with its compactness and shows its strength at champagne receptions, as a coffee trolley or in the style of a reception or checkout trolley against a historical backdrop. Possible areas of application include museums, leisure parks, golf courses, historic event locations or, for example, in the sophisticated surroundings of a 5-star hotel terrace on the Adriatic coast, where a model is currently in use.

You can recognize a genuine HISTORIC LINE trolley not only by the fully functional wooden wheels and the numerous loving details, but also by the curved roof covered with waterproof fabric, which is based on a milk cart from a dairy from the turn of the century. After completion, the HISTORIC LINE vending carts are delivered from the wagon factory in the Odenwald to the ROKA plant, just an hour and a half's drive away, where they are fitted with a gastronomic interior according to the customer's wishes in the 6000 square meter factory hall. ROKA relies on its proven and well thought-out solutions for the interior fittings of mobile catering systems, which are 100% designed for working comfort and efficiency. "In over 60 years of company history, we have specialized in interior fittings for mobile catering systems and, with the combination of traditional wagon construction in the Wagnerei and "state-of-the-art" interior fittings at ROKA, we enable the best result for the customer," explains Beck.

The last wainwright's workshop in Germany

From the first rough shavings to the finishing touches: even today, everything revolves around the art of making wagon wheels. Both the locksmith's and the carpenter's trade must be learned in order to be able to carry out the wagon maker's craft, which has been passed down from detail to detail and generation to generation as a well-kept secret in rural wagon workshops. Today, there are only a handful of people in the country who can still bear the title of "Wagner" - some of whom are well over 80 years old. The profession of wainwright no longer exists and Denny Pistner, co-owner of Die Wagnerei, had to complete numerous further training courses in order to be the only "new generation" to be allowed to use the title of wainwright with an exemption permit from the Chamber of Crafts. Pistner is a trained master locksmith and master precision mechanic, while his business partner Weller is a master carpenter with basic metal training. They therefore combine all the skills needed to continue the wainwright trade.

The two owners took over the business of the Brohm wainwright's workshop in Odenwald, which was founded in 1919, after the great-grandson of the company founder, Achim Brohm, passed away suddenly recently. After completing his master craftsman training, Pistner worked alongside Brohm in the wainwright's workshop from 2006 to 2015, learning the traditional work steps. A wooden wheel was made here according to old, traditional knowledge - a process that is not covered by machines. "Brohm archived almost every construction step in handwriting and drawings," explains Pistner, adding: "But he didn't reveal some details during my time working with him and took them to his grave. We reconstruct and rethink these work steps so that we achieve traditional, authentic results. ROKA then supplies the technology for use in mobile gastronomy."

Volker Beck knew the late Achim Brohm well, they met at trade fairs with respect and esteem. It was Beck's initiative to travel to the Odenwald when he heard about the sudden death of Wagner from a mutual customer. He then met the new owners, who had taken on the challenge of continuing the business, and proposed the partnership. "We are proud of this partnership and of our part in continuing the wagon maker's tradition of craftsmanship." ROKA is now distributing the vehicles as the HISTORIC LINE throughout Europe and beyond.

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