In 1981, company founder Wilfried Tappe started manufacturing aluminum rollers in a small garage in the heart of Herford. Today, in 2026, INOMETA GmbH looks back on a proud 45 years. From a modest one-man operation, it has grown into an internationally respected technology leader.
The company’s success has grown. The secret to the success of this East Westphalian company lies in a perfect balance of traditional family values, tireless innovative strength, an enormous range of solutions, and consistent sustainability.
Values of a family business & team spirit
Led by the second generation, Cedric Tappe and co-managing director Christof Schotten, INOMETA continues to cultivate the virtues of a true family business. Long-term and reliable customer relationships built on mutual respect form the foundation. This success is largely driven by the approximately 200 employees, the true backbone of this technology leader. Many experts began their careers within the company. With a modern training workshop and currently 16 technical apprentices, INOMETA is actively addressing the skills shortage and developing the specialists of tomorrow.
Pioneering spirit and unstoppable innovative power
INOMETA’s history is inextricably linked to material innovations. Over 35 years ago, the company was one of the very first pioneers to use carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) in roller construction. Where conventional materials fail, these fiber composites offer exceptional lightness, precision, and vibration damping. Today, the company is perfecting this innovative spirit in its state-of-the-art Smart Factory at its headquarters: A recent multi-million euro investment in four fully automated, robot-assisted production cells enables highly efficient, digitally networked series production in a true Industry 4.0 context.
Range of solutions: “More than rollers”
Today, INOMETA covers the entire value chain – from product development and precise multi-level balancing to functional surface finishing. Whether wear-resistant, heat-resistant, or non-stick coatings: the portfolio meets every industrial requirement. Thanks to the unique systems approach, such as the INOflex® program for flexographic printing, customers receive all rotating printing unit and web guiding components from a single source. Beyond the printing and converting industries, the portfolio ensures future viability in the battery market: Specialized low-friction rollers guide the thinnest electrode and separator films with minimal starting torque and absolutely crease-free.
Partnership and lived sustainability
Guided by the motto “More than rollers,” INOMETA sees itself not merely as a supplier, but as a holistic development partner that transcends traditional supplier-customer boundaries. This close collaboration goes hand in hand with ecological responsibility: Consistent lightweight construction reduces material consumption and, through minimized inertia, drastically lowers the energy requirements of customer machines. Digital milestones such as INOid® – a cloud-based digital product identity for intelligent lifecycle tracking – guarantee future-proof, resource-efficient processes for the industry of tomorrow.
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