Rotring
Rotring is the brand name of a type of pen for technical drawing widely used throughout much of the 20th century by architects, designers, and engineers before the advent of computer aided design. It is capable of fine precision, drawing consistent lines – as long as it is well cared for.
The classic Rotring pens were easily distinguished by their dark red barrels, narrow steel tubes in place of a conventional nib, and their use of Rotring-branded cartridge ink, making refilling a quick, clean process compared to old-fashioned methods. The pens were sometimes referred to as rapidographs, a name which came from the pen of the same name introduced by the company in the 1950s.
The Rotring company was founded in Germany in 1928 under the name Tintenkuli Handels GmbH. When it subsequently changed its name in the 1970s, it took the German term for the red ring that was placed around the pen’s barrel: rot ring.
Although such technical pens had been available in the US, they were not, initially, widely available in Europe, but Rotring’s success meant that its name eventually came to be associated with the pen type globally. Companies such as Staedtler also made similar pens which were sometimes slightly cheaper.
Rotring continues to make technical pens. However, the company’s once widespread popularity has diminished thanks to the introduction in the 1990s of computer-aided design (CAD) and the associated mechanised drafting.
Other technical pens made by the company include the Isograph. The Art Pen, while not a technical pen, has a traditional-style nib and was designed for freehand drawing and sketching. Fineline pens and propelling pencils complete the company’s line-up, along with tools to assist drafting, such as set squares, rulers, protractors and so on.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Architectural reprography.
- Blueprint.
- Common mistakes on building drawings.
- Computer aided design.
- Drawing projections.
- Elevations.
- Engineering drawing.
- General arrangement drawing.
- Paper sizes.
- Perspective.
- Rapid prototyping.
- Scale.
- Scale drawing.
- Technical drawing pen sizes.
- Techniques for drawing buildings.
- Types of drawings.
Featured articles and news
Preparing for the future: how specifiers can lead the way
Effective specificationand the Future Homes Standard.
Heritage, industry and slavery
Interpretation must tell the story accurately.
PM announces Building safety and fire move to MHCLG
Following recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry report.
Conserving the ruins of a great Elizabethan country house.
BSRIA European air conditioning market update 2024
Highs, lows and discrepancy rates in the annual demand.
50 years celebrating the ECA Apprenticeship Awards
As SMEs say the 10 years of the Apprenticeship Levy has failed them.
Nominations sought for CIOB awards
Celebrating construction excellence in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
EPC consultation in context: NCM, SAP, SBEM and HEM
One week to respond to the consultation on reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings framework.
CIAT Celebrates 60 years of Architectural Technology
Find out more #CIAT60 social media takeover.
The BPF urges Chancellor for additional BSR resources
To remove barriers and bottlenecks which delay projects.
Flexibility over requirements to boost apprentice numbers
English, maths and minimumun duration requirements reduced for a 10,000 gain.
A long term view on European heating markets
BSRIA HVAC 2032 Study.
Humidity resilience strategies for home design
Frequency of extreme humidity events is increasing.
National Apprenticeship Week 2025
Skills for life : 10-16 February
Update on the future of Grenfell Tower
Deputy Prime Minister decides for it be carefully taken down to the ground.
Ending decades of frustration, misinformation and distrust.