Wind-assisted propulsion
Decarbonising the maritime sector
Rollix meets your wind assisted propulsion needs
Rollix brings the reliability and performance essential for maximising energy gains at sea. Our custom-designed slewing rings and yaw modules ensure seamless integration into all sail architectures. Thanks to our proven industrial expertise and our certifiable solutions, you can safeguard your project right from the design stage. With Rollix, you are choosing a partner capable of supporting your wind-assisted propulsion system from prototype to fleet deployment.
WAPS: a rapidly growing technology
Shipping accounts for nearly 3% of global CO₂ emissions, with growing regulatory pressure to reduce this impact.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims for a reduction of at least 40% in carbon intensity by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The energy transition has become a strategic and economic imperative for the maritime industry.
Wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) is recognized as one of the most mature decarbonization solutions.
- Annual market growth: ≈ 25–35%
- Adoption: Over 200 commercial vessels already equipped or currently being equipped
- Pipeline: Several hundred additional projects under consideration or in the pre-engineering phase
- Key trend: The market is shifting from proof-of-concept projects to industrialized and certified solutions.
Measured benefits and return on investment
WAPS technologies enable:
A 5% to 30% reduction in fuel consumption, depending on the type of vessel and the technology
An equivalent reduction in CO₂ emissions
Observed ROI: generally between 3 and 7 years, depending on the operational profile. A direct way to boost competitiveness.
Growth since 2020
Since 2020, sail propulsion has seen a significant surge in growth, driven by two major factors: first, the tightening of international regulations through the IMO’s EEXI and CII requirements and the European “Fit for 55” program; and second, the sustained rise in energy costs, which is prompting shipowners to seek effective solutions to reduce their operating expenses.
This dual regulatory and economic pressure is transforming the market: investment decisions are on the rise, with sail systems being increasingly adopted not only on newbuilds but, above all, on existing fleets (retrofits), which make up the majority of the global fleet.
An evolving ecosystem
The market is consolidating around:
- Shipowners
- Naval architects
- Shipyards
- Sail system designers and integrators
- Specialized industrial equipment manufacturers
In this context, critical components (structure, rotation systems, propulsion, and control) have become key factors in performance, reliability, and service life.
Efforts focused on shared goals:
- Design flexibility
- Industrial-grade robustness and proven architecture
- Long-term availability of components and support
- Operational and regulatory performance throughout the entire lifecycle
- Production facility located close to where customers operate
Our products: from slewing rings to complete solutions
Rollix designs and supplies slewing rings and slewing modules ready for integration into your sail propulsion systems: from custom-designed slewing rings to complete modules, our teams support you through every stage—from design and engineering to manufacturing, integration, and operational support.
Rollix is capable of supporting all sail propulsion systems on the market:
Custom-made slewing rings
We provide a solution perfectly tailored to your application:
- Bearing technologies: single, double, or triple row.
- Gear: internal, external, or without gear.
- Design: sizing and technical recommendations based on your loads, interfaces, and operational constraints.
Associated elements
Pinion sized to handle your workload
Complete lubrication system: pump, lubrication gear, and distributor for lubricating the teeth and raceways.
Specific interfaces: mounting brackets/plates for integrating all of the module’s components.
Fasteners: studs, washers, nuts, screws, plastic caps…
Complete slewing modules
Modules ready for integration into your flexible sails, rigid wings, suction-type wings, kites, or rotors:
- Motors and gearboxes: proven components from critical industries, available as standard or custom-designed
- Automation: drives, controllers, control cabinets, and various components.
- Wiring & accessories: monitoring, harnesses, sensors, locking systems, and other necessary components.
Assembly, testing & shipping
Our teams follow a qualification protocol defined in collaboration with our customers, partners, and certification bodies (FAI, FAT, etc.) and offer specific logistics solutions based on our experience in the wind energy sector.
Support from A to Z
We support you every step of the way to ensure performance, reliability, and on-time delivery:
- Engineering: design, sizing, gear selection, interfaces, drives, and various functions.
- Procurement: selection and qualification of critical components.
- Manufacturing: Rollix manufacturing, critical processes, quality control.
- Integration: module assembly, configuration, FAI/FAT testing, customer support for installation and commissioning.
Operations & Maintenance: lubrication recommendations, maintenance kits, on-demand services.
Benefits for your sailing project
- Flexibility and responsiveness during the design phase (fully customized design)
- Dedicated team for your project
- Optimized lead times
- Enhanced collaboration with certification bodies
- Recognized partner to players in the wind-assisted propulsion sector with a proven track record
- Rapid integration (dedicated interfaces and mountings, factory functional testing).
- Reduced maintenance (integrated lubrication system, high-performance seals, etc.)
- Controlled ramp-up (partner of choice from prototype to fleet deployment)
- Global production (production facilities on every continent).
Contact our wind-assisted propulsion experts
Learn more about Rollix & wind-assisted propulsion
Why choose Rollix?
Rollix positions itself as the leading partner for wind-assisted propulsion thanks to a unique combination of performance, reliability, and industrial expertise:
- Foresight and leadership: Rollix perfectly meets current requirements and anticipates regulatory and technological changes, making it a key player in the market.
- Comprehensive support: We guide you throughout the project, from initial sizing to final integration, ensuring an optimized solution for your sail.
- Flexibility and global sourcing: Thanks to our various production sites, we offer different options to secure your supply chain and serve the global market.
- Certifiable solutions: Our systems are designed to meet the standards of international certification bodies.
- Proven testing infrastructure: existing test benches for critical components, derived from our expertise in wind power, enabling a unique crossover between wind power and marine applications.
- Practical experience and major partnerships: Rollix has been collaborating for several years with the leading names in sail propulsion in Europe and Asia, with operational implementations on commercial vessels.
Our commitment: to help ensure the long-term performance of your wind-assisted propulsion technology with robust, certifiable, and fully customized solutions.
Key figures to remember
- 3% of global CO₂ emissions come from the maritime sector
- Target of a 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, with carbon neutrality by 2050
- 25–35% annual growth in the WASP market
- Over 200 vessels already equipped or currently being equipped
- 5–30% fuel savings, ROI in 3–7 years
FAQ
What is wind-assisted propulsion (WAPS)?
A propulsion system that harnesses wind power using technologies such as rigid sails, wings, flettner rotors, and kites to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
What benefits can be expected?
Typically a 5% to 30% reduction in fuel consumption, depending on the vessel, route, technology, and operating conditions.
What is the payback period?
In most observed cases, it ranges from 3 to 7 years.
OUR RELATED SERVICES
Study & design
Fast
Make
Logistics
Spares & services
Laboratory
Rollix, a specialist in slewing rings, offers expert technical advice and calculations. Our engineers will guide you towards the solution best suited to your application. Our sales managers will support you throughout your project, offering advice to help you optimise your purchase and performance.
FAQ
Rollix documentation
All our catalogues, brochures, installation manuals and technical data sheets can be downloaded from the media library on our website: https://www.defontaine.com/en/media-library/
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We have a series of online tutorials on our YouTube channel to help you install and adjust the sprockets on a slewing ring: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfBLMW9HR0pBSVxm4mciTa2wCpmJYhPGN
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Rollix products
Rollix Compact CB slewing rings are designed to be interchangeable with standard products on the market, making them easy to integrate or replace in high-precision applications (robotics, indexing tables, machine tools, etc.). For further information, please consult the full Rollix slewing ring catalogue in the media library on our website.
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You can indeed obtain a quote for a single unit. To obtain the price of a bearing or a slewing ring, you can visit our online shop (b2b.defontaine.com) or contact our sales teams directly at sales@rollix.com or via the contact form on our website https://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/
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The Defontaine Group has an online shop for the sale of standard Rollix products. Our e-shop is https://b2b.defontaine.com/
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To find out if we have a distributor in your country, you can contact us via our online form at https://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/ or by email: for the Rollix brand, send an email to sales@rollix.com and for the Defontaine brand to sales@defontaine.com .
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We naturally offer custom-made slewing rings and bearings. To arrange this, please contact our sales team, who will liaise with our design office.
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Rollix offers high-precision slewing rings https://www.defontaine.com/en/our-markets/machine-tool/ for applications such as rotary tables, machine tools and robots, as well as for wind turbines https://www.defontaine.com/en/our-markets/wind-energy/ with large-sized slewing rings, and for the marine market https://www.defontaine.com/en/our-markets/marine/ including wind assisted propulsion systems.
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To obtain a quote for a bearing or slewing ring, please visit our online shop (b2b.defontaine.com) or contact our sales teams directly at sales@rollix.com or via the contact form on our website https://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/
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Please follow the slewing ring selection procedure as outlined in the document “6-step process for selecting a slewing ring”, which can be downloaded from the media library section of our website.
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To request a quote for an HD-R slewing ring, please contact our sales team at sales@rollix.com or via the contact form on our website https://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/
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All ring part numbers are listed and categorised by family: standard ball bearings, light-series ball bearings, standard crossed-roller bearings, precision bearings and special-purpose bearings. All part numbers are listed in the slewing ring catalogue, which can be downloaded from the media library on our website.
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Light-series ball slewing rings can be manufactured from L-shaped profiles or solid sections. There are three classes of clearance accuracy for each type of slewing ring. These slewing rings are not suitable for suspended loads.
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Typically 5 to 30% less fuel, depending on the vessel, route, technology and operation.
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To provide a quote, if the item is a standard part listed in our catalogue, our sales teams will need the part number, the quantities required, and the Incoterm associated with your request. Our standard items can also be ordered directly via our online shop (https://b2b.defontaine.com/). If you would like our engineering teams to assist you in defining and designing a bespoke slewing ring, you will need to complete our IT ETR form (available to download from the media library on our website).
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To understand the differences, please refer to our coding system in our brochure ‘Slewing Ring Families’, which can be downloaded from the media library on our website.
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Most observed cases range between 3 and 7 years.
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Rollix offers solutions for wind-assisted propulsion. Wind-assisted propulsion is a propulsion aid that harnesses the wind using various technologies (rigid sails, wings, Flettner rotors, kites) to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Find out more: https://www.defontaine.com/en/our-markets/wind-assisted-propulsion/
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We manufacture slewing rings and bearings with an average diameter ranging from 150 mm to 6200 mm.
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Rollix manufactures preloaded slewing rings with crossed rollers, or with two or three rows of rollers. Rollix also offers preloaded or reduced-preload slewing rings with single-row or double-row ball bearings.
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Slewing rings are classified into several main categories based on the rolling element, geometry and level of precision.
1. Ball slewing rings
Rollix offers several variants of ball slewing rings, designed for standard applications involving moderate to high loads.
• Single row of balls
Compact slewing rings, suitable for moderate loads and where space is limited.
• Double row of balls
Higher load capacity than the single row; used for more demanding machinery.
• Light series (L-shaped profiles or solid rings)
Designed for applications requiring weight reduction.
2. Crossed-roller rings
Crossed rollers provide high rigidity and a high load capacity, particularly for combined loads.
• Single row of crossed rollers
Capable of withstanding axial and radial loads in compact applications.
• Double row of crossed rollers
Even greater rigidity and capacity, used in cranes, wind turbines, forestry equipment, etc.
3. High-precision rings
Rollix offers ranges specially optimised for high-precision applications, such as robotics or indexing tables.
• Compact range
Very high positioning accuracy, available in a wide range of diameters (148 mm to over 2,400 mm).
• Compact Light
A lighter version of the Compact range, still designed for high precision.
4. ‘Compact CB’ slewing rings
Although the term ‘CB’ is not explicitly mentioned in the PDF, it generally refers to the Compact / Compact Light range, designed for applications requiring minimal space and superior precision.
5. Other complementary ranges:
• Three-row roller slewing rings
Slewing rings for extreme loads (offshore cranes, mining machinery).
• Hybrid slewing rings / thin sections
Alternatives combining bearings and slewing rings, for severe space constraints.
For further information, please consult the complete Rollix slewing ring catalogue in the media library on our website https://www.defontaine.com/en/media-library/
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Standard Rollix products can be purchased via our online shop https://b2b.defontaine.com/. You can also contact our sales team at sales@rollix.com or via our online form at https://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/. Our sales team will be able to put you in touch with the distributor in your area.
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The Rollix product catalogue, like all Rollix marketing materials, can be downloaded from the website: https://www.defontaine.com/en/media-library/. https://www.defontaine.com/mediatheque/.
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All our marketing materials can be downloaded from the website: https://www.defontaine.com/en/media-library/
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The slewing rings in the light-series range are the most economical.
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Our prices can be viewed on our online shop (https://b2b.defontaine.com/) or by sending your enquiry directly to our sales teams at sales@rollix.com or via the contact form on our websitehttps://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/
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Rollix E-shop & distributors
We have slewing rings with external teeth in stock. To order directly, please visit our e-shop: https://b2b.defontaine.com/
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To find a Rollix distributor in your area, please contact our sales department either via the contact form on our website https://www.defontaine.com/contact/ or by email at sales@rollix.com, and we will put you in touch with your nearest distributor.
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Our Rollix e-shop https://b2b.defontaine.com/ allows you to order standard slewing rings directly online and have them delivered in under a week from our stock.
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Rollix services & maintenance
A significant proportion of our offering for the wind power market relates to maintenance and associated services: replacement rings, fasteners, seals and grease containers. On-site services include video inspection, seal replacement and ring inspection. Services carried out at our factories include lubricant analysis, ring retrofitting, root cause analysis and engineering.
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How do I request a quote for a Rollix replacement slewing ring (part number, photos, application)?
To provide a quotation for a Rollix slewing ring, if it is a standard part listed in our catalogue, our sales teams will need the part number, the quantities required, and the Incoterms associated with your request. Our standard parts can also be ordered directly via our online shop (https://b2b.defontaine.com/). If you would like our engineering teams to assist you in defining and designing a specific slewing ring, you will need to complete our IT ETR form (available for download from the media library on our website).
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Providers & SRM
Yes, the Defontaine Group has machining subcontractors within its supplier network.
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To become a supplier of industrial parts or services, please complete the form on the contact page of our website https://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/ or visit the SRM platform https://app11.jaggaer.com/portals/tksp/login?local=1?
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To become a supplier to the Defontaine Group, you must register on our supplier portal https://app11.jaggaer.com/portals/tksp/login?local=1 or contact us via our contact form https://www.defontaine.com/contact/.
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To register on our supplier platform, please visit: https://app11.jaggaer.com/portals/tksp/login?local=1
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The Defontaine Group does indeed have a dedicated platform for suppliers. To access it: https://app11.jaggaer.com/portals/tksp/login?local=1
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OTD/quality/procurement/technology&innovation/sustainability
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The Supplier Code of Conduct can be downloaded from our website: https://www.defontaine.com/en/media-library/
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For any issues, please contact us via our online contact form: https://www.defontaine.com/en/contact/
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Flash-butt welding
Precision machining and grinding 
Press quenching
Induction heat treatment 
Special processes