The paper describes the Rossendorf beamline (ROBL) built by the Forschungsz
entrum Rossendorf at the ESRF. ROBL comprises two different and independent
ly operating experimental stations: a radiochemistry laboratory for X-ray a
bsorption spectroscopy of non-sealed radioactive samples and a general purp
ose materials research station for X-ray diffraction and reflectometry main
ly of thin films and interfaces modified by ion beam techniques.