Rittal Corp. has announced plans to create a U.S. headquarters in suburban Chicago to better serve its United States customers.
Rittal is the largest company in the owner-operated Friedhelm Loh Group based in Germany — with 11 production sites, 64 subsidiaries and 10,000 employees worldwide.
“We found a home in The Woodfield Corporate Center in Schaumburg, Ill., and intend to be fully operational by September,” said Douglas Peterson, president of Rittal Corp. in the United States. “The initial phase will include relocating the company’s executives, sales leadership, marketing and product management staff.”
The move positions Rittal to be closer to its diverse customer base in North America. It is part of the company’s international expansion projects – projects taking place not only in the United States, but in China, India and Germany, as well. These projects also include a multi-million dollar upgrade to several production lines in Rittal’s Urbana, Ohio, production facility, designed to provide greater capacity in manufacturing the Rittal standardized products and systems for its vital North American markets.
“With innovation as a driving force, Rittal is a technology leader worldwide in the manufacturing and development of enclosures, power distribution, IT infrastructure, software and service,” said Friedhelm Loh, owner and CEO of Rittal.
Among the focal points of the Chicago facility will be a customer training center including expanded teaching resources, product testing facilities and a large-scale product showroom where customers can have a hands-on experience with the entire Rittal system.
“Getting closer to our customers in order to become their first choice is a significant goal now and in the years ahead,” Peterson said. “Moving to suburban Chicago with its proximity to one of the world’s most accessible airports is an excellent step toward making those critical connections easier.”
The new suburban Chicago headquarters joins the Urbana Manufacturing Center of Competence and distribution centers in Texas and Nevada.
