Governor Quinn Announces Rittal Corporation to Move U.S. Headquarters to Illinois

SCHAUMBURG – Governor Pat Quinn and Rittal Corporation executives today announced that the German manufacturing company is moving its United States headquarters to Illinois from Ohio. The relocation to the Woodfield Corporate Center in Schaumburg is expected to create 40 jobs and allow the U.S. subsidiary of privately owned Rittal GmbH better access to its widespread U.S. customer base. Governor Quinn personally recruited Rittal to Illinois, meeting with owner and CEO Friedhelm Loh in December in Germany.

“Rittal chose Illinois for its central location, transportation offerings and high quality of life,” Governor Quinn said. “With our diverse economy, highly skilled workforce, and easy access to the rest of the world, Illinois is an excellent place for businesses to grow and thrive.”

Today’s announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward. The new headquarters facility is scheduled to be fully operational by September. Rittal is also actively recruiting in northern Illinois to tap into the state’s extensive pool of sales, marketing and product professionals.

“Getting closer to our customers so that we become their first choice is a significant goal now and in the years ahead,” Rittal President Douglas Peterson said. “Creating a world-class customer-oriented facility in the Chicago area with its proximity to one of the world’s most accessible airports is an excellent step toward making those critical connections easier.”

The first phase of Rittal’s corporate expansion will include relocating the company’s executives, sales leadership, marketing and product management staff. A state-of-the-art Customer Center of Excellence will be at the heart of the expansion and will include expanded teaching resources, enhanced product testing facilities, and a large-scale product showroom where customers can have a hands-on experience with the entire Rittal system.

Rittal’s global-scale modernization and expansion is taking place in North America, China, India and Germany and includes a multi-million dollar upgrade to several production lines in Rittal’s Urbana, Ohio manufacturing facility, designed to provide greater flexibility and capacity in creating products for the vital U.S. markets that Rittal serves. The company operates the Urbana Manufacturing Center of Competence in Ohio, as well as distribution centers in Texas and Nevada.

“With innovation and customer service as a driving force, Rittal is a world leader in the manufacturing and development of solutions for our customers, whether they need enclosures, power distribution, IT infrastructure, software or service,” Rittal CEO Loh said. “Rittal—The System offers coordinated platforms, uniting innovative production, pioneering engineering solutions and global service to accommodate diverse requirements.”

Rittal will be eligible for tax credits under the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The tax credits, based on job creation, can be used against corporate income taxes to be paid over up to ten years.

Governor Quinn has worked diligently to identify and aggressively court companies to Illinois with strong potential to bring jobs and economic growth to the state. Rittal joins several companies that have moved their U.S. headquarters to Illinois this year, including building materials company Lafarge SA, silver and gold producer Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp., and biopharmaceutical firm Durata Therapeutics. For more information on why Illinois is the right place for business, please visit http://Illinoisbiz.biz.

Rittal Corporation

The Rittal Corporation, Urbana, Ohio, is the U.S. subsidiary of Rittal GmbH & Co. KG and manufactures the world’s leading industrial and IT enclosures, racks and accessories, including climate control and power management systems for industrial, data center, outdoor and hybrid applications. Rittal’s off-the-shelf standard, modified standard and customer-engineered products are recognized throughout the world as innovative, high quality solutions for practically any industrial or IT infrastructure application—from single enclosures to comprehensive, mission critical systems.

Founded in 1961, Rittal is now active worldwide with 11 production sites, 64 subsidiaries and 40 agencies. With 10,000 employees worldwide, Rittal is the largest company in the owner-operated Friedhelm Loh Group, based in Haiger, Germany. The entire group employs 11,500 people and generated revenue of $2.9 billion in 2012. For additional information, visit www.rittal.us and www.friedhelm-loh-group.com.