Ritter GmbH

Ritter, part of Avantor, manufactures high-quality robotic and liquid handling consumables, including conductive pipette tips engineered to exacting standards. These mission-critical consumables are used in a variety of molecular screening and diagnostic applications, including real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), non-molecular assays such as immunoassays, emerging high throughput in vitro diagnostics (IVD) technologies including next generation sequencing, and as part of drug discovery and clinical trial testing in pharma and biotech applications.

Producing plastic products of impeccable quality is the core competence of Ritter GmbH. The company specialises in complete solutions and matches individual components perfectly to each other. Ritter works closely with its customers, focusses on their needs and the requirements of every specific application. With success: Ritter manufactures cartridges for sealants and adhesives as well as highly sensitive instruments for use in clinics and laboratories worldwide.

Innovation is the key to the success of this company that was founded in 1965 and is located in Schwabmünchen, Bavaria. With high-precision products, flexibility and high cost-efficiency, Ritter redefines the plastic injection moulding business time and again. Proof of this is the number of patents the company holds.

On 25,000 m2, over 500 employees fulfil consistently high quality standards with first-class plastic products.

Ritter GmbH is certified in accordance with ISO 9001 / EN ISO 13485 / ISO 50001. For more information see certificates in the download area.

Range of services

Ritter stands for perfection in mass production. With top performance and reliability, Ritter provides consistent high-quality. In addition to this, the company is characterised by its expertise in development and project work: the experts at Ritter provide their experience and know-how as a service to their customers and clients and, through professional interchange and close collaboration, develop customised products for specific applications. Their own tool-making facilities, the most modern manufacturing technology and know-how result in the highest precision.

 

Just-in-time at any time

Both efficient concepts for logistics and just-in-time solutions speed up processes and meet the customers’ needs in terms of low warehouse stock and short delivery cycles. Cross-company collaboration prevents bullwhip effects and lowers storage and administration costs.

 

For an unmistakable profile

Ritter was the first manufacturer to introduce digital printing on cartridges and, for this, Ritter has an in-house graphic design department to support its clients. This high-resolution process not only suits small lots exceptionally well, it is also excellent for accurate, photorealistic, distinctive and personalised decor. Unlike screen printing, there is no need here for a printing forme, so the range and flexibility of decors are almost endless.

A positive side-effect: needs-based small quantities make a significant contribution to protecting the environment. This allows Ritter to follow its own sustainability standards.

Dedicated to the environment

Economic, efficient production processes go hand in hand with environmental awareness. This conviction can be seen in life at Ritter in many ways:

 

Plastics

Ritter only uses tested, non-toxic plastics. In this respect, only materials are used which can consistantly be conducted to Circular Economy.

Besides recyclable and re-usable plastics, Ritter also focuses on biobased, biodegradable and compostable materials. Own production wastes are upgraded and reused.

Ritter is working on a consequent  weight reduction of the products in order to flatten general consumption of plastics.

 

Energy efficiency

The new Ritter production plant has an energy control system that covers all aspects. It controls and regulates the lighting, ventilation and heating completely automatically and ensures maximum energy savings. This innovation was awarded the LEW Innovation Prize 2013 by the utility company, Lechwerke.

Ritter produces its own electricity from a 700kWp photovoltaic system and can both warm and cool the whole production site with the waste heat from a 2mW cogeneration unit. With closed cooling circuits, the problem of waste water is avoided.

History

1965

Ritter Plastic GmbH, founded by Franz-Peter Ritter ( 2013).
World premiere

1970

World premiere for pallets: plastic legs (so-called Distanzzylinder). It is standard for a square block of timber to keep the two decks of an Europallet apart. In damp environments, such as in breweries, these wooden blocks disintegrate.

1974

Lifestyle of the 70s: photography and Super 8 films are very popular in the 70s. Ritter takes care of order in the archives: with slide frames, Super 8 boxes and other accessories.
1975 – 35 employees
1980 – 70 employees
1987 – 120 employees

1992

Ritter develops ink cartridges – an innovative packaging system for offset-printing machinery replacing method of colour-tins.

1997

Ritter relocates: Schwabmünchen becomes the company’s new location and is successively developed and extended.

1998

Production start of well-plates for laboratory, analysis and robot systems.

2000

Since 2000 Ritter produces cartridge systems for haemodialysis on basis of an exclusive partnership for Messrs. Serumwerk Bernburg AG.

2003

Expansion warehousing and logistic facilities amounting 2.800 m2.

2003

Purchase of production site in Volcja Draga, Slovenia. Extension on the East- as well as on the South-European market
2008 – 220 employees

2009

Extension of business unit ‚Medical Care‘ as per ISO-Certification 13485 and upgrading of cleanroom capacities for medical injection moulded pieces and assembling.

2010

Expansion of production site amounting 6.000 m2.

2011

Amplification of silo installation and capacity – Ritter invests in supply security to the customers.
2012 – 285 employees

2012

Product design ‚Gravel Grid‘ – business unit Landscaping.

2013

Perfect pleasure by small capsules: Ritter makes a statement for the environment with biodegradable capsules for delicious coffee.
2015 – 50th anniversary celebration of Ritter company

2015

Expansion of digital printing capacity.

2017 – 300 employees