2025
On April 15, 2025, Rieter celebrates its 230th anniversary.
History & Milestones
2023
The Rieter Board of Directors appoints Thomas Oetterli as CEO.
2021
The foundation stone was laid for the Rieter Campus at the Winterthur location, which includes a customer and technology center as well as an administration building. The Campus will make an important contribution to the implementation of the innovation strategy and to the enhancement of the company’s technology leadership position.
The acquisition of two component businesses: Accotex, the world’s leading supplier in elastomer components for the textile industry based in Muenster, Germany and Temco, the leading supplier of components for the production of filament yarns and synthetic fibers based in Hammelburg, Germany. Accotex and Temco are part of the Components Division.
2017
Acquisition of SSM Textile Machinery, the world’s leading supplier of precision winding machines in the fields of dyeing, weaving and sewing thread preparation, based in Horgen (Switzerland). SSM is part of the Components Division.
2014
The Rieter Board of Directors appoints Norbert Klapper as CEO. After four years as Executive Chairman, Erwin Stoller returns to the position of Chairman of the Board.
2011
The Annual General Meeting sets a historic new course: Rieter shareholders approve the proposal of the Board of Directors to split up the Rieter Group and continue the two Divisions Textile Systems and Automotive Systems as independent, separately listed companies. The automotive supply business is traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the name Autoneum.
2009
At the Annual General Meeting, Rieter shareholders elect Michael Pieper, This E. Schneider, Hans-Peter Schwald and Peter Spuhler as new members of the Board of Directors. The Board appoints CEO Erwin Stoller as Executive Chairman in the same year. As a result, the Board of Directors assumes greater operational responsibility and shortens decision-making processes. The CEO function is dispensed with.
2005
Acquisition of Graf + Cie AG, the world’s leading supplier of wire clothings and combs for carding and combing machines, based in Rapperswil (Switzerland). Graf is part of the Components Division.
2005
Rieter founds Rieter China, based in Changzhou. The new organization comprises Rieter Textile Systems (Shanghai) Ltd., Rieter (China) Textile Instruments Co. Ltd., Rieter Asia (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Rieter Asia (Taiwan) Ltd.
2005
Acquisition of Spindelfabrik Suessen GmbH, the world’s leading supplier of spinning systems and components, based in Suessen (Germany). Suessen is part of the Components Division.
2001
Acquisition of Novibra Boskovice s.r.o., the world’s leading supplier of high-performance spindles based in Boskovice (Czech Republic). Novibra is part of the Components Division.
2001
Acquisition of Wilhelm Stahlecker GmbH (WST): The company, based in Suessen (Germany), is specialized in research and design of crucial components used in spinning machines. WST is part of the Components Division.
1997
Founding of Rieter South America Ltd. in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
1996
Acquisition of Bräcker AG, the world’s leading supplier of rings and travellers for ring spinning machines, based in Pfäffikon (Switzerland). Bräcker is part of the Components Division.
1994
Acquisition of Elitex (e.g. rotor spinning machines and components) of Ústí nad Orlicí (Czech Republic). In 2001, Rieter Elitex becomes Rieter CZ a.s.; in 2009, the subsidiary receives its current name: Rieter CZ s.r.o.
1987
Acquisition of Schubert & Salzer GmbH (rotor spinning machines) of Ingolstadt (Germany); five years later, the company is renamed Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG. Since 2008, it has operated under the name Rieter Ingolstadt GmbH.
1986
Founding of Rieter Asia (Taiwan) Ltd.; the subsidiary is based in Taipei, China.
1985
Founding of Rieter Holding Ltd. and listing on the Zurich Stock Exchange.
1984
Acquisition of Unikeller AG (Switzerland), manufacturer of noise and heat protection components for the automotive industry. With this acquisition, Rieter enters the automotive supply business. This also marks the start of the dual strategy.
1962
Founding of a plant in Coimbatore (India); in 1995, Rieter establishes the subsidiary Rieter India Pvt. Ltd. based in Wing.
1951
Founding of American Rieter Company (later Rieter America LLC) in Arlington (USA); in 1954, the company relocates to Spartanburg/South Carolina, where the Rieter subsidiary is based.
1931
Entry into the synthetic fiber sector.
1915
Rieter focuses on spinning machine construction.
1899
Benno Rieter (1870–1925), the last representative of the Rieter family in management.
1891
Rieter becomes a stock corporation.
1852–1854
Rieter is the first Swiss industrial company to build a workers’ settlement and two years later relocates the machine workshops to the former Dominican convent Töss, which Rieter acquired in 1833.
1851
Heinrich Rieter (1814–1889), grandson of Johann Jacob and later Colonel and Council of States, takes over the business.
1835–1925
Rieter diversifies from spinning machine manufacturing into various areas such as transmissions, turbines, machine tools, generators, motors, tracks, trams, rifles, bridges, looms, embroidery machines, doubling and winding machines.
1800–1833
Transition from trading to production company, investments in and creation of own spinning mills. Heinrich Rieter (1788–1851), son of the founder, joins the company in 1809.
1795
Johann Jacob Rieter (1762–1826) opens his first trading business in Winterthur with exotic spices and cotton. The foundation for the future company has been laid.