CONDOMS MADE IN BIELEFELD - RITEX CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

Bielefeld- Ritex, the Bielefeld-based family business for the production of condoms and lubricants, is proudly celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Made up of the family name (RI-chter) and the main raw material for condoms (La-TEX), the Ritex brand has stood for quality and innovation in the field of contraception and infection prevention since it was founded in 1948.

Condoms were particularly important in the post-war period, as they were the only safe contraceptive with no side effects. In addition, condoms were a popular means of exchange at the time to compensate for the lack of currency. Hans Richter correctly assessed the benefits of condoms and founded the company "Ritex Gummi" on July 14, 1948. in 1959, together with Blausiegel, Richter, Käufer & Co. GmbH, Hans Richter founded a new, pioneering production facility for condoms - Rubion GmbH, based in Sarstedt near Hanover. In the years that followed, the company paved the way for a modern condom industry in Germany. Ritex was regarded as a pacemaker for new technologies in manufacturing and testing procedures, which are still used in a similar form today.

But the market structures changed over time: Hans Richter took over more and more shares in the Rubion production company until he became the sole owner in 1972. He then also changed the company name to Ritex Rubion Latex Erzeugnisse GmbH & Co KG and moved the company headquarters back to its old home in Bielefeld; initially to Leopoldshöhe and from there to Arthur-Ladebeck-Straße in Bielefeld, near the old quarry next to the Quakernack company premises.

in 1982, Hans-Roland Richter, son of company founder Hans Richter, joined the company management. Under his leadership, the quality concept of the "condom" product concept was further advanced with the aim of always being at the cutting edge of science and technology. The medical idea of protecting against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases was always to be at the forefront. The idea of quality and safety still characterizes the company today.

in 1995, the foundation stone was laid in the industrial estate on Gustav-Winkler-Straße in Bielefeld Hillegossen, where the administration and production facilities of Ritex GmbH are still located today. Thanks to considerable technical progress, it was possible to manufacture condoms profitably in Germany despite the high production costs. Ritex continues to produce condoms "Made in (Bielefeld) Germany" and thus stands up to the Far Eastern productions that dominate the global market.

In the years that followed, the company continued on its path into the modern age undeterred and has continued to distinguish itself to this day with innovations, particularly in the field of sustainable condom production. Since 2009, Ritex has been jointly managed by the second and third generations of the family, Hans-Roland and Robert Richter. Today, Ritex is one of the most important players for contraceptives and sells 80,000 liters of lubricant in addition to 100 million condoms every year.