Rittal

On May 13th we visited RITTAL company in Songdo

1. Company History

Rittal is a German manufacturer of industrial enclosures founded in 1961 and a subsidiary of the Friedhelm Loh Group. Its name comes from Rittershausen in Dietzhölztal, where Rudolf Loh launched the world’s first standardized enclosure under the principle “Enclosures off the shelf, immediately.” After his death in 1971, his son Friedhelm Loh took over in 1974 and grew it into a global group. Today, Rittal employs around 9,600 people across 65 subsidiaries and 10 production sites, and the Friedhelm Loh Group recorded €3.1 billion in turnover in 2024 as a family-owned business.

The Korean subsidiary, Rittal Co., Ltd., was founded on August 8, 1996, and is headquartered in Songdo, Incheon, with about 103 employees and additional branches in Busan and Gwangju.

2. Technology, Products, and Production Lines

Rittal positions itself as an integrated system platform under the slogan “Rittal – The System,” combining enclosures, power distribution, climate control, IT infrastructure, software, and services into a single value chain. Its core products include the VX25 large enclosure and AX/KX compact series, the Ri4Power modular switchgear, and the Blue e+ cooling unit, which achieves up to 75% energy savings through patented hybrid technology. For IT, Rittal supplies server racks, edge data centers, and modular data center containers, complemented by engineering software from its affiliates EPLAN and Cideon—a hardware-plus-software approach that embodies Industry 4.0.

Production is anchored in the vertically integrated Herborn and Haiger plants in Germany, supported by the affiliated steel center Stahlo, with €250 million invested in digitalizing the manufacturing environment. The Songdo headquarters serves as a hub for sales, engineering, limited production, and a showroom where major product lines can be experienced both physically and in 3D. A notable Korean reference is the Songdo Smart City IFEZ data center, where Rittal Korea handled both the 3D conceptual design and the hardware—overcoming low-ceiling and raised-floor constraints with cold aisle containment and a redundant LCP system—and completed installation in less than three months.

3. HR Presentation: Changing the Way We Think About Jobs

During the visit to Rittal, one of the most interesting parts was the presentation by the HR manager. Instead of only introducing the company, the manager talked about how students should prepare for jobs and what companies want from applicants.

One important point was that students and companies often think differently about employment. Students usually focus on grades, TOEIC scores, certificates, and volunteer work. However, companies care more about job skills, teamwork, work experience, and whether the person fits the company culture. The manager said that students need to change their perspective from a “student mindset” to a “business mindset.”

Strategy 1: Know Yourself

The first strategy was “Know Yourself.” The HR manager explained that students should understand their own strengths and personality before preparing for jobs. He recommended using career programs, aptitude tests, and counseling services provided by universities or other institutions. This can help students find jobs and industries that match their abilities and interests.

Strategy 2: Know the Company

The second strategy was “Know the Company.” The manager explained that companies exist to make profits and create value. Because of this, companies prefer applicants with practical and job-related experience rather than only good grades or certificates. Students should therefore prepare experiences that are connected to the job they want in the future.

Strategy 3: Networking and Experience

The third strategy was to use LinkedIn actively. The HR manager said that networking is very important in today’s hiring process. Students should search for target companies and positions, collect information, and study job descriptions (JD). He also emphasized the importance of gaining real work experience through internships, projects, or part-time jobs.

4. Reflections on the Visit

Before the visit, an “enclosure” felt like nothing more than a metal box to us, but the showroom quickly proved otherwise: Rittal’s products are the very infrastructure that keeps automation equipment, servers, and power systems running. What impressed us most was Rittal’s “system thinking” (Systemdenken)—the bundling of enclosures, power, cooling, IT, and software into one integrated offering, which clearly explained the global competitiveness of German manufacturing. Seeing EPLAN-based 3D design flow directly into production made Industry 4.0 feel like a working business model, not a slogan. The 75% energy savings of Blue e+ also connected directly to the EU Green Deal and ESG trends studied in class, showing how Rittal turns sustainability into competitive advantage. As a family-owned Mittelstand company, its 60-year ownership continuity also explains why long-term investments such as €250 million in factory digitalization are possible.

 

One of the most valuable moments was the Q&A session with CEO Justin and the HR Director, who shared candid advice on career mindset, choosing a path, and building competencies for a global company—a rare mentoring opportunity for students. Equally memorable was the tour of the production line in the basement: after putting on safety helmets and vests, we walked through the actual manufacturing floor and could finally see how the showroom products are made—something usually only visible through videos. Together with Rittal Korea’s role in designing the Songdo Smart City data center, the visit showed an ideal balance of “German quality with local adaptability.”

5. What We Learned

Through this visit, we came to understand that Rittal is a living example of how European manufacturing strengths—system integration, standardization, and sustainability—are being implanted into Korean industry. The HR presentation also repeatedly emphasized that experience is one of the most important factors for companies. Combined with the executive Q&A and the production line tour, this visit helped us better understand how companies think, how global manufacturing works, and how we as students should prepare for our future careers.

 

Seok Kangmi, Shin Heeeun

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Rittal Korea

Rittal is a global industrial solutions company founded in Germany. The company mainly specializes in electrical enclosures, industrial automation systems and smartfactory solutions. Rittal currently operates branches in 65 countries worldwide, and the Korean headquarters and production factory are located in Songdo. In addition, the company provides various solutions related to energy and power systems, coolingsystems, data centers, IT infrastructure, and AI-based automation technologies.

Human Resource Department of Rittal Korea

The HR manager explained that the current job market has become much more competitive due to the development of AI technology, and even professional fields such as law and accounting are facing difficulties in hiring interns. He also mentioned that many new employees leave their companies within one to three years after employment. One reason for this is the difference in perspective between students and companies. While students usually focus on GPA, TOEIC scores,certificates, and volunteer work, companies place more importance on job fit, teamwork ability, cultural fit, and practical experience based on the JD (Job Description).
Companies want employees who can contribute to organizational performance and profit rather than simply people who work hard. Employees are expected to work independently and take initiative in their tasks. Teamwork, communication skills, responsibility, and active attitudes are also considered important factors, especially in foreign companies such as Rittal where cooperation with overseas branches is common.
The HR manager emphasized that self-analysis is the first step in preparing for employment. Students should understand their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and desired career paths through career support centers and aptitude tests. He also stated that company analysis is equally important because applicants need to understand how companies operate and what kind of employees they are looking for. Ultimately, employment is about finding the connection between oneself and the company and explaining how one’s abilities can contribute to company performance.
The HR manager also recommended actively using recruitment platforms such as LinkedIn and Remember. Students should build professional profiles, create networks, and continuously promote themselves. He explained that analyzing JD(Job Description) is very important because companies use it as the standard for resume screening and interviews. Applicants should carefully check whether they possess the required skills and improve abilities through learning and experience.
In addition, since COVID-19, hiring methods have shifted more toward rolling recruitment, especially in foreign companies. Therefore, students should actively gain practical experience through internships and part-time jobs rather than focusing only on full-time positions or large companies. Companies highly value actual work experience, and proactive self-promotion is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

Marketing Strategy of Rittal and Rittal Korea

Rittal is a global company specializing in industrial enclosures, power distribution systems, climate control technologies, and IT infrastructure solutions. Its marketing strategy focuses on innovation, technological reliability, and long-term partnerships with industrial customers. Rather than relying mainly on traditional advertising,
Rittal emphasizes integrated industrial solutions and customer-centered services. A major characteristic of Rittal’s global marketing strategy is solution-based marketing. Instead of promoting products individually, the company provides complete industrial systems that combine enclosures, cooling technologies, automation services, and IT infrastructure into one package. This approach helps manufacturing companies improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
Rittal also actively promotes digital transformation and Industry 4.0 technologies. Through online demonstrations, webinars, virtual exhibitions, and digital catalogs, the company introduces smart factory solutions and advanced manufacturing technologies to global customers. In addition, Rittal highlights sustainability by promoting energy-efficient cooling systems and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.
In Korea, Rittal Korea applies these global strategies while focusing more specifically on Korea’s smart manufacturing industry and industrial automation market. One of Rittal Korea’s most important marketing methods is exhibition marketing. The company actively participates in industrial exhibitions such as the Smart Factory + Automation World held at COEX in Seoul. At these exhibitions, Rittal Korea directly demonstrates smart panel systems, cooling technologies, and industrial automation solutions to engineers and corporate clients. This hands-on experience helps strengthen customer trust and brand recognition.
Rittal Korea also emphasizes partnership marketing by collaborating with companies such as Mitsubishi Electric and Eplan. Through these partnerships, the company provides integrated smart factory and automation solutions that meet the needs of Korean manufacturers.
Overall, both Rittal and Rittal Korea focus on technological innovation, industrial networking, digital transformation, and sustainable solutions. However, Rittal Korea adapts these global marketing strategies to the Korean market by strengthening exhibition activities, local industrial partnerships, and smart factory branding.
I found Rittal's marketing approach very interesting. I could sense Rittal's confidence and boldness, as they possess future value despite the industry being in the midst of change. In particular, highlighting technological advancements such as the dark factory transformation of their German plants and AI-based industrial automation seemed sufficient to capture people's interest. I even felt a commitment to providing high-quality products to customers by leveraging Germany's reliable technological prowess and image.

Production of Rittal Korea

Rittal operates both manufacturing and distribution businesses. The company imports products manufactured in Germany while also directly producing products at the Songdo factory in Korea. The Korean branch functions as both a headquarters and a production facility, and Korea is one of Rittal’s nine global production sites.
Rittal’s production system is based on smart factory and automation technologies. The company’s German factory is already operated as a “Dark Factory,” which is a fully automated factory mainly operated by robots and automated systems with minimal human involvement. This reflects how manufacturing industries are rapidly shifting from manual labor to AI and robot-based production systems. The company mainly produces electrical cabinets and enclosure products. Rittal originally started with metal kitchen products but later developed the AE enclosure product, which became one of the company’s core products and is still widely
used today.
Rittal also utilizes AI and automation technologies in its production process. EPLAN software, which is used for electrical cabinet design, is evolving from traditional CAD systems into AI-assisted design systems using technologies such as ChatGPT and Copilot. In the future, design work may become possible simply through prompt inputs. In addition, Rittal provides solutions related to AI data centers, automation equipment, and smart manufacturing systems. The company explained that AI data centers require enormous amounts of electricity and infrastructure, and Rittal supplies products and solutions necessary for these industrial environments.
This factory tour was a very meaningful experience for us. We were surprised to see how big the warehouse was and how many products could be stored and managed in an organized way. It was also interesting to learn about the safety areas and the automated systems used in the factory.
Before this visit, we did not know that so many machines and technologies were needed to make one product. The smart factory system and the idea of using AI and robots in the future were very impressive to us.
We also learned that teamwork and careful management are very important in manufacturing. The workers and engineers each had their own roles, and all the processes were connected together. Through this tour, we became more interested in technology and manufacturing jobs in the future.

Kim Junhui. Kim Minji, Lee Seoha