German tradition
The heart of the RITZENHOFF family AG still beats where its history began more than 200 years ago: at its headquarters in Marsberg in the Sauerland. With the wood from the dense forests, the first glassworks in the Sauerland melted quartz sand into glass as early as the 18th century. The RITZENHOFF family business, which has developed over the years from a manufactory to one of the most renowned high-tech glassworks in Germany, also follows this tradition.
RITZENHOFF AG emerged from the Fürstenberg Waldglashuette, which was located in the remote upper Aabachtal valley, north of the Diemel River, from 1800 - 1903. The company was sold in March 1934. During this time, the new company emblem MGM was created, which stood for Marsberger Glasfabrik Marsberg. The company traded under the name Marsberger Glasfabrik GmbH.
In December 1934 the Driburg glass wholesaler Heinrich Ritzenhoff joined the company as a limited partner. He became managing director in 1935 and acquired all the company shares in December 1935.
Over the years Heinrich Ritzenhoff was supported in the management of the company by his son Klaus. The company had developed so well economically that in 1957 an additional company for the new automatic glass production in Essentho was founded under the name "Glaswerk H. und Kl. Ritzenhoff KG" (Heinrich and Klaus).
Since then, the name RITZENHOFF has been an integral part of the international glass industry.
Various changes of name followed over the years and finally RC RITZENHOFF Cristal GmbH was converted into RITZENHOFF AG in 1999.
From the origins of an old handicraft production, the RITZENHOFF AG company has developed into one of the most important suppliers of drinking glasses in Europe. From development to production and decoration, RITZENHOFF AG offers the complete know-how of glass production from a single source. Three corporate divisions: fully automated glass production, the specialist trade and design division and the graphics division – provide RITZENHOFF AG's customers and partners with know-how and a depth of production that is rarely found in this combination – development, decoration and glass production.
