Rittal is the largest company in the owner-operated Friedhelm Loh Group based in Germany — with 11 production sites, 64 subsidiaries and 10,000 employees worldwide.
“We found a home in The Woodfield Corporate Center in Schaumburg, Ill., and intend to be fully operational by September,” says Douglas Peterson, President of Rittal Corp, United States. “The initial phase will include relocating the company’s executives, sales leadership, marketing and product management staff.”
The move is part of the company’s international expansion projects – projects that also include a multi-million dollar upgrade to several production lines in Rittal’s Urbana production plant, the company said.
Rittal Corp. was awarded a state tax credit effective January 2012 in exchange for a commitment to create 118 full-time jobs, generating $4.4 million in additional payroll and retain 531 jobs. The 7-year, 55 percent tax credit was approved by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority in July 2011 as recommended by JobsOhio, Gov. John Kasich’s nonprofit economic development organization. At the time, Rittal’s investment was valued at $6.6 million.
It was unclear Thursday whether Rittal would be able to keep the Ohio benefit. A Development Services Agency spokesperson said Rittal filed its first report on the agreement in spring 2013, which will be audited before a tax credit is issued based on new jobs and new payroll generated. Rittal committed to maintain operations in the state for 10 years.
The Dayton Daily News has contacted JobsOhio and the governor’s office for further comment.
JobsOhio came under fire last month when TimberTech announced it was closing its Columbus plant in order to create jobs in Wilmington under a tax credit awarded by JobsOhio.