Rieter

Rieter is a Swiss industrial company that develops and supplies machinery, components, and complete systems for the processing and spinning of staple fibers. Headquartered in Winterthur, the company serves textile manufacturers internationally and is particularly associated with short-staple spinning, a production field covering the preparation of fibers, spinning, winding, and related process technologies. Its offering is intended to connect multiple stages of yarn production rather than address only one isolated machine requirement. The company traces its origins to 1795, when Johann Jacob Rieter established a trading business. External economic conditions during the Continental Blockade led Rieter to enter spinning operations in 1812, including the establishment of the Wildbach spinning mill in Winterthur. The company's later move into machinery production grew out of the practical need to improve the equipment used in its own yarn manufacturing. Rieter gradually developed into a machinery producer after 1830, creating the industrial foundation for its modern business. Over time, Rieter expanded through acquisitions and the addition of adjacent technologies. Its 1982 acquisition of Ernest Scragg & Sons broadened its textile-machinery activities in the United Kingdom, while the purchase of Automatik in 1992 added another industrial business to the group. A major structural change occurred in 2011, when Rieter's automotive-products division was separated and became Autoneum. This left Rieter more concentrated on textile machinery and related technologies. The company subsequently strengthened its component and winding activities. In 2017, it acquired SSM Textile Machinery Division from Schweiter Technologies. SSM brought yarn-winding equipment and related businesses, including activities connected with false-twist texturing and Asian manufacturing and service operations. In 2021, Rieter acquired three businesses from Saurer: the Schlafhorst automatic-winder business, Accotex elastomer components, and Temco bearing solutions. These transactions expanded Rieter's ring- and compact-spinning proposition and increased its presence in specialized components and winding technology. Rieter's business scope therefore combines complete spinning systems with individual machines, components, process expertise, customer support, and technology development. Its portfolio addresses the route from fiber preparation through spinning and winding, with additional offerings in areas such as elastomer components, bearing solutions, and related textile-machine technologies. The company also operates through internationally oriented manufacturing, sales, and service activities. In 2024, Rieter opened the Rieter Campus in Winterthur as an international headquarters containing a customer center, product and technology development functions, and administrative operations. The company's stated industrial direction remains focused on serving textile producers with integrated machinery and technology for efficient staple-fiber yarn production.

Rieter began in 1795 as a trading company founded by Johann Jacob Rieter in Switzerland. Its initial activity was not limited to textile machinery. During the Continental Blockade, commercial conditions encouraged the company to enter textile production, and in 1812 it established the Wildbach spinning mill in Winterthur. The experience of operating a spinning mill created a practical incentive to improve machinery and production methods internally. Rieter's machinery activities developed progressively from those operational needs, and the company had become a machinery manufacturer after 1830. The company's later history was shaped by the expansion of its textile-technology portfolio and by diversification into other industrial fields. In 1982, Rieter acquired the British textile-machinery company Ernest Scragg & Sons. Ten years later, it acquired Automatik, a business founded in 1947. These transactions added industrial capabilities and broadened the group's international textile-machinery presence. Rieter also operated an automotive-products division for a period. In 2011, that division was separated from Rieter and established as Autoneum. The separation represented an important strategic reorientation: Rieter became more concentrated on textile machinery, while the automotive activities continued under a separate corporate identity. In connection with the separation, Rieter board members Peter Spuhler and Michael Pieper agreed to retain their Autoneum shares for an agreed period, and Rieter provided a subordinated loan of CHF 12.5 million to each of them, according to the referenced account. The group returned to expansion in textile machinery through targeted acquisitions. On 30 June 2017, Rieter acquired the SSM Textile Machinery Division from Schweiter Technologies. SSM's activities centered on yarn-winding equipment and were integrated into Rieter's Component division. SSM itself had been formed in 1989 through the combination of Schärer, Schweiter, and Mettler. Its history also included the acquisition of Giudici in Italy in 2012, a business connected with false-twist texturing machinery for fine-count nylon yarns. SSM maintained operations in China through a Zhongshan subsidiary supporting sales, service, manufacturing, and assembly for Asian markets. In 2021, Rieter announced and completed the acquisition of three businesses from Saurer-related companies. The acquired activities included the Schlafhorst automatic-winder business, Accotex elastomer components, and Temco bearing solutions. The Schlafhorst transaction filled an important part of Rieter's ring- and compact-spinning offering by adding automatic winding, while Accotex and Temco strengthened the company's component portfolio. Together, the acquisitions reinforced Rieter's model of supplying both complete spinning systems and specialized parts used in textile machinery. In 2024, Rieter opened the Rieter Campus in Winterthur. The campus brought together an international headquarters, customer-center functions, product and technology development, and administrative activities. It represents the company's continuing emphasis on customer interaction and engineering development in its home location. As reported in the supplied reference material, Rieter acquired Barmag from OC Oerlikon on 2 February 2026. Barmag's portfolio includes filament-spinning systems for man-made fibers, texturing machines, BCF systems, staple-fiber spinning solutions, and nonwoven solutions. If completed as described, the transaction materially broadens Rieter's technology coverage while retaining its historical connection to spinning and fiber-processing equipment. Rieter's present identity is therefore that of an international textile-machinery group with roots in Swiss spinning production and a portfolio spanning fiber preparation, spinning, winding, components, and adjacent fiber technologies.

1. 2026Barmag acquisition

   Rieter acquires Barmag from OC Oerlikon, adding filament-spinning, texturing, BCF, staple-fiber, and nonwoven technologies.

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2. 2024Rieter Campus opens in Winterthur

   Rieter opens a new international headquarters containing customer, technology-development, and administrative functions.

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3. 2021Expansion through three Saurer businesses

   Rieter acquires the Schlafhorst automatic-winder business and the Accotex and Temco component businesses.

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4. 2017SSM Textile Machinery Division joins Rieter

   Rieter acquires SSM from Schweiter Technologies, adding yarn-winding equipment and related component activities.

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5. 2011Automotive division becomes Autoneum

   Rieter's automotive-products division is separated and established as the new corporation Autoneum.

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6. 1992Acquisition of Automatik

   Rieter takes over Automatik, a business founded in 1947.

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7. 1982Acquisition of Ernest Scragg & Sons

   Rieter acquires the British textile-machinery company Ernest Scragg & Sons.

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8. 1830Development into a machinery manufacturer

   Rieter's machinery-production activities emerge from the company's efforts to improve equipment used in its own yarn production.

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9. 1812Entry into spinning

   During the Continental Blockade, Rieter enters spinning production and establishes the Wildbach spinning mill in Winterthur.

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10. 1795Rieter is founded as a trading company

    Johann Jacob Rieter establishes the company in Switzerland, marking the beginning of the enterprise that later becomes a textile-machinery manufacturer.

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An integrated, technology-oriented supplier of machinery, components, and complete production systems for short-staple spinning and related textile processes.

• Integrated short-staple spinning systemsSpinning systems

  Rieter's central offering is the integrated short-staple spinning system. Such systems connect several stages of yarn production, beginning with fiber preparation and continuing through spinning and winding. The proposition is aimed at textile producers that need coordinated machinery, process know-how, and technical support across a complete production route rather than isolated equipment.

• Ring- and compact-spinning systemsSpinning machinery

  Ring and compact spinning are core parts of Rieter's staple-fiber machinery portfolio. The company expanded this offering through the 2021 acquisition of Saurer businesses, including the Schlafhorst automatic-winder activity. These systems are used by mills producing spun yarns from staple fibers and are supported by associated components and process technologies.

• SSM yarn-winding equipmentWinding machinery

  SSM's equipment covers yarn-winding applications and forms part of Rieter's Component division. The business also has a history in related textile technologies and maintains sales, service, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities for Asian markets through its Chinese operations.

• Schlafhorst automatic windersWinding machinery2021

  The Schlafhorst automatic-winder business acquired from Saurer added automatic winding to Rieter's broader spinning-system proposition. Automatic winding is an important downstream stage in yarn production, preparing spun yarn for subsequent handling and use while complementing ring- and compact-spinning machinery.

• Accotex elastomer componentsTextile-machine components2021

  Accotex supplies elastomer components used in spinning machinery. Its addition to Rieter's portfolio strengthened the company's ability to provide specialized consumable and replacement components alongside complete machines and systems.

• Temco bearing solutionsTextile-machine components2021

  Temco contributes bearing solutions associated with textile and filament machinery. The business complements Rieter's machinery activities by providing specialized components that support the operation of high-speed textile equipment.

• Barmag fiber-processing systemsFiber and filament machinery2026

  Following the reported 2026 acquisition, Barmag adds systems for filament spinning of man-made fibers, texturing, bulk continuous filament production, staple-fiber spinning, and nonwoven applications. This portfolio extends Rieter's historical concentration in short-staple spinning into a wider range of man-made-fiber and fiber-processing technologies.

• 2026Acquire Barmag from OC OerlikonM&A

  The reported transaction extends Rieter's textile-technology coverage into filament spinning, texturing, BCF, staple-fiber, and nonwoven applications.

  What changed. Rieter acquired Barmag from OC Oerlikon on 2 February 2026, according to the supplied reference material.

  Aftermath. The acquisition broadens Rieter beyond its traditional short-staple-spinning focus. The long-term operational effects require further verification from primary company disclosures.

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• 2021Acquire three businesses from SaurerM&A

  Rieter aimed to complete its offering in ring- and compact-spinning systems and to increase its presence in specialized textile-machine components.

  What changed. Rieter acquired the Schlafhorst automatic-winder business together with Accotex elastomer components and Temco bearing solutions.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened Rieter's integrated spinning proposition and strengthened its component portfolio.

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• 2017Acquire SSM Textile Machinery DivisionM&A

  Rieter sought to strengthen its component and yarn-winding activities within the textile-machinery business.

  What changed. Rieter acquired SSM from Schweiter Technologies and integrated it into the Component division.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded Rieter's winding portfolio and added related international sales, service, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities.

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• 2011Separate the automotive-products divisionStrategy

  Rieter operated both textile-machinery and automotive-products activities, but the two businesses had different industrial markets and strategic profiles.

  What changed. Rieter separated the automotive-products division into a new corporation, Autoneum, while retaining a more focused textile-machinery identity.

  Aftermath. The separation left Rieter primarily focused on textile machinery and related technologies. The referenced account also describes temporary shareholding arrangements and subordinated financing connected with the transaction.

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• 2026Rieter acquires Barmag from OC Oerlikon

  Rieter acquired Barmag, a business associated with filament-spinning systems, texturing machinery, BCF systems, staple-fiber spinning solutions, and nonwoven solutions. The transaction broadened Rieter's textile-technology scope beyond its established short-staple-spinning activities.

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• 2024Rieter opens the Rieter Campus in Winterthur

  The new international headquarters, customer center, product and technology development facilities, and administrative functions were brought together at the Rieter Campus in Winterthur.

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• 2021Rieter completes acquisition of three Saurer businesses

  Rieter acquired the Schlafhorst automatic-winder business and the Accotex and Temco component businesses from Saurer-related entities. The transaction expanded Rieter's ring- and compact-spinning portfolio and added elastomer and bearing technologies.

  M&AProduct generation
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• 2017Rieter acquires SSM Textile Machinery Division

  Rieter acquired SSM from Schweiter Technologies. The business strengthened Rieter's position in yarn winding and added related technology, manufacturing, sales, and service capabilities.

  M&A
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• 2011Rieter separates its automotive-products division into Autoneum

  Rieter's former automotive-products division was separated from the group and became the independently operating company Autoneum. The transaction allowed Rieter to concentrate its corporate activities more directly on textile machinery.

  M&A
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1. Rieter
2. Rieter official website