Ritex

Ritex is a German brand and manufacturer of condoms and personal lubricants, headquartered and produced in Bielefeld. Founded in 1948 by merchant Hans Richter as a condom trading company, the brand name Ritex was registered in 1950 as an acronym combining the founder's surname (Richter) and the raw material latex. The company has remained entirely family-owned for three generations, with Hans-Roland Richter joining management in 1982 and Robert Richter entering in late 2007. Ritex produces its condoms exclusively on its own dipping lines in Bielefeld, marketing them as "Made in Germany" premium quality. The product range includes classic condoms, ultra-thin, ribbed and dotted, XXL, and the vegan and sustainable PRO NATURE line, as well as various lubricants. The company also sells ultrasound probe covers and advertising condoms. In 2024 Ritex achieved record annual sales of 14.8 million euros, with about one third of revenue coming from lubricants (as of 2025). Ritex targets primarily people over 25 in committed relationships. It is a founding member of the German Latex Research and Development Association (dlf) and, since 2016, of the Condom Division (FBK) within the German medical technology association BVMed. The company supports health education through free school packages and donations to organizations such as the BZgA and Pro familia.

Ritex was founded in 1948 in Bielefeld by the merchant Hans Richter, who was 25 years old at the time, as a company for trading condoms. In 1950, the brand name "Ritex" — an acronym formed from RIchter and LaTEX, the liquid natural raw material used to make condoms — was registered as a trademark. In 1959, the production company "Rubion" was founded in Sarstedt near Hanover; Hans Richter gradually acquired all shares and by 1972 held Rubion solely. In 1979, for cost reasons, Ritex ceased manufacturing on its own dipping lines in Germany and focused thereafter on coating, packaging, and distribution of condoms. In 1982, Hans-Roland Richter, son of the founder, joined the management. In 1984, Ritex revised its condom product concept, giving quality unrestricted priority and aiming to always meet the highest state of science and technology. Since 1987, Ritex condoms have repeatedly been awarded for outstanding quality, for example with top grades from Stiftung Warentest. In 1993, the Council of the European Community adopted Directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices, classifying condoms as medical devices in the particularly high risk class IIb. In 1994, Ritex therefore decided to build a new condom production facility in Bielefeld. Production on the first dipping line in the newly built facility began just one year later. In 2004, the production area was expanded by 70 percent and technical capacity for condom manufacturing increased by 50 percent. With the entry of Robert Richter at the end of 2007, the company has been entirely family-owned for three generations. In 2015, according to its own statements, Ritex produced 120 million condoms per year and processed 180 tons of latex annually. All Ritex condoms are manufactured exclusively on its own facilities in Bielefeld. In 2024, the company achieved a record annual revenue of 14.8 million euros. The company targets primarily people over 25 in committed relationships. Ritex was a founding member of the German Latex Research and Development Association (dlf), founded on 12 January 1971 to create a quality seal for condoms with high testing and quality requirements. On 26 January 1981, the dlf quality seal was introduced. In December 1989, the German legislator adopted the dlf norm, requiring that only condoms meeting the dlf norm (RAL RG 203) or DIN draft 58 993 could be distributed in Germany. The dlf dissolved as an association of condom manufacturers on 31 December 2016. As a new central contact for all questions about condoms, the Condom Division (FBK) was founded within the Federal Association of Medical Technology BVMed. Founding members of the FBK are the two German condom producers Ritex and CPR, which together account for around 80 percent of German condom production according to their own statements. To support teachers during sex education classes, Ritex provides free school training packages containing a DVD with a film about condom production, a wooden model of a penis with condoms for demonstration purposes, a unit of free samples, and a reference to the download area for teaching materials such as "Das kleine Ritex Kondom-ABC". Ritex supports various public and non-profit organizations such as the BZgA and Pro familia with natural donations, joint advertising campaigns, advisory talks, and other means.

• 2024

  Ritex achieves record annual revenue of 14.8 million euros.

• 2016

  dlf dissolves; Condom Division (FBK) founded within BVMed with Ritex as founding member.

• 2015

  Ritex produces 120 million condoms per year and processes 180 tons of latex annually.

• 2007

  Robert Richter joins, company remains fully family-owned for three generations.

• 2004

  Production area expanded by 70%, technical capacity increased by 50%.

• 1995

  Production starts on the first dipping line in the new facility.

• 1994

  Ritex decides to build a new condom production facility in Bielefeld.

• 1993

  EU Directive 93/42/EEC classifies condoms as Class IIb medical devices.

• 1987

  Ritex condoms begin receiving awards for outstanding quality, including top grades from Stiftung Warentest.

• 1984

  Ritex revises condom product concept, prioritizing quality.

• 1982

  Hans-Roland Richter, son of the founder, joins management.

• 1979

  Ritex ceases own dipping production in Germany, focuses on coating, packaging, and distribution.

• 1972

  Hans Richter becomes sole owner of Rubion.

• 1959

  Production company "Rubion" founded in Sarstedt near Hanover.

• 1950

  "Ritex" is registered as a trademark.

• 1948

  Hans Richter founds a condom trading company in Bielefeld.

Premium quality condoms and lubricants "Made in Germany", focusing on trust, safety, and sustainability.

• Ritex RR.1

  Intense feeling condom.

• Ritex Ideal

  Extra moist, particularly lubricated.

• Ritex XXL

  Extra large for more comfort.

• Ritex Extra dünn

  Extra thin for natural feeling.

• Ritex Lust

  Dotted and ribbed for intense pleasure.

• Ritex Feeling

  Perfect fit for intense feelings.

• Ritex Kondomautomat

  40 varieties in vending machine look.

• Ritex 47

  Slim fit for a secure feeling.

• Ritex Longtime

  Longer love with double ring.

• Ritex Mix

  Exciting and varied for more variety.

• Ritex Classic

  Intense feeling for intense sensation.

• PRO NATURE Box

  Vegan and sustainable condoms.

• PRO NATURE Mix

  Vegan and sustainable variety pack.

• PRO NATURE Sensitiv

  Natural, extra moist.

• PRO NATURE Classic

  Natural, much feeling.

• PRO NATURE Feeling

  Natural, extra thin.

• Bio veganes Gleitgel

  Organic vegan lubricant.

• GEL+ mit Bio Aloe Vera

  Lubricant with organic aloe vera.

• Hydro sensitiv Gel

  Sensitive lubricant gel.

• Longtime Gleitgel

  Extra long-lasting lubricant.

• PRO NATURE GEL

  100% natural ingredients lubricant.

• Kinderwunsch Gleitmittel

  Lubricant for those trying to conceive.

• Gut zu Vögeln
• Love, Diversity, and Closeness
• Arminia Bielefeld Special Edition

1. 1Ritex Premium Kondome & Gleitgele | Made in Germanyritex.de
2. 2Über uns | Firmengeschichte » Ritexritex.de
3. 3Über uns | Wir stellen uns vor » Ritexritex.de
4. 4Über uns | Aktuelle News | » Ritex Presseritex.de
5. 5Ritex GmbH - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Ritex - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org